Tips for a Correct Dressage Position

Your rider position is the only thing that you can control on your horse, and the better it is the better you ride! This video takes you through some of the bedrocks of mastering a good position.
#DressagePosition #CorrectDressagePosition #RiderPosition
(FULL VIDEO DESCRIPTION BELOW LINKS)
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Tips for a Correct Dressage Position
We spend so much time trying to get things right with our horses, and wondering why we’re not getting the results we want from the aids we’re giving. The one thing that has the greatest impact on the effectiveness of our riding is our position! It sounds so simple, but if the position is correct, everything else becomes so much easier to implement. When our weight is distributed in a balanced and harmonious way, we can communicate the aids in a manner that our horse respects and appreciates! But getting everything in the right place at the right time is easier said than done!
This video takes you through some tips that help me to get the correct dressage position from the get-go!
SEAT: Firstly, I think about my pelvis. You don’t want it to have an anterior or posterior tilt, it needs to be neutral with both sit bones pointing down into the saddle.
LEGS: I often feel my toes and knees relax and start pointing out and away from the saddle. This is obviously wrong and we need the toes pointing forward and the knees into the saddle. In order to get the toes forward you’ve got to rotate from the hip inwards. Pull the thigh back and rotate the knee in and that automatically pulls the toes forward. This allows the upper thigh to support the seat.
UPPER BODY: We should sit tall in the saddle with the shoulder blades down and back. One great shoulder opening stretch is to hold the cantle of your saddle with the left hand and then turn your head to look the opposite direction. Repeat on the other side.
ARMS: You need a little bend in the elbows. In order to prevent reins from slipping through the hands but without bracing your arms, you need to push your thumb down on top of your pointer finger and that action is what holds the reins! Your wrist and ring finger should be flexible to communicate with your horse.
Have a look at the video where I go through these in more detail and let me know if you find them helpful in the comments!
Thanks for watching and happy riding!

[@Mara-fv8lg]

"fisrt of all, my horse is not gonna wanna stay still... I'll have to work on this" relatable:')

[@marshashuba2364]

your videos are super helpful. I am a beginner in dressage and it's so nice to find some beginner friendly training. Most of it goes right over my head and i have no idea what they are saying. Off to ride this afternoon and will focus on your tips. Thank you!

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Have a good ride!!

[@JW78120]

Excellent!! Thank you!!!!!

[@melissahill1398]

Thank you for this video. I love how you explain how to hold the reins with your hands and still keep suppleness in your arms. Great tips !!!

[@heatherbaker2003]

Thank you for this video! It's super helpful. I ride on my own a lot and get a lesson once a week or every other week. So watching videos like this, looking at myself in the mirror and capturing my rides on video and then watching them after are my tools to improve my position, etc. I also ride in an N2 saddle and LOVE IT!

[@odetotove]

I really appreciate the heart image. I used it tonight and it is simpler than other concepts and effective.

[@theredrover3217]

This is really great! I am able to see so much detail of what you were describing.

[@DreamsRDriven011]

Thanks for this! I'm a college rider with mainly saddle seat and some hunt seat experience and I just started riding with a trainer who shows in eventing. Although I can tell the general basics are similar between the disciplines, they are each slightly different and I've had trouble figuring out what hand/arm position, leg posture, and seat position is acceptable in (especially beginner) dressage in comparison to the other two. This definitely answered a lot of my questions!

[@carolinlarson4089]

Happy Harvey! Thank you for the seat tips. Its a work in progress keeping my knees into the saddle and not opening. More hours in the saddle for us to work on this!

[@kerri2740]

Super helpful ty

[@stephaniehansen5345]

Thank you! Really insightful with great examples! Happy riding!

[@suckiemma1827]

Good and helpful video ❤️

[@Lynne2106]

I get so much from your videos. Could you do a primer on how to wrap and how to fit boots for Dressage workouts? Thanks!

[@flawlessfluidity7771]

Grabbing the back of your thigh to turn your toes in was a great tip. I can't wait to try that! Thank you 🤗

[@TheVienna18]

Thank you for the tips 😊

[@wendylow5748]

Thanks for the mental checklist!

