How to Sit in the Saddle and Move with your Horse

[@terryglover6361]

I ride western but found this video very helpful. Your rider did an excellent job showing correct and incorrect riding. Not easy. I'll definitely try to be more conscious of my seat and other areas you point out. I'm 69 with some scoliosis and arthritis and ride on my left seat bone. I can and will make adjustments though. I subscribed and look forward to watching more of your videos.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Yay! And thank you! Glad to hear this was helpful!

[@dukecamilo2041]

I know Im randomly asking but does anybody know of a way to log back into an Instagram account?? I was stupid lost the login password. I love any assistance you can give me!

[@sullivanfranklin8735]

@Duke Camilo Instablaster =)

[@dukecamilo2041]

@Sullivan Franklin i really appreciate your reply. I got to the site on google and I'm waiting for the hacking stuff atm. Seems to take quite some time so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@dukecamilo2041]

@Sullivan Franklin it did the trick and I finally got access to my account again. I am so happy! Thank you so much, you saved my ass !

[@LondonParis-k6n]

Bewegungen des Pferdes sind wunderschön❤❤❤ Körperbewegungen des Reiters sind wunderschön❤❤❤

[@nigelsmith1243]

That is the most illuminating few minutes i have seen on how to progress thank you

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Thank you Nigel! And thanks for watching! Also, if you’d like me to send more dressage tips into your email inbox every Wednesday, you can sign up to my mailing list www.ameliasdressageacademy.com/subscribe/ (If you’re already familiar with all this and have received this before, apology for the unnecessary message, I’m being super thorough today!) I’m also on FB and IG facebook.com/amelianewcombdressage & instagram.com/amelianewcombdressage/ 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! facebook.com/groups/ameliasdressageclub/ And finally, there’s my website (for when all the social media goes down again 🤣) www.amelianewcombdressage.com/ Ok that’s the lot I promise. Have an awesome day! 🐴

[@Josiebydarn]

I am a returning Rider who doesn't have her own horse yet. I'm left-handed and I'm pretty sure I'm left seated. This was extremely helpful ,thank you.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Thanks Josie! So glad you found it helpful!

[@yolandasegurotome9898]

The average person/rider spends their day seated so when they come to ride they are assuming a similar position on the horse. To ride we need a more open and flexible hip joint - the opposite of what we do all day. You can really see this in the trot when Amelia is ‘letting her seat move’ with the horse conpared to when she keeps her ‘seat still’. Her ability to move her hip through extension and flexion allows her to have a good seat in sitting trot. Thanks for the video, really helpful 👍

[@natebrook]

So the key to ride a horse is like sex and belly dancer?

[@claudiaschoendorf9101]

excellent ability to show correct and I incorrect riding, especially when you just relaxed, showing how things bounced!!

[@alimohammadranjbar4770]

Thank you for your fluent and precise explanation! Not only helpful notes, but also perfect eloquent.

[@katiekane5247]

I loved watching this, especially the subtle response from this beautiful horse. I miss riding soooo much!

[@ursellamcgarvey2782]

This was amazing. I love how we can visibly see the change. OMG I love it. Ugh between you, Olivia Towers and Nolan Cruz, the dressage world makes a bit more sense. Thank you!

[@music_is_life95]

She definitely did a great job demonstrating and looks great riding it 💕😍🥰

[@reghanmitchell3671]

im glad this video summed up with the walking seat my friend or her friend said it was incorrect we usually call it "push walk" im so glad that it is correct.

[@joannatuczynska3508]

This is the best instructive video I've seen on the topic.

[@cyndifigura1422]

Thank you so much for your informative videos! You break things down so nicely, and the slow motion parts really help me SEE what I need to be paying attention to. Thank you!

[@gayleudall7971]

I think "the seat" is the most illusive thing about dressage riding. There are so many body parts involved in a good seat. I have been working on this very diligently for the last year. I sit more on the left seat bone and collapse left. Initially I couldn't even feel I was doing this until an instructor really harped on me about it! Thanks for a good video of right and wrong! I agree-it is very hard to show wrong well and you did!

[@beaweaver4335]

Thank you for this informative video. I wish I had learned to move with the horse before this. But now I know!

[@GodsSparrowSpeaks]

Excellent teaching Precise, concise, clarity, visual aide, patience and enunciated presentation. As a deaf person with brain dan age, extremely grateful. 🕊

[@vickyelmes3558]

Right. Left has always been weaker. Working without stirrups and bareback brought it home to me. Bareback, if I was shifted off left seat one I felt like I'd fall off so had to correct it, lol.

[@acceptingWhatIS]

THANK YOU - wanted to have that explained forever!

