When I was about 13 years old, I decided to take the stirrups off my dressage saddle for two months. I became really good at posting without stirrups, sitting the trot, following the canter. But when I put the stirrups back on, my position immediately worsened as every time I went to post, my feet pushed off the horse’s side, upsetting my entire leg.

I made constant pleas that I wished stirrups could be optional for dressage. In the midst of improving my stirrup-less riding, I had damaged my riding with stirrups. Since the USEF wasn’t going to listen to my advice on the optional stirrups, I had to learn to ride with them again (something I didn’t actually nail down until a few years ago).

This is an example of a problem I have faced over and over again. I will work really hard on improving something, but I’m unable to maintain success in two contrasting areas. This is similar to body builders and contortionists. While body builders have incredibly strong and build up muscles, most aren’t able to touch their toes, because they never stretch their muscles and lack flexibility. However, while contortionists are so flexible they can bend backwards to touch their toes, they could never bench press a motorcycle as they lack any serious muscling.

What I’m starting to understand more thoroughly is that finding the balance is the key. Gymnasts are a good balance between the body builders and contortionists, as they have the muscle to repeatedly twist and flip their body in a hundred different ways, yet they also have the flexibility to do an arabesque. For me it’s being able to change the kind of rider I am depending on the horse and situation.

My first horse could jump 3’7” stadium courses, yet would stop dirty at a beginner novice rolltop. As a result I became very defensive and would try to practically jump the fence for him (lots of leg, lots of seat, crest release). My next horse, Apollo, was (and is) the most honest jumper I’ve ever ridden. But because of my history, I was still doing too much riding at the fences that I thought were scary, which ended up interfering with my horse. After months and months I finally learned to do less: keep my position quieter and out of the saddle, follow with my hands better, and maintain leg without chasing him.

Unfortunately, not every horse is like Apollo, especially not 3-year-old mares who have never jumped before two months ago. The mare I am riding here is a great jumper who loves to canter up and over fences, but new arenas, horse-eating barrels and intimidating cross-country fences make her confidence shake a bit. And here I am, still acting like I’m on my 17-year-old packer.

I had a breakthrough a few weeks ago when I finally made the connection that I need to take my improved position and knowledge and go back to practically jumping the fence myself. Instead of staying out of the saddle and trusting her to jump, I need to ensure that my every single body part is telling this youngster what to do. Then as soon as she gets it, to back off on the assertiveness and give her the chance to learn.

This ability to ride in different ways, while maintaining a basic, correct position is the ability to be elastic and adaptable. This is what makes good riders great and what allows riders like Boyd Martin and Michael Jung to be successful at both the four-star level and the novice or 7-year-old classes.

While I understand all this mentally, and I’m getting it more physically, I’m still a ways off from mastering this skill. Luckily there’s a cheeky young mare in the stable who’s happy to let me know when I get it wrong and right. Provided I smother her with treats of course. 

Marina Royston has left Virginia for adventures in France as a working student for French eventers Lindsay and Xaiver Traisnel. You can read all her blogs here.