Hips

[JinxC]

Hi Everyone,
I am a semi new rider...meaning that it turns out the instructor that I had a few years ago didn't really explain the point and purpose of the proper seat to me. I ride western and I am looking for tips to improve my seat. I keep hearing about 'opening up your hips' and I have no idea what this means. Can someone help me out?

Also the position of the back need work. I know it is supposed to be straight and not hollowed or rounded but it seems that the position I think my body is in is not the same as what it is if you can understand me. I think that my back is straight but then if I see a picture of myself it looks like I'm leaning forward or just out of position. Are there any tips that you more experienced riders can give me?

Thanks for any help you can give.
Jenny

[hometrotter]

Hi,
I think when someone says to open up the hip angle it means that the angle between your thigh and hip should be more obtuse and to figure out how to get it more open it is helpful to think to yourself that you should feel as though you are "standing" around your horse and not "sitting" on your horse. Focusing on standing around your horse should also put your back in alignment. It might help too if you think about pushing your stomach out. I hope I was helpful.

http://home.netcom.com/~tdmt/hometrotter

[cvb]

The hip joint thing may be linked to your issue about sitting "up".

If your hip joint is tight, it tends to close up. Then it becomes very difficult to lengthen your leg down whilst maintaining a tall straight seat.

So first tip would be to think about relaxing your hip and seat. This should naturally allow your hip joint to "fall" open, allowing your leg to drop nicely from the pelvis - without tipping forward.

For the not-tipping forward thing, it might help to use some images from Sally Swift - she talks about "plugging" your seat bones in to the saddle. If you experiment a little (in halt) and tip your hips forward, then back i.e. two "wrong" positions - as you roll from one to the other you will find a point at which you feel your seatbones as if they are the pins in an electrical plug, plugging in to the 'socket' of the saddle. Once your pelvis is lined up, with a soft relaxed hip joint, then just think of your spine as a series of children's building blocks made into a tower. They have to be placed one on the other or the tower will topple ! :eek:

Its not that uncommon for our internal "sensors" of where we are to be a bit 'out'. We get used to a particular way of using our bodies, and that becomes the neutral position for our sensors, even when its not actually straight or neutral. It can feel really odd when you first start to adjust or recalibrate those sensors - its important to have good feedback so you learn where the new 'neutral' should be.

[virtuallyhorses]

Originally posted by JinxC
... I keep hearing about 'opening up your hips' and I have no idea what this means. Can someone help me out?

...I think that my back is straight but then if I see a picture of myself it looks like I'm leaning forward or just out of position. ..

Hi Jenny -I'm a natural 'jockey' too :) - to get me on the road to recovery my instructor made me totally exaggerate my position the other way to realign my internal balance mechanism. For a week or so I had to practice riding tipped over backwards (well that's what it felt like!). Sit normally in the saddle - then lean back as far as you can without actually lying on the horse's rump (ok so you don't actually get that close but it feels like it). Each time the horse goes forward or changes up to trot etc you have to learn to push your pelvis forward rather than going forward with your shoulders - really hard and completely against what your natural position says. After about a week or so you are allowed to correct your body position back to the correct alignment - your inner ear or internal body picture or whatever is now ready to accept that you are indeed upright :)

Opening the hips - generally means widening them - pushing your thighs and knees more off the saddle to get them to relax rather than grip. Try thinking about being bowlegged.

[cvb]

pushing your thighs and knees more off the saddle

being a fan of "less is more" (via Alexander technique), I sometimes get worried when people use 'active' language, as it can result in people trying too hard.

I do know what Virtually Horses means, but can I try an alternative image ?

If you lie flat on the floor and relax everything, your toes will naturally fall open. (If they don't, its cos your tense somewhere or have something blocking your hip movement). Your toes fall open because of your hip joint. This is a very passive "do less" kind of opening.

So if you're going to work hard at anything, my vote is to work hard at "doing less" ;) This may sound odd, but we gain habits of tensing bits of ourselves, and breaking these habits takes an active awareness and positive effort.

[virtuallyhorses]

Originally posted by cvb
being a fan of "less is more" (via Alexander technique), I sometimes get worried when people use 'active' language, as it can result in people trying too hard.
.

Yes, you are quite right to correct me on that, I didn't put enough thought into that. I do cringe a little when I use those very active verbs as I wonder how will it be received :) I did try to moderate with the bowlegged image :cool: :)

OT CVB have you worked with an Alexander instructor? I have to say that the 'Alexander Technique' book is the only book I have ever burned :( but I'd be interested in understanding more about it - perhaps you could begin a separate topic and describe it some more sometime?

[EquiCrazyTn]

i can't exactly describe what open your hips means but here is how you can basically open your hips....... at the walk lean forward rounding your back take a deep breathe and slowly come up rolling your shoulders stoping when your back is straight that will help you relax and sit on your seat bones don't grip with your legs hope i help


also............... put a dressage whip or something skinny and straight behind your back and under your arms that should help your position

[cvb]

Virtually horses - in "training of rider" or "cafe" ? I'll try and get some thoughts in some kind of structure and then post something - you wish is my command !