horse’s motion. Riding bareback will reveal any gripping or tightening in any joint area that the rider may mask in a saddle. Gripping with the legs while riding bareback can sometimes be interpreted to the horse as a driving aid. Not good for the bareback rider trying to develop a seat! To correct yourself from gripping when you ride bareback you must continually remind yourself to relax the legs, and reach them as long as possible by pushing the knee down and back to lengthen the leg. For the rider that grips, attempting to allow the legs to hang down will feel totally unstable at first, since gripping usually causes the rider to shorten the leg by drawing it up. The rider must learn to balance on the seat, and then allow the legs to fall and drape out of the hips. Only when a rider can relax on a balanced seat can she be receptive to the horse so that the signals from the rider to the horse are more easily interpreted. A rider that breaks the habit of holding and gripping with the legs and develops the ability to balance on the seat will greatly improve the ability to communicate with the aids.
EQUINE AFFAIRS
teaches the seat to stay in balance as each of the rider’s aids performs their basic functions to perform lateral work. Basic lateral movements consist of leg yielding to the wall, shoulder-in and haunches-in.
Two main benefits are derived from riding bareback and performing lateral movements. First, it teaches the rider how to balance on the seat and use the limbs without tightening or gripping, because you cannot be tight and gripping and accomplish any decent lateral work. And, second, it teaches the rider how to use the aids without leaning, because you cannot do lateral work leaning. As a result, the rider learns to maintain a balanced seat while harmoniously coordinating the aids to become more effective as a rider. Coordinating the aids in timing with the horse’s rhythm with a following balanced seat is the secret to riding: it’s called “equestrian tact.”
For these exercises to improve the seat, the bareback horse does not have to perform ‘classical’ lateral work, but just the movements. The Similar riding faults apply for the rider purpose at this point is in the Rider turning onto a circle, but this time who clutches on the reins for support. If a keeping her balanced seat and non-gripping training of the rider, not the quality rider is dependent on the reins, she should of the horse’s training. The whole legs. temporarily be put on the lunge line where idea of riding bareback and doing security in the leg position (and not the rein) can be lateral work and not just circles is for the rider to learn to found. A rider who clutches at the reins for balance improve balance and confidence on the seat while obviously lacks an independent seat and balance. coordinating the aids from a balanced seat and eliminating legs or hands that grip, a torso that collapses When the bareback rider is comfortable at the walk and or leans, and a pelvis that perches, slides or tilts. trot, start riding simple arena patterns that include walk and trot transitions. By riding multiple transitions and Riding bareback to develop an independent seat while patterns, the bareback rider becomes challenged. learning how to be “quadridextrous” as opposed to just Suggested patterns are twenty meter circles, spiraling in ambidextrous with the use of the aids (or limbs) is the and out on the circle, three and four loop serpentines, mission. The relaxed, following and balanced seat must half circles, figure eights, straight lines away from the remain the focal point of stability that secures the rider’s railing and across the diagonal. Riding along the railing torso so that the other aids can work in efficient is easiest for horse and rider, so to improve the use of a coordination and harmony in a rhythm with the horse. balanced seat with legs that do not grip and torsos that So whether you are a rider learning how to coordinate do not lean, the rider must ride more challenging school the aids from an independent seat, or an ‘accomplished figures and transitions: putting themselves in situations rider’ showing First Level dressage, go ahead and try to that would normally result in gripping or leaning, and do some bareback riding. There is no doubt you will learn how to do these movements in balance instead. To discover how good or not good your desired find the value of bareback riding to improve the seat, ride independent seat really is! the horse off the railing or away from the arena’s fence! When the bareback rider can stay with the horse comfortably at the sitting trot, during transitions and for basic schooling patterns, then it is time to progress to lateral work. Performing lateral movements bareback intensifies the rider’s interaction with the horse and May 2014
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