Secure Seat exercises

[Janice Morley]

Hi, all:

This month's EQUUS (#265) features an article
about developing a better seat using the
Secure Seat system. This system has been
developed by Jan Dawson, who is the head of the American Association of Horsemanship Safety. As a rider who has never had a good sense of balance, I find the information on this system to be very useful!

I'd like to recommend the URL for more information: http://www.law.utexas.edu/dawson/secure.htm

[Janice Morley]

Me too! Maybe *I* should be taking Calmex or one of those other supplements advertised in equine supply catalogs....

Incidentally, one thing I have found useful for improving my seat (and flexibility) is a Gymnastikball. I got mine from the Back In The Saddle catalog. For those of you in the USA, you can get this catalog by calling 1-800-865-2478. International callers can try 1-508-359-2520. The ball comes in two sizes: 75 cm and 85 cm (if you're over 5'9", you want the larger size). It cost $39.95 for the smaller ball and $42.95 for the larger ball. Back In The Saddle also sells an exercise video (VHS) called "Get Fit to Ride" for $29.95. The video includes exercises you can do with the ball.

[Anne]

Hello Janice ...

Have just printed out Secure Seat from site you mentioned ... Heather's book is fantastic, but I'm quite paranoid about improving my suppleness in canter seat ... more from the point of view of not hurting my horse's back, than falling off, but always it seems "relaxing" is so important ... not something I find easy as I suppose I'm hyper-critical about myself and forget that other people have riding problems also ... so- it's reassuring to read on this list there are no easy answers ... just common sense ...

Anne