Stay Grounded and Secure in the Saddle

Рет қаралды 15,220

Күн бұрын

Want to feel secure in the saddle? This video give you tips to help you stay balanced and secure in the saddle, so you feel grounded even though you’re on horseback
#HowToFeelGroundedInTheSaddle #StrengthenYourSeat #CorrectStirrupPosition
(FULL VIDEO DESCRIPTION BELOW LINKS)
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When we’re in the saddle, we want to be able to feel as secure and grounded as we do when we’re on the ground. Sounds crazy right? But if we focus on the right thing, we can feel just as balanced and secure on horseback as we do off it. The secret is in the feet!
I’ve taken the following tips from Sally Swift’s great book Centered Riding (thanks Sally!) and they really work! So here are some tips to help you become as grounded and balanced in the saddle as you are on the ground!
1. Find the bubbling spring. This is the point of your foot that needs to stay in connection with the stirrup. It’s important that when you’re giving your aids, the pressure stays on this point so you can keep a hold of your stirrups with your foot and maintain your position.
2. Avoid bad stirrup placement. The common mistakes people make are where the stirrup bar is angled at about 45 degrees instead of coming out from the horse’s side at 90 degrees OR the opposite where they are down at your arches. Both of these positions will make your leg aids ineffective.
3. Stretch those calves! Ankle flexibility is crucial! If your calves are tight do some stretches to help your heels get down!
Once you start focusing on keeping the weight in the right part of the stirrup, you will notice you feel more secure with a lower center of gravity, your legs will feel longer, and much more effective!
Play around with wiggling your toes so you’re not gripping with your leg.
Keep equal pressure across the whole of the foot, I have a tendency to place more pressure on the outside of the foot but equal weight distribution optimizes the effectiveness of the aids.
Watch this video where I talk in more detail about the bubbling spring while I go through the gaits with Mercurio demonstrating this correct foot placement, and let me know if you find it helpful in the comments.
Thanks for watching

Пікірлер: 56

@cherylarelis1542 Жыл бұрын

This is such a struggle for me, but it's getting a bit better. It's so hard to break old habits 😏

@TommyStop3 2 жыл бұрын

Super that you mention sally swifts book. I read it a year ago and i am super fan of centrex riding.

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 2 жыл бұрын

I love her work!

@afaaafoo4294 2 жыл бұрын

It looks easy! The most the body is natuerel and spontanous the more the harmony is captivating.

@lindav3747 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for doing an entire video on this. I am continually amazed at how placing focus on stirrups and feet, as well as a "tented" thumb on reins or spreading shoulder blades can positively impact my communication with my horse and improve my riding. Thanks for always knowing what we need!!

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 2 жыл бұрын

You're so welcome. Glad it helped you :)

@kerryobrien6299 2 жыл бұрын

Love this. When I took the Equestrian course for Gyrotonic Instructors, great emphasis was put on the first ray, or "bubbling spring" which I think is the Chinese acupuncture point between the first two toes at the ball of the foot. In Gyrotonic and Pilates we are always trying to get people to feel the connection into the first ray. This helps connects the "fifth line" which is the energetic axis through the center of the leg and beyond.

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 2 жыл бұрын

That's a really cool way of thinking of it! Thanks for sharing :)

@MariaM-dl8ug 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing this, Amelia. I appreciate your generosity of spirit in presenting many different and correct ways of connecting with your horse AND endeavouring a lifetime of lessons with classical dressage.

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your kind words. Dressage is such a passion of mine and I'm happy I get to share it.

@luciemarinov129 2 жыл бұрын

Very helpful to remind me of foot position as the correct placement affects the rest of my alignment and balance. I really appreciate reading the comments below too; they were helpful as well.

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 2 жыл бұрын

Glad they were helpful!

@marielledevaal6029 2 жыл бұрын

Something you forget so easily when your riding thank you I will pay attention next time I ride.

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 2 жыл бұрын

Hope it helps!

