But it doesn't *feel* like my equitation is faulty

[Beau Peep]

This is a bit of an odd question to ask people to address, but I just looked at pictures of myself riding recently compared with a few years ago.

I thought nothing had change but apparently it has!

I've become more defensive, so my back is more rounded, and my arms are completely straight and down by my sides with almost no bend in the elbow. I feel like I'm really sitting up with my chest out, but I'm not. And when I do really flatten my back it feels hollow and weak.

As far as my arms go, I think I'm trying to get more leverage on the bit and anchor my hands near the saddle so if the horse pulls my arms are sturdier.

I'm not saying either of these are excuses, but could anyone try and explain why I might be doing these things, and what I could do to correct them?

I had thought I was already focusing on bending the arms and sitting up straight, but the pictures beg to differ!

[nhwr]

Pilates :yes:

[cute_lil_fancy_pants_pony]

How do you improve your riding? Take lessons, video tape your rides, and work out. :)

[dwblover]

Could you be feeling more nerves when you are riding nowadays compared to a few years ago? The posture you describe sounds like me when the nerves hit. Did you have any falls or bad spooks, etc?

[slc2]

"why am I doing that"

because someone isn't telling you not to?

[merrygoround]

You are feeling as though you are sitting correctly because your brain has become acclimated to your "new" body attitude, and therefore perceives it, now, as correct.

In an ideal world, we would all have at least weekly if not more frequent "eyes upon the ground" on us, however finances and time frequently dictate otherwise.

If at all possible, get to someone who can realign you, and grumble at you frequently enough to reset your mental perception of "correct".

[KBEquine]

If you can, find a trainer who will (1) correct your position, and (2) put you back in the 'old' position that had felt OK & then let you find the new position again, until you can feel the difference between the two.

If that doesn't work you'll need someone to do tons of videos and/or ride in an arena with mirrors, so you can self-correct.

I had a dressage trainer once who told me my hands were moving a lot. I didn't feel it, so I couldn't correct it. As luck would have it, a different trainer had my other horse for sale as a jumper & offered me a lesson/video session. The jumping felt great, but when I watched the video, I couldn't BELIEVE how much my hands were moving. I remembered the feel, fixed it . . . and at my dressage lesson the following week, the trainer complimented me on how much better my hands had gotten.

The video did it - I put the feel with the picture & learned how to change the action.

[Hazelnut]

mirrors are helpful.

[Sabine]

Hit the gym- hire a trainer for workouts- get the Dressage Today issue where Steffen Peter's workout is described....it's the best one out there and it is truly perfect for dressage riders...
Get someone to tape you once every 2 weeks. After you've done the gym for a month- at least 3 times a week - get a dressage trainer that meticulously corrects your position and works WITH you.
Someone that appreciates your business and really wants you to get better. Good luck- it's an uphill fight when you get older but it's no way out of reach!!

[Roan]

You're using your upper body instead of your core.

You need to work on pilates.
You need some eyes on the ground.
You could use some mirrors.

Everything everyone has already posted :)

If it makes you feel better -- I went three months without "eyes on the ground" and I thought my trainer was going to SHOOT me. She screamed, "WHY ARE YOU LEANING???"

Wha? I had no clue I was leaning. ARGH! Yah, I need to look in the mirror, too!



Eileen

[slc2]

No one's equitation is perfect; it can always be better.