[@-seesaw-kpop4370]

I definitely tend to sit heavily on my right one. I've been noticing it lately with actual pain in that seatbone. just today I found a better balance and movement that is more balanced and lessens pain. I'm also trying to sit on my left seat bone more when I'm just sitting on a chair or on the couch to hopefully balance them out more as well. I wasn't able to feel my seatbones before even with correct positions, but now I can feel only my right one when riding because it just hurts. I also noticed it depends on what rain I'm riding on.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Good for you!!

[@sheliamontrond6836]

Amelia, you make it look so easy. Love learning from you.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Thanks so much 😊

[@pamelapeterson2987]

I've found it's a good practice while driving in the car., trying to keep both seat bones even...going around curves, you'll notice it is challenging to keep the inside seat bone evenly on the seat because of centrifugal force.

[@cindynoble2037]

Right for me I think. Such a helpful video. Thank you Amelia and Sue👍🐎🐴

[@UnicornCentaur]

"That's a little bit loud and obnoxious" omg I died 😍I'm totally stealing this to describe busy hands...

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Haha!!

[@silverkitty2503]

first person showing this who actually has good seat thanks

[@cxs-yp6oc]

Even amazing and beautiful riders like you Amelia can have habits picked on by a teacher. But still a amazing and beautiful rider

[@REBOwall]

We love your videos Amelia! Our founder Adrian loves the connection with the horse they help to amplify - FEEL is EVERYTHING! Next time we're in CA we'd love to come for a REBO wall team lesson!

[@benitascott3533]

Hi Amelia, I have watched hundreds of videos on rider position, dressage tips, etc etc. All of yours, i think!! I regularly have my partner video my rides & on reflection I'm just not happy with what I see. You have a beautiful seat, then again you're slim, light & obviously very rider fit!! Lovely to watch. I've been riding since childhood, but dressage is new for me & my primary horse is uneducated!! Hence together we're just trying to learn. It's so not easy though! What I feel when I'm riding is often a total disconnect from what my body is actually doing. I struggle with learning forward, chair seat, stiff elbows, hunched in the neck, reigns too long, chicken wings, piano hands- the whole gamut 🤣!! I really appreciate all yr tips & resources, which are incredibly descriptive & analytical!! If only I could one day achieve the picture I desire! What a frustration!! You however, give me the impetus to keep at it. Thankyou indeed! (Ps I know you have yr Masterclass course available, but I need to just stick with the free to air resources for now!) Extra appreciation that you share so much valuable content via your channel 💖

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Thank you! Keep working! Small improvements add up!

[@barbaramcmullen1963]

Very helpful. My horse loves to drop his shoulder. Now I have tools!

[@trishhart8766]

You 2 are a lovely and effective team of teachers. If you need a volunteer ranch hand pick me. lol

[@kimberleenadwocki4393]

Good Morning. I tried a exercise yesterday on my 5 year old OTTB. I got on the left first with 1 stirrup in & hanging half off & over him while moving his shoulders around. That alone was extremely difficult. I than tried this same exercise getting on from the right. Well wow, I was so tight in my right hip, right glute muscle, right back of thigh all the way down to my ankle. My right stirrup leather felt so much shorter. I am left handed and have struggled w sitting in a hole on my left seat bone. My left side wonders everywhere and more flexible. My right side is stiff, tight, stronger & shorter. I work very hard to push my right seat bone down. I personally am going to practice everyday getting on from the right side & than go to the left is my goal.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Thanks Kimberlee, keep practicing and happy riding.

[@karenbrooks2497]

I am new to riding and this video was extremely helpful thank you

[@chelseabartlett5520]

This was soo informative! I tend to flop in the saddle at the canter, because I don't move my hips. I have a tendency to be too loose in the hip, but I get tense at the canter and flop. I am going to try utilizing this information!

[@julianadamico4702]

But the question is how do we move our hips to stop bouncing in the saddle ? do you press down hard with our feet on the stirrups to make our body go up off the saddle ? Nobody has ever explained it right to me over all these years

[@mysticgothmama6796]

Great video! I have a hard time sitting the canter and I found this helpful. I also tend to put more weight on my left seat bone when riding and feel like I can't keep my legs nicely around the horse.

[@wayneoyston2764]

Hi Amelia, I really enjoyed this video, you made things a lot clearer than some I've seen, very useful info. Left hand side!

[@malcolmmcinnes9068]

Loved this. All I am looking at now 👍🏼

[@franchescanestor408]

I'm having such a hard time in my lessons. I feel like I'm just not getting it and I feel like my instructor thinks I'm an idiot. Thanks for this!

