Western riding

[Cowgirl_wannabe]

Okay, I'm new here and so far have only ridden twice. This summer I'm going to a horse camp and am also trying to work out some riding lessons here where I live. Hopefully I can get that going.

But, during the two times that I've ridden (I know that's not very long) I had trouble with keeping my weight in my stirrups when the horse trotted. I felt like I was a living feedsack! :rolleyes: what do they mean when you need to put your weight in the stirrups? The instructor at this stable wasn't that great and didn't tell much on how to ride.
And the split rein thing was a little tough to master as well and trying to get them to stay even. I always seemed to get them uneven as the horse trotted.

Anyways, I guess I was just wondering what basic western riding takes. Like how to ride. I'm a total novice so try to bare with my really basic questions. :p Thanks.

[Jessey]

Its a hugh topic - how to ride. But to answer your questions, to get your weight in your stirups, The way I look at it it has very little to do with your feet (please correct me if I'm wrong) I try to imagine it like there is a weight on your shoulders pressing down and you need to let that weight travel down your whole body so the horse can carry it.
So it starts at you shoulders, sitting straight but relaxed, then think about it moving down through your spine and into your seat bone (when you think about this try to stay very relaxed and really feel it) so you can now really feel your saddle, then let the weight travel down your legs, as it goes down your leg it pushes you thighs against the saddle then it carries on through your knees and lower legs to your heels, and your heels will sink lower than your toes, now because all your weight has moved down your body your weight is in your stirups as the only bit of you with any upward inclination is the part of your foot in the stirup.
Well I can't ever remember being told what 'getting your weight in your stirups' was but I have tried to explain the kind of feeling it gives.
When you do this it should also 'deepen your seat' which will help you stay in place in trot. When you trot let your hips move with the horse, you will get kind of a swaying thing going on but your upper body should stay fairly still and quiet. The easiest way I find to sit a trot is really relax and let the horse do all the work, try concentrating on your breathing, nice long breaths in and out and this will help you sit deeper into the saddle, later when you have been riding a while you can learn to control speed and direction etc with your hips.
With your reins that will come with practice but in the mean time could you tie a small knot in the very end of them, this would probably help you to keep them balanced, or a small knot in each one near where your hand should be so you notice when it slips.
Harry Hobbes and CVB on here are both very knowledgeable so hopefully they may have some tips for you aswell.
good luck

J

[Cowgirl_wannabe]

Thank you so much Jessey! That helped a lot. :)

Okay, just thought of another thing. How are you suppose to get a horse to move forward, the right way? Like a nudge with your heels, your knees, theighs or what? I guess I've never really figured that one out. I do know that Western (and English??) work alot with the leg aids and not so much with the hands, correct? I'm not sure though. :o

Oh, and I was also wondering if there was any exersices or anything to do off of a horse to strengthen riding skills or get more in shape for riding?

[marjiva]

Hello,
I am not an expert but have a lot of riding experience. The way I make my horse move forward is give him a little click and touch his withers with the reins, if he doesnt move i give him a little kick with both feet. One thing a lot of beginners do is get nervous and ride with their heels in the horses side and constantly pull on the horses mouth. This makes the horse very nervous. You need to remember to keep your heels down, knees pointed forward and let your horse have his head. Some horses may need more direct contact than others with the reining. What i normally do is keep a loose rein while walking and then tighten them up a little for each faster gate but never pull on their mouths; just make the reins taut enough so that you can still signal the horse. I usually try to ride with as loose a rein as possible. I hope this helps.

[Jessey]

Hmm, to move forward, with my horse I move my balance forward a little (not enough so that anyone from the ground could really see it) and tighten my seat a little, just kind of tense the nuscles in my bum, thigh and calf, as I do this I Imagine that my weight lifts up my body for a second and then settles back down (as the movement starts) so that I sit into my seat. There are lots of ways of asking for forward movement, some horses will need a kick on, others just a slight release of the reins and some a combination of all the above.
I would say try with the minimum cue and if you get ignored move to the next one until you are listened to, and always go through this cycle as the horses will then learn to respond to your light cues.

J