Using Yer Butt as an Aid!!!

[Cheko]

I was taught to use my seat as an aid as well but to clench and release the buttocks not rub my backside backwards and forwards on the saddle. Not only does this look inelegant but very rude as well. If I did that on Falcon, he'd buck me off and I dont blame him. (The sliding along the saddle in an attempt to make the horse go faster was taught by AIs in the 60s). It really does look awful tho and is often accompanied by flapping arms.

[jenren!!]

i suppose it depends on how much you do it and the horse. vigourous pushing in the saddle will annoy your horse completely. If your horse doesn't really react to a subtle seat aid, then by all means apply more pressure but not too much so as to look like you're trying too hard (not good for dressage tests) and your butt cheeks ache afterwards. if he finds it annoying you'll have to resort to using some other aid to work with it. for example, when you sit in the rising/posting trot, squeeze and push gently with your seat at the same time. i won't go any further cos i'm not at all an expert!! my pony doesn't even feel my legs, never mind my seat!!

X jenny X

[notpoodle]

sliding back and forth in the saddle? never heard of that, other than its what youre NOT supposed to do when youre cantering :rolleyes:

buttocks-clenching works a treat with angel though and so does out-of-sync (ie sloooww) rising trot when she keeps going way too fast :)

julia
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