An
effective, deep seat in the saddle will lead to an effective, sensitive
leg.
Introduction
We are
becoming more and more aware of the benefits of a good posture while
sitting, walking, jogging, etc. And we are aware of the harmful effects of
a bad posture. Fitness and health experts advise us of walking with our
backs straight and shoulders square. Rounding the back and dropping the
shoulders causes muscle strain and back problems. A person with a stiff
hip joint may walk from his knees- i.e. bending the knees without much
movement from the hip joint. Since the human skeleton is all connected
through joints and ligaments, a rounded back restrains the hip joints from
moving to their full potential. Their full potential, however, is not
necessary for a good posture. Gymnasts, ballet dancers, circus acrobats,
and many others are able to use their muscles and skeleton to their full
potential. As riders, such degrees of suppleness are not required of us to
sit correctly and in harmony with the horse.
To reach a
fair degree of suppleness in the hip joint, a good posture in the ground
would be essential. Walking from the hip joints, rather than from the
knees, can help supple the area. Maintaining a good posture on the ground
will lead to a naturally good seat on a horse. When standing or walking,
keep your back straight and your pelvis in its upright position. Keep in
your mind the checkpoints that connect the vertical line of gravity, as it
applies both on horseback and on the ground. As mentioned previously in
The Classical Seat section, the line of gravity begins on the ground, and
is carried on to place you in the correct position on horseback.
On
The Horse
After
ensuring that you are sitting deeply in the saddle (by lifting the thighs
away from the saddle), bend your knee and bring your heel up to hold it in
your hand. Hold your leg in this position for a few seconds to stretch
your hamstrings, then slowly drop it. This should place your leg in an
almost straight position. Now, as subtly as possible, shift your thigh
only a very small distance forward, and relax your leg. Repeat the
exercise with the other leg. Provided that your pelvis is upright and your
back is supporting itself, you should now be seated in the classical and
most ideal position. Your legs should be bent slightly at the knee, not
stretched uncomfortably straight. Your stirrups can aid in keeping you in
this position but being just long enough to rest the ball of your feet
higher then your heels. Riding without stirrups will help the legs hang
longer, which will result in lowering the stirrups a couple of holes. It
may help to watch grand prix dressage riders, as their legs appear to be
longer than they actually are, while they are only letting them relax in
the most natural position.
"Spreading the buttocks to form as broad a base underneath you as
possible is very important as it will allow the leg to hang unconstricted..
ready to embrace the barrel of the horse."
Sylvia
Loch, "The Classical Seat".
The
Upper Leg
The main
function of the upper leg is, working in conjunction with the pelvis,
helps keep you in the proper position. Since we have, mentally, already
separated the trunk from the pelvis, it is time to connect the pelvis to
the upper leg, imagining that they have both become part of the horse.
Beware that a sensitive horse will be able to detect the slightest tensing
of muscles, therefore, it is not favored to contract or tense up the thigh
muscles to provide a secure seat. If the thigh is in the position
described above, its mere weight will be enough to maintain the secure and
deep seat. It is amazing to know that it is quite possible to hold a piece
of paper between the thigh and the saddle without any gripping from the
rider if he is seated correctly!
The
Lower Leg
The
function of the upper leg has been identified. Now the lower leg has to
work independently from the upper leg. The lower leg's purpose is the
application of the aids. The lower leg should also lie closely against the
horse, but contracting the calf muscle to do so must be avoided. In fact,
tensing the calf muscle will cause the knee to turn outward, which will,
in turn, lead to loss of contact between the thigh and the saddle. The
same principle applies to the lower leg, gripping contradicts the
classical seat, and therefore the legs must lie closely yet relaxed around
the horse. The foot is to 'rest' in the stirrup without any conscious
effort. Be careful of pushing down with your heel to keep the stirrup, as
this has a tendency to shift the lower leg into the chair seat position
(leg forward). The weight of your leg is sufficient to keep the heel lower
than the toes, thus, the stirrup can be regarded as a foot rest.
The
Leg Aids
The aids
provided by the lower leg can be summarized in the words of Sylvia Loch in
her book, The Classical Seat:-
"As
well as activating, the lower leg also supports, directs, limits,
controls, encourages, allows, and makes possible every variation of turn
and of forward, lateral, backward, and, in haute ecole, even upward work
of the horse in all gaits."
An aid
should be viewed as a helping hint, instead of a command.
Leg aids should be in the form of a caress. Kicking, nudging, and
squeezing for prolonged periods will make a horse less and less
responsive, eventually growing numb to your aids. A horse can feel a fly
on his belly. Violent aids are not only uncomfortable for the horse, but
are tiring for the rider, confusing for the horse, visually disturbing for
the onlooker, and limit the variation of aids provided by the lower leg.
The leg,
applied just behind the girth, asks for impulsion. In the shoulder-in, the
inside leg applied in this manner allows the horse to bend around the leg
and maintain impulsion. In the half-pass, it serves the same purpose. When
stationary, a slight pressure from the thighs can move the horse into
walk. To trot, a gentle caress with the lower leg should be all that is
necessary. For a proper transition into canter, the inside leg activates
the forward motion.
Applied
approximately three inches behind the girth, the leg asks for sideways
movement. A single caress, however, merely supports the hindquarters from
swinging outwards. For instance, for the half-pass, the inside leg is
applied on the girth, and the outside leg behind the girth asks the horse
to step laterally. In association with shifting the weight to the inside
seat bone, the horse will bend around the inside leg, step away from the
outside leg, and move his center of gravity under your new center of
gravity (the inside seat bone).
It is said
that the pressure applied behind the horse's elbow (just before the girth)
frees the elbow and encourages the horse to swing his forelegs forwards
actively to extend the pace, provided that impulsion is already achieved.
The aid should given with the toe, and the leg must return to its original
position once the horse responds.
The Leg
aids should always be applied with empathy and understanding. Remember
that you should relieve the pressure as soon as the horse responds as this
serves as reward for his reaction.
