Weight in My Sturrups or Bottom???

[Canaan's Mom]

Hello,

I have recently (within the last 1 1/2 years) began riding again. Mostly we have walked & trotted on hacks and now we are begining to canter (whew-hoo!)

Here is my question - my friend says that I should drive my weight down into my heels; whereas the posts that I read here (& Sally Swift) say that I should balance on my seatbones. WHAT DOES THAT FEEL LIKE? How will I know when I am cantering correctly? Right now my measure of success is whether I stay on - but I would like to KNOW when I have it "right" - can you guys help? :)

[laura jeanne]

Read Harry Hobbes answer to one of my previous posts about where your weight should be.

http://www.newrider.com/forum/showthread.php?t=31759

[hannah:)]

I've been taught that your weight should be distributed evenly between your seat and your heels - a third in each heel and a third on your bum! :)

You should feel balanced - not like you're pushing down on your heels so hard that your legs are forced forwards of the girth but not like you're just perched up on the saddle either! That way you should be able to move with the horse instead of being carried around by it... Does that make sense? :rolleyes:

[Canaan's Mom]

Thanks Laura (and Harry ;) - that was VERY helpful.

[Canaan's Mom]

Oops Hannah - I think we posted at teh same time - thanks to you also.

I think that the secret for me will be to practice- practice! At least I have an "idea" of what I should be trying to do now. Before, after following ONLY the heels down philosphy (without trying to balance anywhere else), I had only bruised and sore ankle bones to show for it. Wish me luck with this new "idea" :)

[kedwards]

If you are in a forward position (e.g., for jumping, cantering out, galloping), then your weight should be well into your heels. Whenever you are upright and in a "fullseat" (for example, walking, sitting trot, or a controlled canter), then you want to allow the weight to rest in your seatbones. In that case, think about lifting your toes if your heels are coming up, but don't drive them down, as it will only swing your leg forward or lift you out of the seat.

[cvb]

Canaan's mum - don't know if you've read any of my posts before, but if you have, you'll probably know I like images :D

Well I came up with a new one (to me) recently for someone - relating to weight in stirrups, and it was quite a light bulb moment for me so I'm gonna share it in case it helps you. (I knew the feel before, but this was a new way to describe it !) and also extend the idea a little :D

Most people have ridden a bicycle. When you ride a bike you have weight in the seat, but also weight in the pedals. If you push your toe down too much, or your heel down too much, it doesn't work so well - your feet needs to be level (maybe slightly heel down), but with weight into it.

Ok - so the difference is that on a horse the stirrups are not going round in circles :D

This "normal" cycling position is the equivalent of your "3 point" riding position, which is what most of us use for most of the time.

Now sometimes on a bike you get out of the saddle and the weight is more in the pedals. This might be going up a hill or coming down one, or going over bumps. Its for a specific purpose. Thats the equivalent of the "2 point" riding position you use for galloping, jumping etc. For both, you can just be "light" in the seat or right out of it, depending on what you are doing, what kind of bike/horse you are on etc.

make sense ?