Basic Western Horseback riding position Seat and Legs with Kathy Slack

I teach riders the basics of position, mounting, seat and legs

[@KarenOnsager]

So many experts here, if measure her from ear to heel she’s perfect, helmets are smart for all riding, her stirrups are there for her comfort and that is adjustable on a per rider basis, her heel and ankle are at the safest angle for secure seat and are correct. She is demonstrating specific form and that’s why she is formal. The instructor is exactly correct. Very nice horse as well.

[@kaunas888]

People can quibble about some imperfections they see in the presentation, and yes the lower back is a little bit too arched, but frankly, this is one of the most informative videos I have seen on riding, and I appreciate her for doing this. She goes into great detail, and it is very instructional, and I learned a lot. Thanks.

[@geoffjowett3532]

agreed. absolutely brilliant video and one of the best I have ever seen too

[@Sofiarivassculptor]

I don't get it why there are so many critics about this video. It's very informative. I'm a green rider and learned a lot. Thank you for the video

[@scottgrothe3123]

I’m green too young lady

[@SuperSports625]

I’m Sophie from super sports and creative mode and Kathy slack is my riding teacher I love you Mrs Kathy

[@lindaobrien9994]

There is an acceptable theory that things can be done differently by different people...that being said, it doesn't make the instructor any less knowledgeable. I've enjoyed this video and will subscribe to this channel because I enjoy learning from all instructors. It's how a person learns and adapts their riding style to what works best for each of us.....I really believe the comments given here, if not judge mental and productive, are best not shared. When it comes to horses and riding, NO ONE knows EVERYTHING!

[@missstephaniewalker3313]

I love that the horse was resting in the beginning :)

[@46rambo49]

I like my stirrups up a little like this, personal preference. never use the horn to mount, do just as she describes. if the saddle fits right the horse will move well. way to many "experts" on youtube. I ride a Bosal and metcate reins, I don't expect everybody will as it takes a lot longer to teach the horse to neck rein and most people don't spend enough time communication with their horse. Thank you Kathy Slack for your patience.

[@jordanelizabeth704]

A kind of "short cut" to "western" leg positioning is the arm check, put the stirrup to your armpit and your fingers should touch the edge of the saddle seat. It's not an exact science but it helped me. I have the same problem with finding the ideal stirrup length- most likely due to the fact the I ride both english and western and all different heights of horses... Good luck!:)

[@annaguest2887]

Saddle looks too big, rider is forcing heels down/stirrups are too short and she's direct reining or holding a rein in either hand. This is an english rider in western clothing.

[@jacqeshendriks2745]

Yes Anna I also thought the rider is to small for the saddle.

[@hallecothran8116]

You are awesome!

[@samstefanowski2985]

Couldn't have said it better myself

[@isismcelroy1836]

Facts, and this is from someone who has ridden both (but to this day prefers western)

[@scottgrothe3123]

So in western heels don’t point down sorry for asking I’m in the learning process

[@kayleewalker4679]

Val Grant (Heartland)

[@cacapoopp1891]

Omg yes!

[@recepmutlu5195]

V6

[@emmaanderson3624]

Omg yessss

[@Oakpaws]

"Heels down, toes up" is a very common way to ride western.

[@sandracox4341]

English also

[@kimberlyclausen2940]

Correct

[@laurenmountaineagle3851]

It's in almost every riding that I think our instructor tells you " HEELS DOWN AND TOES UP REMEMBER THAT " that's something that a lot of riders have to do to well, stay in the saddle

[@ladyultra1]

this is good for me i have been squezing my horse and riving him forward and did not know i was doing it i was doing it from fear i am reteaching my self to ride with more ease and confidence that i lost.

[@jamesmilly6069]

Hello dear friend , how are you doing over there with you......

[@karah0bug]

That girl obviously rides English.

[@blihasmoreswagthanu4892]

I know this was ages ago lol but if your still wondering, the girl is holding reins exactly like English which I understand is similar to western but still. Her elbows are what I call dressage elbows which you don’t normally see in western riding. I ride English but have do western for a year so I don’t know everything! I hope this helps :)

[@jessicaangel1534]

This was an amazingly clear and helpful video. Thank you!

[@sunlitmoonlight]

Thank you for this video. I found it MOST helpful in all the videos I have seen. Thank you for taking the time to video this.

