Basic Riding Positions

1
Basic Riding Positions

• By Hannah Stonefield
• November 26, 2003

2
Introduction

• Most people think that horse back riding is not a
  real sport, but I have to disagree. I am not sure
  I see the difference in effort, in trying to
  tackle a 300 pound linebacker or trying to
  maneuver a 1,500 pound animal over four feet
  jumps. Either one takes talent and strength.
  Riding is one of the toughest sports that one can
  participate in. Riding uses muscles that you
  dont even know you have. Ask anyone that has at
  least gone on a trail ride, they will tell you
  that they are very sore. (And if you dont
  believe them, just look at the way that they are
  walking). Riding is difficult and like any sport
  it takes a lot of time and practice, to even get
  just the basics in place. So I have decided to
  share some of what I have learned over the past
  years with you, so the next time you encounter a
  ride on a horse, you at least have a little
  knowledge on what to do.

3
Required Materials

• Rider
• Riding Attire
• Britches/Jeans
• Boots/Chaps
• Belt
• Helmet
• Hairnets
• Optional
• Gloves
• Crop/Whip
• Spurs
• Show Attire
• Show Shirt w/ collar
• Show Jacket

• Horse
• Tack
• Bridle (with reins and a bit)
• Saddle
• Saddle Pad
• Girth
• Polos/Boots

4
Mounting

• Mounting How To Get On Your Horse
• MUST get on your horse from the left side.
• How There are two ways to get on your horse
• 1. Using a mounting block
• 1. Take the reins in your left hand and face the
  rear of the horse. Place your left hand on the
  crest of the neck.
• 2. Place your left foot in the stirrup, your toes
  pointing toward the girth.
• 3. Place your right hand on the cantle of the
  saddle.
• 4. Swing up, place your right foot in the
  stirrup, sink slowly and softly into the saddle,
  adjust your reins and assume the basic riding
  position.

• 2. Getting a leg up.
• 1. Take the reins in your left hand and face the
  side of your horse.
• 2. Raise your left leg.
• 3. Have your Leg-Upper grasp your leg and on a
  agreed upon count, have them lift you up into the
  saddle.
• 4. Swing up, place your right foot in the
  stirrup, sink slowly and softly into the saddle,
  adjust your reins and assume the basic riding
  position

5
Stirrups

• Stirrups
• When riding, you must have your stirrups at the
  correct length because they provide a restful
  brace and support (for the horse and rider).
  Stirrups help the rider because the stirrup acts
  as a support for the foot and relieves the
  rider's seat. While for the horse the stirrup
  distributes the riders weight and relieves the
  horses back.
• How to adjust your stirrups
• Before mounting adjust your stirrup leather so
  that your finger tips reach the stirrup buckles
  and the bottom of the stirrup hits you in the
  armpit.

• After mounting Take your feet out of your
  stirrups and let your feet hang free. Your irons
  should hit you at the bottom of the ankle bone.
• Stirrup adjustment really depends on the
  individual rider and what equestrian activity the
  rider is participating in, for example flat
  racing compared to dressage.

6
The Basic Position

• A riders body is separated into four principal
  parts
• The leg from the knee down.
• The base of support thigh and seat.
• The upper body
• The hands and arms.
• A rider must be balanced and is considered
  balanced when all four principle parts coordinate
  correctly and are in equilibrium.
• The position defined
• The ball of the foot is placed in the middle of
  the stirrup and the heels are pushed down (just
  behind the girth).
• The rider grips the horse with the calf and the
  inner knee bone.

• The thighs must lay flat and must not grip any
  more than the calf and knee bone.
• The seat is placed forward in the saddle (near
  the pommel). glue your seat bones to the
  saddle.
• Body should be strong, upright, with a slight
  arch, with relaxed shoulders and an opened chest.
  
• Eyes and head should look straight head.
• There should be a straight line from the riders
  elbow to the horses mouth.
• Hands are placed above and slightly in front of
  the withers, 2-3 inches apart.

7
Positions Continued Positions change with the
motion of your horse and what you are executing.

• Three-Point Contact
• Position is used for most flat work and turning.
• Contact between horse and rider is through both
  legs and the weight of the seat.
• Allows you to drive the horse forward, especially
  if you sit behind the vertical.

• Two-Point Contact
• Position is used for jumping and straight lines.
• Contact between horse and rider through both
  legs.
• The riders weight is lifted off the horses back
  and driven into her heels/stirrups.
• The body is slightly forward, going with the
  motion of the horse. All over the balance is
  shifted to the forehand, wanting the horse to
  move forward.

8
Dismounting

• There are two ways to dismountGetting off your
  horse.
• 1. Sliding Off
• Reins are shifted to the left hand.
• The rider drops both his stirrups.
• The rider swings his leg over his horses back
  and slides down.
• 2. Stepping Off
• Reins are shifted to the left hand.
• The rider drops their right stirrup.
• The rider swings his right leg over the horses
  back and steps down, using his left stirrup.
• Right away run up your stirrups and bring the
  reins over your horses head.

9
More on the Horse

• As the riders abilities increase, they will be
  faced with the decision on what type of riding
  they want to partake in.
• There are many different disciples flat racing,
  western, dressage, jumping, gaited horse,
  carriage horses and more.
• Whatever the rider decides, I know they will
  fully enjoy it. ( I personally recommend becoming
  a hunter/jumper/equitation rider). Who wouldnt
  want to spend time with horses?

10
Bibliography

• Morris, George H. Hunter Seat Equitation, Third
  Edition. Doubleday Company, Inc New York, 1990
• Paillard, Commandant Jean Saint-Fort.
  Understanding Equitation. Doubleday Company,
  Inc New York, 1974
• CB Clare