Being able to ride a horse well is a whole body exercise; it requires coordination among the hands, legs, seat, and eyes. Fortunately, coordination can be trained both in and out of the saddle. These 15 exercises will help you hone your riding skills. Whether you are taking lessons at the Best horseback riding in Seattle or practicing on your own time, these exercises will help you ride with, rather than against, your horse.
In the Saddle Exercises
1. Two Point Position Holds – Sit up a bit, move to a light seat and sit at a walk then trot. Strengthens the legs and balance non grip.
2. No Stirrup Work – If you don't use stirrups for a short while, your seat and core will need to stabilize, which will enhance balance.
3. Figure Eight Patterns – The smooth figure 8s work on precision steering and reinforcing the ability to cue the horse with the leg and rein working together.
4. Serpentine Loops – Like figure eights, but more intricate: Serpentines teach you to make small, continuous movements instead of correcting one big movement at a time.
5. Transition Drills –Quick transitions back and forth between walk, trot, and halt develop timing and cue your body to respond naturally to changes in pace, making them an important part of training at the Best horseback riding in Seattle.
6. Pole Work – Using walking or trotting your horse over ground poles will help you to develop rhythm and ensure you move your horse's legs into your seat.
7. One Handed Riding – Sitting with one hand on the rein (just a little bit, in a safe, controlled environment) brings attention to your seat imbalances and promotes balanced riding.
8. Eyes Up Drills – Work on anticipating where the horse will be going rather than focusing on his or her neck. This will have a significant effect on balance and steering accuracy alone.
9. Sitting Trot Practice – Without posting, you have to smoothly absorb the motion in the sitting trot, which is an important coordination movement needed at a higher standard of riding.
10. Circle Work at Varying Sizes – Progressively smaller and larger circles develop subtle bends, balances and leg pressures.
Off the Saddle Exercises
11. Balance Board Training – A few minutes each day on a balance board will simulate the gentle "weight shift" required in the saddle.
12. Core Strengthening Routines – Planks, bridges and rotations teach core stability to all riding movements.
13. Yoga for Riders –Those poses which focus on hip flexibility and spinal alignment are equally reflected in a more connected, flexible seat.
14. Hand Eye Coordination Drills – Simple games such as juggling or catch, help to build the quick reactions necessary for rein adjustments and obstacle riding.
15. Ground Work with Your Horse – Walking cones or patterns together on foot will develop the same co ordination that will be used when ridden.
Why Location Matters for Practice
The best practice is when there is a variety of terrain available, and you have instructors who know their way around. You can then try some of the Best horse riding areas in your area to practice these exercises in different terrain: flat arenas for precision, gentler slopes for balance and open trails for speed training.
Whether you're looking for a professional course or a picturesque rural trail, there are plenty of choices for Seattle riders. A lot of horseback riding instructors who teach the Best horseback riding in Seattle integrate these sorts of drills into their lesson plans, and if you're looking to implement these drills, you're in luck because many of the stables you'll find focus on the basics of coordination as well as horseback riding.