Deepening the Seat?

[Smookle]

Yea, its me again ;) Had a riding lesson this evening, riding a different horse this time, but one I've ridden plenty of times before. Now I managed to ride Jack up to a contact (go me!! lol) and got him going in a lovely trot. (Not rounded out, but active and forward going none the less). However, I go into canter, which is fine, fairly nice transitions on my part, his were fine, but he seemed to be a case of bomb it or nothing. My instructor told me to bring him to a controlled canter, which I tried, but failed miserably. Now I know he can do it, coz she actually jumped onboard and showed me he could!

She said that I needed to deepen my seat in order for him to understand I was asking him to maintain a canter, but collect and slow it, but damned if I knew how to do that! I always thought deepening your seat meant sitting heavier in the saddle, but that (I quickly discovered) means I get a nice little downward transition. Well, with a little bit of outside rein perhaps, lol. So, here's the question, (sorry for the long blurb) what is deepening the seat, what does it do for the horse and rider (aside from improving your chances of not falling off :D ) and how the heck do I do it?!

[kedwards]

I assume that she means a deeper, but following seat. If you carry too much weight in your legs and stirrups, then it will bring your seat a little out of the saddle so you can't use it to affect the balance of the horse. In contrast, if you sit "deeper" in the saddle, but your seat is stiff and not following the horse's movement, it will make it harder for him to move forward freely.

Personally, I think that longe lessons are the best way to improve your seat or work out issues (whatever your stage of training). I found them very helpful when I was learning to adjust to a deeper dressage seat and I continue to get them from time to time.

With or without a longe line, I also find it helpful to do some exercises that help me to open up my hips and bring my seat deeper into the saddle. For example, during warmup, I'll often "scissor" my legs (bring one back and the other forward) to stretch them out, bring my legs off the saddle for short periods, bring them back a little, then let them relax against the saddle. Also, I always include at least a little work without stirrups.

[ponytude]

Also, I always include at least a little work without stirrups.


:) Yes, This is one of the tips my instructor gives this bit of advice all the time... Plus it is a very fun thing to do too! :)

[fielder]

I was told to ride for a part of my lesson without my legs in the stirrips this helped me to sit deeper in the saddle and also lengthened my legs during riding

[Wally]

This term "sit deep" what does it mean we have all been told to do it, but WHAT DO THEY MEAN, I don't suppose they do either!

"Sit deep" does imply you sit down harder in the saddle but the horse won't like this and will often (as discovered) stop or hollow. Taking your feet out of your stirrups will not help unless you know exactly what it is you are needing to do. Once you get tired all you'll do is bounce and lose your balance and make it even harder for the horse to carry you.

I think what you need to do is be aware of whether you are stiff and tight in your pelvis, this will make it look like you are perched on the horse rather than draped around him. (sitting deep) If anything you need to be thinking lighter, not heavier in the saddle. it is the precise movements of your lower back and hips which make the horse free and able to carry out your requests, if you are stiff and tight in your hips the horse will be blocked by your body.

get hold of a copy of Heather Moffett's book Enlightened Equitation and read it from start to finish, this will throw a lot of light on the subject, far too detailed to go into on these posts. It is well reccommended reading.

[Smookle]

Thanks for all the advice guys!

I've got a riding lesson later today, so I'll definately be putting a few of these into practice. My RI does make us do alot of riding without stirrups, and, in retrospect, I do sit more comfortably (which I hope means deeper, lol) in saddle afterwards...though I never thought that was deepening my seat, more enforcing my balance, lol!

For example, during warmup, I'll often "scissor" my legs (bring one back and the other forward) to stretch them out, bring my legs off the saddle for short periods, bring them back a little, then let them relax against the saddle.

Funnily enough, we seem to concentrate more on warming our horses up than warming ourselves up! I think after I've ridden a few walk/trot/canter circles to warm him up, I will definately try those exercises before our lesson starts!

Wally, I'm seeing if my library has it at this very moment. Cheers for the explanation!