In this video, we are unraveling the complexities of seat aids, giving you a few simple things to always remember to always communicate clearly with your horse.
Using your weight to give clear seat aids is crucial for effective communication with your horse and maintaining good stability in the saddle.
However, these aids are often misunderstood and confused, inadvertently guiding the horse to move, turn, or pull in a way that was NOT intended.
In this post, we’ll clarify what seat aids are, how they work, and common misconceptions that can hinder your riding progress.
By the end, you’ll have a clearer understanding of how to use your seat effectively, ensuring a more harmonious and balanced ride for both you and your horse.
Let’s dive in and refine your riding skills – click play below to watch!
9 Responses
I absolutely LOVE your
Videos!! The way you explain things are so
understandable!
THANK YOU SO MUCH!
You’re awesome!
Sincerely, Bonnie Barkett
Thank you Bonnie! I am so glad you are enjoying the videos!
you explain it so well and so easy to understand. unfortunately weather here is yuk so hoping to do these exercises soon. thankyou
I hope your weather improves soon!
I am working with my trainer now on understanding seat aids. You clarified quite a bit for me. Thank you Callie
Very well explain. Will
help a lot. Thanks
So informative, simple and clear! Thank you!
Hello… I need help with my core. I find myself leaning forward to often. Do you have a video that would help me strengthen my core?
thank you.
Hi Irene,
Great question! Core strength is essential for good riding posture and aids, but it’s often misunderstood. Many riders think of core strength as bracing or tightening the abs, but true stability comes from a functional, responsive core—not a rigid one.
When we “lock” our core, we create tension that restricts movement rather than supporting it. This can actually make balance harder and contribute to habits like leaning forward. Instead of focusing on traditional ab exercises like sit-ups, which mostly target the outer abdominal muscles, I recommend exercises that engage the deeper core stabilizers, which are responsible for maintaining stability in the saddle without stiffness.
I do have a video on this here: https://www.horseclass.com/blog/is-a-tight-core-important-for-good-riding/ and can guide you through exercises to develop this deep core stability in my Movement for Riders, learn more about that here: https://www.horseclass.com/mfr/enroll/