Hollow Back

[toskalove]

I recently had a lesson with a visiting 'proffesional' instructor, she paid particular attention to my position.I was told my leg was correct and arms etc, she critisised me on having a 'hollow' back, i was told to push my pelvis forward and to sit on the (excuse the way i put it, its how she told me) comforable part of my bum. I have been trying to improve my seat.But i am finding that if i do as told, my legs are pushed forwards.Should i continue tring, any tips,help or should i sit how i did before.My Normal instructor never picked up on my hollow back.Only my Mary poppins toes, there being fixed too.

[cvb]

Did she just adjust/comment on your back on look at you as a whole person ?

I just witnessed a wonderful piece of adjustment at the weekend, which was just the trick. But it was not just focused on a single part of the body - started from the foot, through knee and thigh, to hips, and hence to back.

If you just try and adjust the back, without looking at the rest of you - you could set up some nasty tensions etc.

eg, if you open your hips (so knees are pointing slightly out and thigh is soft and relaxed), then your legs should not come forward because you've rolled your hips.

As per some previous threads, you don't want to completely flatten out your back - you need enough 'spring' in there to absorb movement.

One reason for having a 'hollow' back can be that your hips are tipped slightly forward (top versus bottom) ie you have more weight on your pubic bone. Then you are told to sit up straight - and the only way to do it is to 'arch' your back.

So its sounds like your instructor might have been trying to undo something like this - but check whats happening in hips to help with your leg position :D

(An important piece of the puzzle is to make sure that your foot position in the stirrup is right - I saw a graphic demo of the difference this makes to the stability of your position - its amazing ! something so simple has a major effect.)

[toskalove]

Thnx for that. I think i will discuss my position more with my normal instructor and talk about hips etc. Thank u agen.:)

[FreedomStar]

it's very easy to correct a hollow back. Sit how you used to on the chair right now. Put a hand back in your lower back. You can feel a hollow there. Now follow the curve to your bottom. Feel how your pelvis is tipped back and causing your seat to 'stick out' more behind you? Now, lift up a bit and tip your pelvis forward. Don't arch your back, don't hunch over, just tip your pelvis forward. You should feel your back smoothing out and not so hollow. I used to do this, and now I don't ride with a hollow back.

[DITZ]

I think I am guilty of this too as my 'delicate lady bits' keep banging the pommel (you know which bits to which I refer!). Although my instructor has never commented on it either.

[nutkin]

If you are sitting properly there should be an imaginery triangle under you. You should be able to feel your 2 seatbones equally and without being tipped forward you should feel the third point of the triangle to the front. If you hollow your back you will be sitting to far forward at the front and this may be uncomfortable but if you sit with your back too straight you will not feel that you are sitting on a triangle but a 2 point seat. That is how i was told to sit properly and i found it quite useful to imagine that triangle. I hope that helps you.

[toskalove]

sorry its taken so long not been able to reply.
My normal standing posture is, well i stand straight well sort of not. O.k. wen i have to i stnad striaght, but my whole family has the trait of cruvey backs, so maybe this is where my 'hollow' back comes from.
Since i help with taking out slow novice hacks i have plenty of time trying to fix my position in walk and trot and collected canter, this has helped me alot because i concentrate more on my posture than going wild. I am finding i can feel the triangle under me and i feel slightly more balanced in myself. I had another talk with the lady who told my of my posture fault and she said that maybe because i ride mainly ponies ( fat ones) that it doesnt help me have a 'correct' siting position, therefor i now ride a 16.2 tb, bit of a difference. But i cant see how it help my positionn, maybe it extends it, i am unsure. My toes still turn out tho......eeek. tnx agen, x

[nutkin]

to help your toes you could try this when you get on. before putting your feet in the stirrups lift your leg away from the saddle and back a little. This should enable your hips to open fully and encourage a correct position in your leg. you may feel that your stirrups feel a little short after this as it makes you feel longer in the leg.What you are also doing is ensuring that the correct part of your legs is in contact with the saddle. This should help your toes to point forwards.:)