[@robertweiss2610]

As for the mounting, I learned not to stand shoulder to shoulder since the horse could potentially push you with his shoulder and knock you down. I learned to stand at his ribs and mount for personal safety sake.

[@Ashley.falcon]

I feel like I'm watching robots, or the sims lol good info though(from a non horse person perspective)

[@onkar4966]

Very nicely explained sitting posture and use of heal ,

[@pegschr]

NOw this is what Im talking about. This is a real video on riding 101! Make more of these western riding tips as though we have never done it from saddling to mounting to stearing.

[@clegg334]

very good information. no matter if you ride english or western your supposed to ride centered. and these instructions tell just that.

[@jamesmilly6069]

Hello dear friend , how are you doing over there with you......

[@m.ismailzamzambutt313]

what a wonderful video. Thank you so much

[@evelynjones3747]

Thx for the information my son is starting western riding👍👍😊

[@jamesmilly6069]

Hello dear friend , how are you doing over there with you......

[@gilliangirl1]

You can be on the safest horse in the world, but accidents happen. Someone I know (excellent experienced rider) was riding her well broke, push-button-bombproof horse when he stepped on a downed hornet's nest in some higher grass. She came off. Good thing she was wearing a helmet when she hit her head on a log.

[@chrisclarke801]

Great video. Straight forward, clear advice

[@daneycia]

I learned that when you ride western, you should always keep your heel in front of you. That way if the horse spooks at something or comes to a quick stop, your legs stop you from flying forward, where as if you were riding like they do in the video, your legs will go up in the back and you will of on the horses neck.

[@giovanabordinidebrito1675]

Your right! My trainer always teached me this, when i starded riding i had my legs far back, so i had to exagerate my legs forward!

[@RaychelD2400]

Yeah I feel like we change our riding position in western than what we learn in western...the saddle is different and so are the stirrups...the seat is also different...

[@susancinek5803]

Very clear and helpful. Thanks so much. Wish I lived close and could take lessons from you.

[@jamesmilly6069]

Hello dear friend , how are you doing over there with you......

[@horsecrazy4011]

good horsemanship and understanding horses and how they think will protect you so much more that a helmet. everything the horse reacts to always comes back to the human. you can prevent any accedent so easily but people want the quick way to keep safe. plus helmets are untraditional to western riding. and if i didnt have a brain i wouldnt know how to opperate the internet and type this message. wow people are dumb

[@robertvanbuhler9509]

I ride on other folks horses a few times a year. Last week, I rode a few hours with my stirrups that short in serious terrain, relying on the wrangler's advice to adjust for me. At the end of the ride, my legs locked up so bad I had a hard time dismounting.

[@LLEquine]

Thanks so much for a general western seat video!

[@gilliangirl1]

Oh, you're a cowboy? Well I'm a social worker in a long term care center in Calgary here. We have a few folks in care who rode horses and never wore helmets. Quadripalegic. And that ain't no sketchy story. Maybe I'll see you here at the center someday, cowboy.

[@271BadDog]

A helmet protects you from cracking your head, not your neck...

[@Delfinmar]

Thank you excellent video. I appreciate this very much

[@aplagueonsociety]

You are very knowledgeable! Great video!

[@surfshaggy]

Thank you Kathy, really enjoyed your tips and could feel your experience shine through.

[@karsfielmich5867]

mooie beelden de jeugd ondersteunt de showfokkerij op deze manier zeer inspirerend!

[@Madkazer]

thanks for making this video, it's helpful to me and I've been riding for years :D

[@virglibrsaglove]

Wow, this was so helpful! Thank you!

[@that.equestrian001]

Holy shiver 11 years ago dang

[@kimrossouw4071]

Very good video, thank you.. very well explained.

[@jamesmilly6069]

Hello dear friend , how are you doing over there with you......

[@edelconlon]

Thank you 4 great detailed video -very helpful :)

[@jennacarson9413]

This was very helpful, thank you! :)

[@DC-jb7oz]

When she said "heels down" I looked at the date of this video (2011). Heels Down is no longer used in 2019 by "most" western saddle riders.

[@robhartley9676]

I really like this video.

[@MarzyHart]

Such a well behaved horse!