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Thanks Franchesca! Your instructor definitely doesn't think you're an idiot! Dressage can be so hard! But well done to you for having the persistence to continue! You'll get it! Subscribe to the channel and have a look through all my content, there's loads for you to work with and hopefully it will help your journey! Happy riding!

[@denishavail1773]

That was pretty awesome. Your rider did a great job showing the small nuances you described. If you didn't describe them then some of them might have gone right past me. Well done.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Thank you!!

[@lauriebriggs2973]

Very well trained and beautiful horse 😍

[@katrinemogensen4855]

Thank you :-) Great explanations of the correct movement of the riders seat! I have a little wish though... I wish the horse would lengthen the neck and seek the riders hand. Instead the result is a nose behind the vertical.

[@yavonnavichmutt-haven481]

In my chair at home, I’m sitting on the left seat bone! Never thought of it till now! I don’t have a horse yet, but looking for somewhere to take lessons before I make the commitment 😊

[@Kayss.a]

Thank you! I found this helpful. The one thing I just CANNOT do- Is sit in an English saddle. I really can't and it makes myself laugh every time. Lately I've been really busy and such so the last time I was in saddle was 3 weeks ago.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Haha! As someone who's ridden both I can identify! Thanks so much for watching!

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Also, if you’d like me to send more dressage tips into your email inbox every Wednesday, you can sign up to my mailing list www.ameliasdressageacademy.com/subscribe/ (If you’re already familiar with all this and have received this before, apology for the unnecessary message, I’m being super thorough today!) I’m also on FB and IG facebook.com/amelianewcombdressage & instagram.com/amelianewcombdressage/ 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! facebook.com/groups/ameliasdressageclub/ And finally, there’s my website (for when all the social media goes down again 🤣) www.amelianewcombdressage.com/ Ok that’s the lot I promise. Have an awesome day! 🐴

[@irinakuperis]

Thank you for this, the explanation right in time with the video and the slow mo.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

You're welcome!

[@loveLeeAnne99]

Just how is she able to stay in control like that without posting?!

[@germaineprien7691]

Because your whole body is engaged with the horse in every stride with every gait...it comes after lots n lots of instruction and a nice horse which this one is

[@elizabethcook8217]

I didn't get it either, until my riding was improved enough that I could let my stirrups down, and feel. You'll get it, promise! It's taken me a LOT to get to that point.😊

[@claudiaschoendorf9101]

I really enjoy your videos and I learn great tips from them.

[@cmpetwhisper]

I always feel goofy doing this thank you for explaining it!

[@davidyeoman39]

Haha, I was actually led down on the sofa watching this video, great info!!! I've been looking for this type of advice for a very long time.....😀

[@sabinekrainer2389]

Thank you ! You are a very nice rider with very good swinging horses !

[@cathybates4739]

Very helpful! I have so much trouble with the sitting trot! I feel so bouncy, and my horse seems to get cranky so I feel like it’s uncomfortable for him too. I am always amazed by how effortless it looks when other people canter! Well, when their horses canter... it does not feel effortless to me! I always get a chaffed crotch after cantering much. Ouch. Does that mean I’m moving too much?

[@julianadamico4702]

Cathy Bates ----the same thing is happening to me ...I was hoping by watching these instructional videos that they would teach me how not to bounce up and down when the horse is cantering .but they really didn't explain it very well..

[@N12S10S]

It's easier when you have a horse with not big movements 😹 I could do it before- I tried riding my now bouncy pony 😹😿

[@johnmarston3638]

This is so helpful, I'm going for my first proper riding lesson in only about two and a half hours!!! I'm really excited and this helped a lot

[@dorian4373]

Don't forget the body movement you must move your body with the horse

[@EmmaVoyseyHealth]

Very helpful video! Thank you. I’ll have to come back to you on the heavier seat-bone once I’ve ridden in my Dressage comp later! From Sunny Devon, UK

[@ameliademarco4784]

i find myself sitting in the car completely collapsed in my right side and kick myself every time.. and my best side in canter is the right one, possibly because of this uneven weight distribution? very interesting vid btw!! it's very nice to be able to witness the difference in a video, I find it makes it easier to correct our position if we have a clear image in our mind rather than an abstract concept/idea!

[@b.j.stoner9065]

Very nice. I just notice one thing...her feet are not on the very inside of her irons. That is something I learned very early on & it became automatic. Hunt seat equitation was my forte (back when judges would sometimes have us do individual work..like dismount & mount...not fun with 16+ hand horse) I have not been able to ride for many years due to failed back surgery. But will always love it! Thank you.🥀

[@3percentrealtynl]

very useful vid. Thank you for this. it was not a complicated lesson - very understandable. Talented you are.

