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2.4 The classic hunt seat, or forward seat position on horseback is a perfect blend of form and function. Everything about it serves a purpose.
The correct position involves the rider sitting straight in the saddle with his legs stretched long and around the horse. The heels are down as deeply as possible to lower the rider’s center of gravity and improve stability.
The stomach and rib cage are lifted up a bit, improving the rider’s posture and giving a slight arch to the back.
The arms are soft and elastic, forming a straight line from the elbow to the bit. They allow the horse to be ridden with contact without putting pressure on the bars of the mouth.
The rider’s head is up and his eyes are looking ahead—further improving his balance and synchronicity with the horse. (For a more in-depth look at the various aspects of position, see chapter 9, Perfect Position: Understanding and Developing the Physical Aids.)
Correct position was created out of necessity. It is the easiest way to hold your balance and maintain your security on the horse. At the same time, it allows you to effectively communicate your wants and needs to the horse.
Good horsemanship is about being in a position where you can best influence your horse. The rider’s goal—the purpose of perfecting your position—is riding with independent hands and an independent seat.
Independent hands mean you do not rely on your hands for balance. You do not clutch at the reins to keep you on the horse. Independent hands allow you to relate to the horse’s mouth, head, and neck in specific ways. They guide the horse, but do not randomly interfere with him.
An independent seat means that you use only your leg and your base for balance and security on the horse. Obviously, being in the middle of the horse’s back, being secure in the saddle, being balanced, and being confident will help all of your riding—whether you ultimately want to ride jumpers or hunters, ride cross-country, go trail riding, or ride to hounds.
Keep It Simple
Riding isn’t complicated. It isn’t easy, either. It is a discipline that requires you to work hard at perfecting the basics, even though the “basics” are simple to understand. Keep your heels down. Establish an even pace. Maintain steady contact. These are not complicated concepts, but they can take a long time to master.
In the same vein, holding the reins isn’t physically difficult (it is quite simple, really), but you must hone the skills required so the reins feel natural in your hands rather than awkward.
The best rider is not great because he does all sorts of complicated or difficult moves on the horse. He isn’t the one who does bizarre, outrageous, obvious, or esoteric things.
The best rider is the one who does the simplest, most classic, most artful pieces of riding better than anybody else. His leg position is better than anybody else’s, and so is the position of his hands and his arms. His discipline, cleanliness, and timeliness are better. He excels in the simple things, and that gives him the foundation for greatness.
2.5 You want to be as much a part of the horse as possible so the two of you are better able to do interesting things together.
No One Said It Would Be Easy
I don’t believe the correct position is “easy.” In fact, when you begin riding it is easier to let your leg and heel come up and to allow your upper body to collapse forward.
It is better, however, if you can keep your weight down in your leg and stretch your legs so they are as long as possible. This ultimately offers a more secure seat and gives you better communication with the horse.
Similarly, it is not easier—but it is better—to hold your upper body straight and strong, while your hands and your arms stay supple. Correct body position gives you strength, security, and balance. At the same time, soft arms and hands allow for good communication through the bit.
An independent seat and independent hands are not easy to develop—but they are necessary. Though classically beautiful equitation is an “art,” every piece of the art form was developed for a reason.
Time has shown us where to be on the horse, in relation to the horse’s build and balance, in order to be the most effective. The fact that it is physically demanding to get there and the fact that it goes against your first instinct doesn’t matter. The fact that it works is what makes it both important and necessary. Therefore, in order to ride well, you need to work hard enough to master the physical demands of correct position.
Mastering the principles of good equitation gives you a tremendous sense of pride and respect. The respect is not only for yourself and for the horse, but for the sport of riding as well.
Building a Solid Foundation
As you learn to ride, if you take enough time to build your foundation of good position, solid riding skills, and basic training skills, you will end up reaching your end goals faster.
The Fast Way Is the Slow Way
Riding is a bit like the old fable of the tortoise and the hare: slow and steady wins out in the end.
I often caution my overly ambitious students about cutting corners. “The fast way is the slow way,” I warn them.
If you skip things in the beginning, or try to move up through the divisions too quickly, you may start out ahead of the others. But, you will inevitably end up backsliding, and you will have to backtrack to learn the parts you missed. You will ultimately spend more time unlearning bad habits and forming good ones than you would have spent learning the good habits to begin with.
Equitation is about mastering the pieces of riding and then putting those pieces together in a unified, effective whole. The whole process takes time.
A Talent for Riding
I think it is easy for students (myself included) to use “lack of talent” as a way to avoid working too hard. Lack of talent is a great stress reliever. It allows you to say things like, “I didn’t do that right. It’s not because I am not trying hard; it’s because I’m not talented.”
What a ridiculous excuse!
Talent is so unimportant when compared to interest, when compared to desire, and when compared to hard work. It is a very, very small piece of the puzzle.
To my mind, a disciplined rider of lesser talent will always shine above the undisciplined, talented rider. In this sport, drive and determination are enormously leveling factors.
