Rider Balance

Is rider balance important?

I think 🤔 it’s one of the most important parts of riding effectively and I’d like to explain why.

Unfortunately we don’t all have long legs, short bodies, core strength and fitness to match a gazelle. But we can do a couple of things to help!

It must be said that as you gain experience your riding position will improve. But even the most experienced riders can sit in an unbalanced position and your horse will feel this through the saddle. Mainly resulting in soreness over its back.

Many riders may be unaware that they sit unevenly, but your horse will feel it and will compensate by becoming uneven and unbalanced too. Which affects the contact you have with your horses mouth and this could lead to your horse being unsettled.

Riders can do lots of things to gain more balance.

Building Core Muscles in both you and your horse, is a great step towards gaining a better posture and balance.

Building Core Fitness and maintain a healthy horse to rider weight ratio of 15%. This should also allow a softer seat.

Work to develop an Elastic and Equal Contact through the bit by using a Balance Aid.

The Paradise Position Holder is a balance aid to help maintain balance and an equal contact when riding.

I school and hack my younger horses with my outside hand holding the Paradise Position Holder alongside my rein. It provides outside rein stability and it’s been a great way to enable my younger horses to be comfortable with the bit.

Other customers have found the Paradise Position Holder to be a great help when hacking and jumping.

It clips to the D rings of the saddle so it’s there if you need it but out of the way if you don’t.

Thanks for taking time to read my blog on the importance of Rider Balance. 😊