What does it mean to sit deep?
Common advice, but often poorly explained and understood.
A rider’s seat is key for good balance, moving with the horse, and communication.
A secure seat keeps you in the saddle when things go awry and your horse gets a bit fresh.
A good seat means a still seat, so you can send your horse signals with the smallest of movements.
But what exactly creates a “good seat” and what is the actual movement of “sitting deep”?
Wendy Murdoch, international clinician, Feldenkrais practitioner, anatomy and movement expert, is here to explain (with two skeleton assistants).
Click play below to watch!
If you want to learn more from Wendy, scroll down to learn more about her online courses at HorseClass.
See you in the comments,
Callie
4 Responses
Thank you for sharing this video! What exercises can a rider do to increase flexibility and mobility of the hip joint?
Hi Becky!
Using an exercise ball can really help you increase mobility of your hips while improving use of your back. Callie shares some exercises here: https://www.horseclass.com/blog/better-use-of-your-back-riding-with-the-exercise-ball/
Yoga and Feldenkrais can also greatly increase your overall flexibility and mobility. Callie talks about this here: https://www.horseclass.com/blog/improve-your-riding-even-when-you-cant-ride/
Hope this helps!
Thank you for a clear demonstration of the seat. I find Wendy’s talk helpful and love reading her work when it is published in Eclectic Horseman.
Great explanation! Glad to know I was taught the correct way to sit. Why do so many dressage riders look like they are sitting on their pelvis bone?
How do you keep your lower leg from swinging? It doesn’t matter whether I’m using an English or Western saddle, I seem to have this problem.