[@andymiller6141]

if you anticipate the rocking motion, and rock ahead of the horses motion, it will move the horse to a faster gate. like wise if you resist the rocking motion with yours. you will slow the horse and even bring it to a stop.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

True! Thanks for the input!

[@JosephNewcomb]

I sit perfectly even all the time. 😂😜

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Of course you do!

[@Noogsie_47245]

You and your brother are SO talented!

[@fionaweiher3808]

Joseph Newcomb >

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Of course you do!

[@sethmalkin]

He does. I’ve seen him.

[@jessicagomez3131]

I love the canter to trot Transition while sitting . I’m having Trouble with that

[@vigilantegal]

Beautifully done! Helpful! Thank you!

[@JosephNewcomb]

Tons of views on this vid. Good job yo!!!!

[@DEVIL-vk3lw]

This is an amazing video 😊❤👌

[@lindsayr8456]

so helpful, Im not moving. I watched this 4 times

[@najatulsyazwani8253]

I have a problem to do trot. Omg i feel so hard. But I'm trying my best to look effortlessly

[@alicecohen4726]

Love you siblings☺ Rest on your back with knees up and feet on floor with a small pillow under the neck. Feldencraise makes an awareness exercise with feeling muscle tightness and hip alignment in relation to the sacrum. Roll up and back 12 to 6 or noryh to south over the sacrum bump to ease and tensions in the glutes, hip or pelvis. The sense is that we feel then through the clock face, 9 - 3 or as segments of the circle. This exercise is a relaxing way to check pelvic and hip alignment and balance. When next i ride i will follow your excellent con moto! Lovely horse.💕🌠👍🍸

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Great exercise! Thank you for sharing this!

[@favoriteblueshirt]

Great demonstration. Thanks.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@joannatuczynska3508]

An excellent presentation 👍

[@Kris-ie8xd]

Thank you so much for amazing explanation!

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

You're very welcome!

[@llSnowFlakell]

The moment you relaxed everything and you started bouncing and then you stabilized yourself again. How did you do that especially for the legs? Coz I usually tend to stabilize my legs with gripping little bit with my inner thighs 😫

[@johnlewis3486]

This was really helpful

[@andreakerber1955]

Love your video but was wondering if there is a little more to the siting trot than seat, core and arms....with the lower legs. Are the thighs loose or do us use them a little bit? Same with the calves....loose or do they pulse/drive the horse forward lightly in rhythm? Curious because I have a smaller TB who rides pretty flat and I have a super had time sitting her trot if she is not moving slow.

[@anne-mariespear4595]

I sit on my left seat bone more than the right which is compunded by the fact that I slip off the saddle to the right. My horse is hollow travelling right (falls out thru outside shoulder & quarters fall in- really battle with straightness on this rein!!!) Any ideas on how I can get both myself and my horse straighter on the hollow rein?? When travelling left - stiffer rein he falls in on left inside shoulder and quarters fall out - I find it easier to feel and correct this and riding straight on this rein is doable for me. I work off the horse on getting even on both seat bones, but while in the saddle how do i move myself back over to the left and seat evenly on the seatbones (centered)?

[@fonjadidi]

Hey, I'm wondering why over time dressage saddle have come to have HUGE knee Blocks? I have a dressage saddle that's flat and a Australian stock saddle, my trainer dressage saddle with big knee Blocks reminded me a lot of the stock saddle.

[@lorithomas3750]

Definitely right seat bone

[@catherinereimat3645]

Thanks for all the tips and videos which I think are very useful. Like many riders, I sometimes struggle with my seat when I ride my KWPN by Gribaldi. He is big and stout and I'm short, which makes it all the more difficult to keep my hips moving along the horse and keeping my legs and heels down. When I manage to have him more collected and forward in his gaits, I sometimes get that thrilling feeling of having all that power under my seat at my fingertips. The secret to that, to me, is to have a good warm up.

[@feldmuis]

I went on this horse ride thing for tourists.. I enjoyed the walking, but when picking up pace I made all these mistakes xD Kinda figured out how to move on my own but too inexperienced to keep that up, I'm so sorry horse XD

[@billie_is_the_best3118]

My name is Emilia! I am a showjumper in horse back!

[@dastoolinc]

This is just what I need. Thank you for help!

[@isabelleshepard4576]

Right seatbone for me!

[@Lore-wv5mt]

The song at the end made me jump lol!!

[@dorian4373]

Great video thank you

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Glad it was helpful!

[@dorian4373]

@@AmeliaNewcombDressage can you do a video with the friesian horse I love friesian horses

[@jodyhuston1516]

Hi Amelia ! I tend to sit on my left seat most heavily, I think.

