need to get better balance while riding.?

Question

i had a horseshow last weekend and i fell off in the games classes, ( example barrels) we had great speed but i have trouble staying on when i ask the horse to stop.

any suggestions?

Answer 1

No stirrups and bareback work. Oh and slow down.

If you are falling off when you ask the horse to stop then you are leaning forward which isn't correct when you are asking for a stop. It only encourages your horse to speed up when you shift your weight forward. Leaning forward is also a sign of a poor undeveloped seat. Most beginners and inexperienced will lean forward into a semi fetal position with a rounded back in an effort to get as close to the horse as possible. Not a good idea. All your balance is forward and in front of the horse, so he speeds up (great speed, uh?) to try to get you in his center of balance, but you won't get there if you don't sit up straight.

You should not be competing in games if you can not keep your seat when your horse stops. That's dangerous riding.

Can you trot (not cheating at the jog!) your horse without stirrups and bareback? Learn how to post at the trot because sitting the trot is harder. I'm willing to bet your horse has a stronger than necessary bit to get him to stop since you lean forward so bad even though it's not his fault.

You need to go back to riding basics and that means no stirrups and a lot of bareback of just trotting. Yes, it's hard work, but you will be a great rider with a great seat once your finish, which is exactly what you want. Then you kick all the competitions a s s with your awesome balance. :) Good luck!

Answer 2

You need to start to work on riding without stirrups, with only one stirrup, holding reins in one hand, one hand up in the air, out to the side. You should start at the walk with these exercises, move to the trot, and eventually to the canter.

Make sure your not leaning to far forward or backwards. Balance comes from your seat position, which can be affected by many things, such as overly dominate side of your body, stiff/tight muscles, stress, anxiety.

Good luck, and remember to keep practicing.

Answer 3

Well first off you need to learn how to ride before asking for speed. When I was younger I would just walk and trot my horse. I think that you need to start there and then work your way up. You also need to work with you horse more and if he is not a contest horse then he does not need to be entered in the contest classes.

Answer 4

I know western and english are two really different riding styles, but I find it helps me and all other english riders to push down your heels when you ride. I know the western stirrups are bigger and you have a longer leg but it really helps you stay put!! Also, try walking on a raised surface without looking down, just make sure its not too high in case you fall a few times. These really helped me when I ride.

Answer 5

well.. all of us fall of sometimes it may not be balance but if you feel like your unbalanced ask a friend to lunge u around the school with no saddle or bridle and hold on the mane but sit like you do in barrel racing and practice barrel racing without a saddle you should feel much better and may come back a winner K

Answer 6

Start riding bareback and after a few weeks once you get back in the saddle you will feel a whole lot more balanced.

Answer 7

Practice practice and more practice.
we have all been a yard dart once or twice in our lives.
Hang in there and keep riding you will get more experience and learn to balance better. Lots of stopiing practice.
Good luck.

Answer 8

some of the other people had good suggsetions, like, riding without stirrup, and pushing down your heels, and trying to go slow first before speed, but you could also try leaning way back before slowing down and grip your legs tighter before you stop so that you are ready

good luck!

Answer 9

all you can do is practice