@amandaburnham.8817 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! I've been trying to teach my boyfriend the basics of riding so that in another month or two when I can start riding my horse he can learn to ride too. I never had an instructor growing up, I learned little from here and there but my teachers were my horses, especially my qh! He taught me my riding position, balance, how to feel his movement, and how important just being together was.

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 2 жыл бұрын

Glad the video was helpful. It can be hard when you don't have access to an instructor, that's why I started doing these videos. So that anyone, anywhere, could get access to riding education :)

@kristidh 2 жыл бұрын

Great video. Thank you for posting.

@seriouspurrsahead7445 2 жыл бұрын

I know you are giving many good points but your horse is such a handsome guy!

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 2 жыл бұрын

haha thank you. I'm pretty fond of him too ;)

@deborahclark1291 Жыл бұрын

Huge help! Thank you

@AmeliaNewcombDressage Жыл бұрын

I’m so glad!

@blanca2301 2 жыл бұрын

This has helped a lot! Thank you!!

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 2 жыл бұрын

You're welcome!

@paulazimmerli-angulot 2 жыл бұрын

This video really helped me!!

@user-qx5qj6bf5o 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Amelia for all your helpful tips. I've just ridden and realized my feet weren't in the right place in the stirrups. What a different feel and my heels automatically went down when placed correctly.

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 2 жыл бұрын

I'm so glad it helped you!

@simoneprobst2904 2 жыл бұрын

Really helpful tip ! Once you learned to feel that bubbleing spring you start feeling your feet all the time! It‘s like a footmassage or foot reflex massage, it‘s a great feeling and healthy for your entire body !

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 2 жыл бұрын

That's so true Simone, and a very healthy way to think about your feet. Thanks so much for watching and don't forget tot subscribe to get updated about my weekly content.

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 2 жыл бұрын

Also, if you want help getting your position in the strongest shape to execute your dressage aids, come to my FREE webinar on Rider Position and Biomechanics on June 5th. bit.ly/3sJTa5R You can sign up to get my weekly dressage tips here! bit.ly/3FE0y8c I’m also on FB and IG bit.ly/3M9JCcc & bit.ly/3L8gP6g Also, and this is super helpful too, join Amelia’s Dressage Club on Facebook, it’s a really active and engaged community of riders and no question goes unanswered! bit.ly/38ljQ64 Also, if you love my content, I’d love if you left me a review on google! g.page/r/CYIGmCINXFOQEAo/review And finally, there’s my website! bit.ly/3w6rABY Ok that’s the lot I promise. Have an awesome day! 🐴

@elizabethengland8983 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Amelia. Belated thanks for the video you posted before this one and your candor and wisdom after the experience of falling off. After a pretty spectacular crash going cross country years back I read and loved Sally Swift's book. I re-read it again when I started classical French Dressage vs. Eventing. Thanks as always for this tip - clearly imagery works for me so I may have to read it again when I'm 3 years into dressage training. Here's to creating positive images in our minds and linking them to our bodies. Love your content and so appreciate your generosity in sharing it!

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 2 жыл бұрын

Aww thank you for your kind words. I'm glad you're enjoying the videos. And yes- here is to creating positive images in our minds!

@katytripper 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you. You always inspire me to get out there and ride.

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 2 жыл бұрын

Oh that's so lovely to hear. Thank you!

@susie7035 2 жыл бұрын

So interesting thanks Amelia 🙏⭐️

@dallassharvell9776 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Amelia Thank you so much for sharing all your training videos. Your very inspiring. This has been a a great training video. My friend and coach Libby Sauer has trained me along similar ideas. You pivot from your feet for allowing inside leg aids and if horse falls in. You step more into your outside stirrup to take them outwards. Your ideas with Sally Swift which Libby is a big fan. Or make sense. Plus it gives you as rider better balance for when your horse spooks or tries to not so accommodating. Thank you! Regards Dallas

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 2 жыл бұрын

Yay! So glad to hear that it is helpful!!

@Zaffy2010 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Amelia, as always you are very nice and you explain everything so well! Thank you for your time and your advice :-)

@joelbailey1595 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Amelia. Enjoyed video. Very helpful.