[@debflint7630]

Love this video. Which sit bone I favor? Interesting question. I don't know about anyone else but I cannot tell. Thoughts on how to achieve this would be welcome.

[@domjutras9791]

Beautiful horse

[@LadyAntwillSSO]

Thank you so much!! Your videos are so helpful ❤

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Glad you like them! Would you do me the biggest favor and copy that message and leave me a google review? They really help me out! g.page/r/CYIGmCINXFOQEAo/review

[@maggy1338]

In a nutshell :In my opinion, it appears to me the majority of rider/horse combinations without a reasonably comprehensive training ( say greater than or equal to medium level proficiency ) heavy right in general and heavy on the wrong side of work on two tracks. Most horses are more likely to be heavy on the right rein with a convex right side and concave left side of their neck (more pronounced if the individual is a re-train and not a clean slate). This will inevitably allow the rider to sit more heavily on the right when it goes unnoticed and unaddressed by the rider. Another unnoticed and unaddressed situation is regarding half pass, half turn on the haunches, and/or haunches in. Here, if the horse is not moving its forequarters well enough forward and sideways with a nice supple hollow side in the direction of the movement the rider may sit heavy on the counterproductive outside seat w r t the direction. This can be caused by several circumstances including, but not limited to: unappreciated/ unaleviated resistance on the inside rein often leaving the horse higher in its back on the inside and its rib cage pressing against the rider's inside leg, rider focusing on using there outside leg too much, or rider just centrifuging. All invite a rider that may not be advanced enough to solve this and related issues to be stuck heavy and even listing to the outside (misleading) seatbone. This opinion is assuming conformational correctness and proper saddle fit. Certainly there are exceptions but I think they are a minority (example- southpaws that are not ambidextrous riders yet) Thank you both (and lovely horse) for your excellent video, Respectfully Submitted

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Thank you for this analysis! Yes, I agree sitting on the inside seat one in lateral work is important! I wish you were closer. We could make some good videos together!

[@maggy1338]

Thank you, Amelia. Be careful what you wish for. If my life was not so long rooted in KY you might find me on your doorstep. You are an excellent trainer/teacher, and a great asset to Dressage in the USA.

[@malcolmmcinnes9068]

OK so right seat bone. Also left leg less in contact ( I guess obviously,no?) Also in my seat for a month challenge,,I realise I don’t allow my arms to move with the horse…thaz why she was slowing or after two paces of trot slowed 😊 I changed that and Eva ( my horse) is now lighter and with impulsino. 🙄👍🏼🤷🏼

[@caitlinNoonan]

Right for sure

[@buckinggoodride882]

Love this thanks for sharing! I think I sit on the right more and I'm also right handed not sure if that has anything to do with that

[@gh4stlie]

I just came here to feel extra proud, I have a natural seat so I don't have to learn how to sit correctly on a horse... BE PROUD!

[@anne-mariespear4595]

To get a sitting trot that is moving with the horse that is not a floppy sitting trot (which is me!!) while still moving through your hips, what muscles to you think about activating to be able to do this?

[@maryloyd12]

This video really helps me see what my goal is when I ride. My horse is young and I am starting over to try to get in step with him to coordinate our walk and trot. I am riding western. Will that make a difference in what I'm trying to do?

[@cmpetwhisper]

I’m a right sided sitter!

[@sandrawheeler1521]

Left seat bone. Difficult as my pelvis is tilted.

[@robinwelsh2333]

very helpful information. Are there any exercises for a rider with bulging discs in the lower back to help unlock the lower back and move with the horse?

[@Feonix778]

Left - stems from running track & field and having a heavy left lead leg in hurdles 🙃

[@alenoriega5788]

unfortunately I have much fat to feel the seat bones! Lol. Love your videos.

[@danielepayen-jaekel8104]

In some ways you are lucky, my seat bones touch the saddle directly, which can be tough after a long ride...

[@graciela3989]

She also has more aids in the heigh of the knees part of the saddle that helps her to stay there, in the saddle instead of bouncing forward

[@jillycannan6243]

Right seat bone😛 still working on it😊

[@annabelschulz2497]

I like the way you show the kinds of mistake that are coming up to an incorrect seat. Seems like the horse is very sensitive in his mouth, isn't it? It is rolling up his neck several times if the hands becoming too strong.

[@katrineandersen7243]

Hi! A quick question - how do you make your horse go faster while posting the trot?

[@JR-ec9pg]

My right and I even weight the stirrup on that side

[@ruusuensio7694]

Maybe left seatbone? At least right now. I’m not even sure