[@philliplakesguy8]

Great info!!!! Love it.

[@henrybivens241]

this is a great lesson

[@oldmaidwhovianakanancyg4425]

Funny, I was explaining posture and queues to my physical therapist the other day.

[@HWKnox100]

Good riding skills!

[@notreconstructed]

This is a lot of help I do western riding

[@spudth]

Thank you for the video!!

[@divrician]

very good explanations!nice

[@DJ-nw5gy]

Great Video

[@somerlynmiller9024]

great form!

[@mcv1332]

You are the best KZbinr in the would

[@sewmanyhobbies942]

When youre making a video like this, please fix the length of the stirrups first... because of those her position is off with a hollow back. Even in English riding thats wrong...

[@cassiemaki465]

I think it is so much fun to ride 😇

[@lilbyers1]

Nice horse.

[@suekessler7977]

I really like your presentation. How do I continue with other lessons with you?

[@jamesmilly6069]

Hello dear friend , how are you doing over there with you......

[@awylie6169]

People I know this person she knows a lot about horses she has 42 or 47 so stop saying that she knows nothing and yes the rider has her heel flexed way too much but please stop hating

[@lao1634]

A Wylie got to love cyberbullying I thought the video was informative thank you for your time

[@20alphabet]

Proof or it didn't happen.

[@leentursun233]

When she said ⏳ I felt that

[@praiseworthy]

Very good 👌🏽

[@gummel82]

Was that the smallest saddle you had?

[@gamingwithfrankiesandra7096]

Can you pls show how to do the stirrups

[@slimenbass7]

nice...horse is an angel l

[@laurabillmeier7250]

I use saddle horse when mounting, how else would u get on? And if u have a sturdy saddle horn, it won't break off, u don't need to have much pressure on the horn, mainly when getting on, when I mount my horses, I use my weight to get on....

[@abby2693]

you get on using a mounting block. if you ground mount it pulls the horses back.

[@gsdmomb530]

Abby Equestrian It does not. This is Western not English. Do you see Cowboys using a mounting block??? Absolutely not.

[@Splashedovero]

This Helped me alot I have an issue keeping my legs off my horse when i ride D: thats probably why he doesnt respond to my leg cues like he should

[@CristalcatXP]

thankies :)

[@gilliangirl1]

Thanks for the info, MissPickletoes! I suspected he was a bit of an idiot just from his ramblings. Good to know he's been reported and that you are safe! :)

[@Gingersnap27239]

it is the safest it prevents the stirrups from going over the foot and getting stuck

[@WWGWGATikTok]

Good video....#EXCEPT, when she mounted the horse I couldn't see where the right hand was, I see that the left hand had the reins and I can only assume the other hand grab the saddle horn, but I don't like to assume...so I hope you'll tell me.

[@Justjack613]

Wnderful lesson. I wish you would correct the ear, shoulder, hip heal thing. To ANKLE. It's why the riders leg is forward as if she was sitting in a chair and not a saddle. Of course, the fact that she's sitting on the cantle doesn't help either. Teaching ear, shoulder, hip and ANKLE will cure this. I'm still very impressed by this lesson. I know if the instructor wasn't facing the camera instead of the rider, she would have noticed all of this. But, it is a comment box. So, I'm commenting.

[@Countrystars1998]

Exactly.

[@aaasuareza9554]

What is the stables called is it riding lessons like for people to learn how to ride horses? I'm just asking and if it is please tell me what it's called and the location of it and all the information and make more videos and a tutorial of the hole place if you don't mind.thank you

[@CaitlinBrohm]

Can you imagine doing any amount of riding with that much bend in your legs and ankle? :-/

[@hors3keep3r9]

Welcome to hunter jumpers, in a western saddle

[@sierrajade4587]

It murders my knees and ankles

[@keikashrimp3958]

I don't put my heels down that much because I would force my heels down and that puts pressure and weight in the stirrup so I just put less pressure and just let my heels down bit

[@PrestonStuff]

this is. Cool

[@emincapak]

Çok başarılı bir video.

[@Horseyast]

Yup, they are.

[@TheFunnyFace12]

yeah they are

[@Countrystars1998]

What Kind of bit is that?

