This article is part 2 of 2, of Adaptive Development EQ’s Fundamentals Series, Fundamentals: On The Seat. To read Part 1, see: Fundamentals: On The Seat (Part 1 of 2). EXECUTION OF THE SEAT AIDS In Part 1 of this article, we have discovered the horse’s center of gravity, aligned with it, and disturb it as little as possible. Let us now move on to how we use our seat through manipulation of our weight in order to communicate our desires.…
This article is part 1 of 2, of Adaptive Development EQ’s Fundamentals Series, Fundamentals: On The Seat. To read Part 2, see: Fundamentals: On The Seat (Part 2 of 2). THE SEAT It is with the seat and legs that we obtain the greatest influence in communicating with our horses. Of primary importance, we use our seat to anchor ourselves, and remain in balance with (and aligned to) the horse’s center of gravity. We also use the seat as an aid…
This article is part 2 of 2, of Adaptive Development EQ’s Fundamentals Series, Fundamentals: On The Leg. Here’s the first part if you missed it: Fundamentals: On The Leg (Part 1 of 2). BUILDING STRENGTH If you have a very good leg but still struggle to be quiet and supportive, it is likely that you are simply not yet strong enough. We see this most often in riders who have had some years away from the saddle, infrequent riders, young…
This article is part 1 of 2, of Adaptive Development EQ’s Fundamentals Series, Fundamentals: On The Leg. To read Part 2, see: Fundamentals: On The Leg (Part 2 of 2). THE LEG At its most basic, the leg is one of the fundamental aids of riding (along with the rider’s weight, seat and hands) and their function is to queue forward and lateral movement. As the rider advances in skill, so too does the rider’s repertoire in the number of…
