Sundays are always really busy. Today I went out to my old barn to "borrow" the Morgan to try out my Passier saddle. I had yet to ride in it, and wanted to see if I liked it enough to hold onto it. It's amazing how much better of a rider I felt like finally riding in a saddle that fits me. It was great. Still not sure I'm sold on the saddle. I keep playing on the idea of selling it on eBay, but then again I don't know. After taking those saddle fitting classes I continue to freak out that something is wrong with it. I will probably feel better sending it off to get the tree adjusted. If I find out something is wrong with it I could never sell it. I'm too honest of a person to sell something I know that is broken. I've shown it to a bazillion people and they all tell the same two things. A. You paid what for this? (Because I got a good deal on it.) B. There is nothing wrong with this saddle. It's fine.
I continue to have the same problem riding. My arms move all over. I can not keep them from bouncing. Any ideas? I rode with a whip for a little bit and it helped keep my inside arm steady because I rested the hip on my leg, but I can't keep them steady consistently. I'm sure if I got out riding everyday I would get better at it. Does anyone have any suggestions?
BTW, I rode in the pants that I bought with Sprinklerbandit and they were awesome!
Happy Reading!
14 comments:
LOVE the new blog header! Wow, those are some great pictures and to put them together?! Perfect! Can you tell I'm catching up on weekend blogs? Anyway, sounds like you've had a great time with Ms. D this weekend. As for bouncing hands, I've found that riding with two, yes two, short jump bats (one in each hand of course) helps me remember to keep my hands still when I get too busy. If I can keep that short little bat laying across my thigh then I know my hands are staying level and even.
Steady hands is something that develops over time, there is no trick that will fix it. Relax your shoulders, rotate them around to break up tension. Think of your elbows as heavy and your hands and light and following the horse. Put a neck strap on and hook your little finger thru it when your hands start bouncing so you can feel the amount of movement that it takes in your elbow to make your hands steady.
Why do you think something is wrong with the saddle?
Sounds like you need to build your core strength. I have been doing Core exercises for a few years, and they have really helped me, a lot.
Also, you may want to check out the books by Mary Wanless. Her riding instruction starts with the core abdominal muscles.
If you have stability in the center, the rest of you becomes more stable, too.
Sounds like you need to build your core strength. I have been doing Core exercises for a few years, and they have really helped me, a lot.
Also, you may want to check out the books by Mary Wanless. Her riding instruction starts with the core abdominal muscles.
If you have stability in the center, the rest of you becomes more stable, too.
I'm paranoid about saddle fit. I used to just freak out about how it fit Izzy, but after sitting in all those saddles and realizing the difference, now I can freely freak out about both. At least you have tack shops and saddle fitters in your area. ;-)
Glad you liked the breeches. I'm enjoying mine, too.
PS confirmation word: 'frosting'. Now I want cake.
My trainer had me ride with a whip, but you hold it on top of your hands with your thumbs. Keeps them very even and hopefully still
One thing that might help you get a feel for steady arms is polo wrapping them aroung your waist, lol. I was in a clinic a couple years ago and I couldn't remember to keep my arms still with my elbows in so the clinician ended up duct taping them to me. It was pretty funny. Anyways, he recommended that I ride like that a couple times to get a feel for how they should be. Might be a little silly but it works!
I love the new header!! I'm so inspired I might update mine!
I'm terrible with my hands and arms, so I'm in no position to give advice in that area, but good luck.
Does the saddle not fit you, or do you just feel funny because you got such a good deal? :)
Just try to relax your arms all the way through your elbows, into your wrists, and remember to ride with your thumbs up. The reason your arms move is because you are holding tension somewhere along the way. Let 'em hang out and they will settle down. It just comes with time, is all.
Lots of great suggestions. I'm also pretty sure it's not as bad as you think:)
It really is, unfortunately, really tied to fitness, and getting rid of any tension in your body as much as possible. Conscientiously keeping my elbows glued to my sides while keeping them bent (Jane Savoie uses the phrase "carrying grandma's purse", lol) helps me a lot too. I'm a sucker for a good visual:)
I think it makes me nervous because it was a screaming deal. It also has a little bit of a weird thing wrong with it. I don't think it's related to the tree. I'm going to send it off to get adjusted and see what they think of the tree. If it's broken, i'll probably still get it fixed. I just loved how I felt to ride in it.
Muah, ha, ha... the chance of me getting rid of enough tension....muah, ha, ha. I am the most tense human being I know!
Does it have to do with the horse? I mean, Ms. Morgan isn't the easiest horse to ride. I feel like when I ride Giant Warmblood, my arms don't move. Who knows!
A well fitting saddle makes a big difference on how secure you feel. :) I'm glad you like it for the most part and I hope when you send it off that will fix whatever else is wrong with it.
For the hands thing, do you have a bucking strap? I was really bad about pulling back when I first started riding dressage and the "push a shopping cart" visual just wasn't helping me, so I used a bucking strap. It helps to teach you to keep you hands forward, light and steady. I also have a tendency to hunch forward so my trainer had me put a whip behind my back and in front of my elbows. That helps me to sit up straight and to keep my elbows back where they belonged. I think someone else already said this, but also remember 'heavy elbows, light hands'. You'll get it. I took a year of dressage lessons and felt like I was just beginning to brush the surface. :D Have fun!
Just keep working at it. I think that others are right and it has more to do with your core. Give it time and it'll happen.
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