[@helenmcinerney1]

Love this video

[@alisonwood5602]

Thank you for your amazing videos, you are always so clear...about what the rider needs to do. This is very refreshing. I have a question about my riding as I cannot seem to manage the straight line from shoulder through hip to heel. My position is always with my feet too far forwards (armchair). I do use an SJ saddle because I am very long from the hip joint to my knee. What can I do as I feel that this issue is hindering our progress.?

[@reneebarlow4132]

Thankyou!

[@rajeevbhardwaj8514]

Very useful information for beginners

[@MRizwan-pj9qy]

Good work i like your video

[@yvonnekiwior9633]

"Tall and proud" I will take that with me💞 thank-you!

[@susanford6926]

This was a great video, my question is what makes a good dressage horse

[@DressageQueen305]

I know I’m a bit late here, glad to have found this video though. I struggle with keeping my toes pointing forward.

[@thegreypath1777]

Horse was bored, and was thinking: “Let’s get moving!”

[@SadieTristan]

Horse kicked at his belly-maybe flies also bothering him 🙂

[@sunilequestrian26905]

Mam I have problem in my hand position I don't have elbow bend My back get bend

[@Turboy65]

What I was taught is that a good balanced seat is where you keep your weight balanced over your feet as if you were standing up. Basically you are standing with your legs bent and a saddle under you. You're not sitting in a chair. When you sit in a chair your balance is behind your feet. By keeping your balance over your feet, you are better able to react to any change in position and keep your balance while on the horse.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

That's totally right! Thanks for watching, and don’t forget to subscribe to get notified of my new weekly content!

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

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

[@cindynoble2037]

Were the bugs bothering Harvey? 😁

[@chandudaggupati]

Hi , it’s very informative, my self from india, can I have your contact, I have moor problems in sitting position and loos stirrup

[@chandudaggupati]

Can I get your watsapp contact

[@juliadianebeckert5794]

What type of horse is Harvey?

[@billdip_storiesx3599]

That horse was very inpatient xD

[@snowfall5919]

Billdip_stories X3 you mean impatient

[@naunettemartin7450]

How do I know that I'm no the right and lift lide

[@jordynholland7873]

If you meant to type "how do I know if a horse is on a left or right lead" then I will explain. Lets say if a horse was cantering in a round pin. If the horse was cantering left, look at the horses 2 inside legs. If the horse has the correct left lead then the horses 2 left legs would be going forward in the canter at the same time. If the horse was cantering right, then the horses 2 right legs would go forward at the same time as well. If your horse was on the wrong lead then the hind inside leg would be going back and the front inside leg would be going forward. Some horses a taught to change their lead while cantering but some people have the horse go into the trot for a few strides then canter again. If you want to see if you are on the correct lead while riding the horse then I would just usually look down at the horses inside legs real fast.

[@emmacharabin7662]

How do you determine the correct stirrup length? I have been lengthening mine trying to get my leg to hang longer, but I find it harder get my heels down and keep weight in them, especially while posting I feel like I am putting to much weight on the ball of my foot while trotting.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

If you take your foot out of the stirrup and let your leg hang, the bottom of the stirrup should be level with your ankle bone.

[@mickyms3999]

True! That is with dressage saddles tho. With all purpouse it should be a lytile higher, the center/top of your ankle bone and with jumping it should be ever higher, the top/ higher than your ankle bone

[@mushudu92]

Micky MS thanks ! That’s going to help ALOT !! 😊

[@BC-bd5zb]

Beautiful saddle. What model and make is it?

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Thank You! It is N2 Saddlery. The Cardu

[@juliah.1403]

Flies are bothering the horse. Poor thing.

[@jgerl100]

That's a different horse rolling at the end of this video. Yet screen script says Harvey? Really?!

[@sunnyyys_fxndoms]

What Breed is your Horse?

[@debraallen5588]

I thought you weren't supposed to grip with your knees

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Hi Debra! You need to have some contact with your knees but not to be intensely pressing them in! You don't want them to be gaping from the saddle as this will point your toes outwards! Thanks for watching and don't forget to subscribe to my channel to get notified about my content!

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

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! 🐴