How to Sit Correctly at Halt

The rider should remain balanced in the saddle and the halt must not be abrupt. The rider must maintain a contact with hand and leg, both horse and rider remaining attentive to each other during the halt.

How to Sit Correctly in the Walk

You should be level in the saddle (central), straight back, head up looking where you are going. Your seat should follow the horse’s movement allowing them to maintain a balanced four time walk.

A good exercise to lengthen the legs and secure your seat in walk is taking your leg away from the horse and placing them back. This allows your muscles to stretch and lengthen and allowing a deeper seat in the walk.

A Balanced Seat in Trot and Canter

Trot may be ridden sitting or rising. Trot has a two time beat. In rising trot it is important to check you diagonal in order to keep you and your pony balanced. For example when riding on the right rein you should be rising when the outside shoulder moves forwards. When you change the rein across the school you should remember to change your diagonal.

Sitting trot is often used as part of upward and downward transitions. You should be sitting in the deepest part of your saddle with legs long and heels down with soft hips and seat allowing you to absorb the horse’s movement.

The rider should sit in the deepest part of the saddle, with a straight back and soft shoulders. The upper body should be stretched upwards with head up, looking in the direction you wish to go. The lower body should stretch downwards the leg should be as long as possible allowing a deeper seat. Your stirrups should stay on the balls of your feet and keep your heels down, legs and ankles should be relaxed and not gripping. Gripping with your legs may lead to a loss of balance and encourage the horse to pick up speed.

A good way to improve the riders seat during the trot and canter is riding without stirrups in both paces to allow the leg longer, the seat deeper and improve the riders balance.