[@sandracox4341]

I'm looking on my Little phone screen, but kinda looks like an eggbutt snaffle

[@kaitodevotee]

i ride English and tomorrow im doing western wish me luck

[@Gingersnap27239]

it has changed allot from then but allot of peple still want to ride like them witch is harder on the horses

[@aeraja9627]

I use a mounting block

[@DucatiQueen]

Aeraj A I use a fence 🙄

[@doriennaraine3004]

Because you aren't fit enough to without.

[@quarterhorse631]

Idk what you are talking about, but those are REALLY too short. They look uncomfortable and squeezed up.

[@fonjadidi]

The spirit should be connecting with the horse and creating a unbreakable and complex bond.. if this is ruined by a helmet, what kind love is that..

[@akanewe]

That horse looks so damned bored! looks like he's thinking "Somebody wake me up when she's through with it..."

[@laurelcook9078]

As someone who was a hunt seat rider for way too long I feel stuck in the wrong position in any other discipline lol.

[@fonjadidi]

And I am not disagreeing with you on that either :)

[@ssrknivesandguns8741]

MOUNT A HORSE? I WANA SEE!

[@dakotadilauro2504]

Who else wants to know how it was so quite????

[@grandjal]

I agree this is a common way to ride, it just doesn't mean it is the best way. Well after all, maybe there shouldn't be any rules...

[@HiddenFarmApalachin]

The basic (correct) position for both English and Western are the same (ear/shoulder/hip and heel alignment). This girl's stirrups are too short for Western riding, probably because she is too tall for that horse! If her stirrups were a bit longer, her heels would probably come back a bit to be perfectly aligned with her hip joint, where they belong. Too many riders, both English and Western, ride in a chair seat, which puts too much pressure on the sensitive lumbar region of the horse's back.

[@wildhorses3098]

definitely agree on stirrups being too short

[@equestriangirl2188]

Why was the rider like a statue when standing and also on the horse lol

[@gondon331]

@SideviewStudios Not really. The way that woman is saying the name, makes it sound like both. I mean yeah, if the kids name was Tiffany or something and I said Lauren, uh yeah fail. But they both sound somewhat the same.

[@jennaforesi4106]

Thats english position.

[@taylorwaters3491]

derek foresi it's the same for western

[@equiness4583]

Taylor Waters // no it's not. Western have longer stirrups.

[@ceilidheyford5744]

its the same in both styles just jumping has shorter stirrup lengths and there are more sports in English than just jumping

[@zoeysmith2499]

My dad was a professional horse trainer for 4 years. He's ridden BOTH disciplines and teaches me to ride western. He says to push down on the ball of your feet so when you trot, you're not bouncing on the horse, and hurting his/her back, or if the horse spooks or bucks, your feet don't get caught in the stirrup. Don't rely on the saddle horn, rely on your feet. Post when you trot, so your horse doesn't have many back problems. He also says that English riding and Dressage sucks. 😂 He's done gaited horses, reining horses, barrels, cutting, Dressage, and a teeny bit of jumping. Relax your core, butt, and legs when riding. If you're not relaxed and you're stiff, the horse will be, too. There's no way someone can teach you to have a good seat. A year ago, my horse would spook and I'd be on the ground. You need to get your ass on that horse and show it who's boss. My first horse I got is a 14 year old Tennessee Walking Horse Paint cross who hadn't been ridden in 5 years, at least. It's all just a learning process. There is a ton to learn, and some people don't know much about horses and riding them. But they learn. Moral of the story: I don't know. :D Don't die, don't fall off, learn from your mistakes. :D

[@almaqdadallawati2949]

DONT YOU THINK THAT THEY TROAT KINDA SLOW IN MY SCHOOL ITS A LITTLE FASTER

[@crazyhorselover98]

It looks like u should let out the stirrups at least one hole,she doesn't look comfortable and in that position you can't stop properly,also, you sit with your feet slightly forwards,its more comfortable and you do push down on the stirrups a bit

[@dswest3]

She looks like an english rider possibly a hunter jumper. If not, she would do well in that sport. stirrups look a little short for western.

[@Antalope82209]

They look so excited :-/

[@TWCKPE]

I saw several things wrong in this video. She doesn't look like a trainer i would get along with very well

[@iKatie030194]

Those stirrups are wayyyy to short, that's the length I use when I'm riding hunt seat. XP