“Biomechanics in sports can be stated as the muscular, joint and skeletal actions
of the body during the execution of a given task, skill and/or technique”
- Wikipedia
Biomechanics is an integral part of sports - you frequently hear talk of the mechanics of a pitcher’s throw in baseball, or the mechanics of a tennis or golf swing. The term rider biomechanics describes how the rider uses their body during riding and how their posture affects the horse and it's way of moving.
There is a continuous interaction between our body and the horses's body. Everything a rider does has the potential to affect the horse and it’s movement. A rider’s posture alone has a huge effect on the horse. In order for the rider to ride well and give signals in a clear way, the rider's posture and seat must be very good. If the rider is unstable and their leg is constantly moving, then the horse becomes dull or habituated to this movement. The horse then has difficulty differentiating between this constant leg movement and an actual leg cue. If the rider is crooked on the horse then the horse will also be crooked. If a rider is unbalanced and their weight is constantly shifting, it makes it difficult for the horse to do his job.
The proper seat gives the rider stability, core strength, lightness, flexibility in the joints, and the ability to exert precise pressures or cues to communicate what you want your horse to do. A good seat also gives the rider the ability to give precise releases when the horse gives the correct response. Equine Learning Theory explains that the horse learns from the release of pressure, and if there is no release or the release is improperly timed, the horse will not learn the correct response. If the rider uses two conflicting cues together such as leg for go, but pulls with the reins, the poor horse can not answer both cues. He then can become very confused or even agitated and may act out, exhibit conflict behavior, or shut down and be dull or hard in the mouth.
To develop a good seat and correct effective posture requires an awareness of one’s body. There are several ways that Erica can help you improve your posture and your communication with your horse:
Read Testimonials from Erica's students.
To Schedule an Seat Lesson or Equine Learning Theory Consultation:
Contact Erica at erica@gotseat.com or
call Erica at (831) 206-9613
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