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 2 жыл бұрын

Glad it helped Joel! :)

@falizianme5846 2 жыл бұрын

Ok... first I love love love your shirt! 😅. On 2 of my 3 horses that I ride regularly my stirrups are 90 degrees on the one who remains nameless but I know youkk guess who.. im fighting them at 45 degrees... so the inside is more forward than the outside! I'm guessing I'm still turning my leg out to get it on ... frustrating. Maybe I need to get those angled stirrups for this guy! 🤔 😅 great video as always!

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 2 жыл бұрын

haha thanks! It's a Kastel Denmark Shirt. It can be hard to control our body sometimes, I'm doing a free rider position webinar on June 5th (recording available too) that might be a good fit for you. bit.ly/3LqMFLX

@FidelisEventing 2 жыл бұрын

Could you do a video on how to slow your horse down with your seat?

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 2 жыл бұрын

I did a a video on trot lengthens you might enjoy. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/qtl_hZh-npqqn40.html I'll also pop that question in my weekly Q&A (every thursday) for you :)

@naunettemartin7450 2 жыл бұрын

I'm doing real good with my horse Nannette

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 2 жыл бұрын

that's great to hear!

@naunettemartin7450 2 жыл бұрын

@@AmeliaNewcombDressage you are welcome

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 2 жыл бұрын

Hope you enjoy this video! Make sure to sign up for my FREE mini course on confidence for more tips: Https://ameliasdressageacademy.com/confidence/

@spiridoulaathanasopoulou9244 2 жыл бұрын

😍😍😍😍😍😍

@teresabrown7836 2 жыл бұрын

Love your videos! Please consider changing your new disclaimer which appears at the beginning of your videos to a static screen shot, instead of the moving banner. I literally feel motion sickness and need to close my eyes.

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 2 жыл бұрын

oh no! I'm sorry to hear that. Thank you for the feedback, I'll chat to my editor about it.

@antoinettetuffnell8998 2 жыл бұрын

Haha I couldn’t help but notice the rider behind you. She is riding very much to one side. She needs your help Amelia Newcomb Dressage 😊

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 2 жыл бұрын

So glad to hear you enjoyed it

@Flying0Dismount 2 жыл бұрын

I absolutely hated Sally Swift's books as they are all about "imagery", which may work for some people, but does absolutely nothing for me.. My feet are bones and flesh, they have no bubbles or springs in them, my arms and legs are likewise bones and flesh and are not fire hoses or accordions and even if they were, I'm a human and have absolutely no idea what a fire hose or accordions or a bubbling spring is supposed to feel like as they are inanimate objects so any "feel" I may associate with such words is going to be made up in my mind and likely not exactly the same as what Sally, or you or anyone else may imagine, which means it's not really useful as a teaching aid.. Great literary tools, but imagery is IMO, absolutely NOT a good way to teach riding which is about precise biomechanical interaction with your horse, which may appear like the smooth allegory of written prose when well executed, but is not the same thing..

@kerryobrien6299 2 жыл бұрын

Research has shown that imagery is more effective than anatomical descriptions in helping most people activate good movement patterns. I have found this true in my movement instruction practice. Possibly you are not a visual learner. A good instructor has an entire library and vocabulary of cues for different people. Visual imagery works for the majority of people. If visual images don't work for you, perhaps your instructor can give you tactile cues or you can create your own. I often imagine that my feet are energetically connected to the ground. This allows me to lengthen my leg, relax and open my hip and reach downward with, for you, if you need bones and flesh... the second joint of the first two toes and the tissue between them (often termed the first ray) deeply connected to inside of the stirrup. However it shouldn't end there but continue beyond the bones and muscles. The same way we ask for "throughness" of our horse, we need throughness of our own movement energy. It doesn't end at the stirrup. Hope that helps. A movement instructor.

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 2 жыл бұрын

Hey Flying Dismount, sorry you didn't find this video useful. A lot of my students do enjoy imagery but it's ok if it's not for everyone :) If you like biomechanical videos, this one might be better for you: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/qbuHoqWQvdDco6s.html

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 2 жыл бұрын

Well said Kerry :)