When the Rider is Balanced the Horse is Balanced

Understanding Balance And Riding.

Balanced horse and rider in training for higher levels of competition. Horse riding is one of the few sports in which males and females compete at an equal level. Riders come in all shapes and sizes and proportions, as do horses. The universal commonality for both horse and rider is that we all use the same muscles and movement patterns to achieve the same outcome. The tall, long-legged rider will use their core the same way a short, thick, stumpy-built rider will. The elegant warmblood will use the same muscles as the thoroughbred to achieve movements. 

However, the difference evolving is that we select and purpose-breed the racehorse, the dressage horse, the eventer, etc. The rider is not purpose-bred; they only come with passion and therefore must learn the skills of the discipline they want to compete in. Learning the skill of balance is an absolute must for every rider and is the primary skill to achieve before any other. The balanced rider will progress and do well on any horse; the unbalanced rider will regress and will ruin every horse eventually.

Confidence will also decline with poor balance, which can result in fear, and fear ruins riding skills.

Every Rider Can Learn To Balance  

 The key to balance is where the centre of gravity falls. Without a horse, the centre of gravity line runs through the ear, shoulder, hip, and ankle when standing. The following diagrams come from “The Principles of Riding” German National Equestrian Federation reprinted 2013 This line is continuously changing when we move when we bend, when we carry, push, or pull something. The control of the centerline is the key to balance, and this is the absolute aim of the horse rider.

The rider’s centre of balance (line) must always be in sync with the horse’s centre of balance. This central position is always changing because the horse is moving and the rider is responding or asking for movement.

A balanced rider is able to maintain this centre of balance through all paces. I call this the “independent riding posture”. The riding posture is the position the rider establishes in the saddle, at all paces. An independent riding posture gives the rider a stable base, allowing them to use their legs, seat, and hands without losing the stable base (balance).

This is the skill every rider must aim for and train for. The term “independent deep seat” should be an “independent balanced posture or position”.

This term shifts the concept of training from just their seat to training their whole body, so they are balanced and independent in each part. For example, the rider should be able to use the lower leg without the hip collapsing or apply a half-halt without the shoulder tilting forward.   At the walk, the rider’s weight is in their seat and the stirrups; there is no transfer of weight, and the centre of balance is easy to establish and maintain.

The eyes should be looking up; this will keep the head up and the shoulders square. The shoulders should be in line with the hips and the heels. Weight should be evenly distributed across both seat bones, and the lower back should have a slight lordosis (curve inward).

As the horse walks, the rider’s hips will move in sync with the horse’s hind legs, and their shoulders should move in sync with the front legs or the horse’s shoulders. The 4-beat motion creates a rotational movement through the rider’s lower back, allowing the hips and shoulders to move in balance with the horse. The rider’s hands should move with the nod of the horse’s head and not block the horse from balancing itself.

At the rising trot, the rider’s weight is transferred from the seat to the stirrups in sync with the two-beat movement of the horse. The centre of gravity is changing more rapidly. The lower leg must control the balance in the rising trot. If it doesn’t, the lower leg will swing away and then back again as the rider sits.

The 4-beat motion creates a rotational movement through the rider’s lower back, allowing the hips and shoulders to move in balance with the horse. The rider’s hands should move with the nod of the horse’s head and not block the horse from balancing itself. At the rising trot, the rider’s weight is transferred from the seat to the stirrups in sync with the two-beat movement of the horse.

The centre of gravity is changing more rapidly. The lower leg must control the balance in the rising trot. If it doesn’t, the lower leg will swing away and then back again as the rider sits.

At the sitting trot, the rider’s weight is mostly in the saddle with the rest in the stirrups. This is the most difficult pace to maintain balance, but it can be trained with the right exercises. The two-beat action creates jarring throughout the rider’s body, causing excessive movement in the lower leg and, hence, loss of balance.

The rider tends to react by grabbing with their hands, clinging to the knees, or tilting forward, throwing all balance out of position.

The canter is a very comfortable pace, but again requires the lower leg to keep the centre of balance by controlling the amount of lower back, pelvic tilt from forward to back as the horse rounds, and then lengthens back as his quarters move under him. Jumping requires the greatest amount of weight transfer and requires a very strong, stable lower leg to keep the centre of balance.

The rider needs much shorter stirrups and more bend through the legs and lower back, from the hips, to absorb the greater ranges of movement. The lower leg also moves to keep the weight in the centre as the horse changes its centre of balance. The lower leg also protects the rider from falling forward,  off, or over the horse’s shoulder.

So, How Do We Train Balance? By understanding some of the normal processes and biomechanics of the body, a rider can avoid many hours of useless training. Many riders try to gain balance while having a lesson and never think to train balance out of the saddle. Humans learn to crawl, then walk holding onto a support, and eventually walk upright. We train ourselves to balance by using extra points of support (4 points to crawl), and as we improve, we take them away.

We evolve from hanging onto supports to walking on our 2 feet. We then evolve further to running, jumping, ball sports, etc. We can use this developmental process to train a rider to balance. Vision is a very powerful and dominant sense.  Our hands are also used to keep our balance and to regain it to avoid a fall. We grab onto something if we lose our centre of balance.

This is also the default reaction when riding. A rider will always grab the reins, a monkey strap, or a neck strap if unbalanced (pull on the reins). There are many exercises to train a rider to balance by removing their vision and hands.

The horse uses its neck and forequarters to keep its balance. The horse will extend his neck or lift it high to keep his balance. If the rider uses their hands and the horse uses his neck..this is setting up a pull on the reins and lean on the bit scenario, to maintain balance. The rider will also anchor their weight through their feet.

The rider is the one who has to change and train the horse to use its quarters for balance (get off the forehand). The rider can achieve this only if they are balanced independently. The rider must be able to ride, maintaining an upright posture and their centre of gravity, through all paces. (both parties are continuously moving), and apply aids independently of each other.

The horse will extend his neck or lift it high to keep his balance. If the rider uses their hands and the horse uses its neck, this sets up a pull-on-the-reins-and-lean-on-the-bit scenario to maintain balance. The rider will also anchor their weight through their feet. The rider is the one who has to change and train the horse to use its quarters for balance (get off the forehand).

The rider can only achieve this if the rider is balanced independently. The rider must be able to ride, maintaining an upright posture and their centre of gravity, through all paces. (both parties are continuously moving), and apply aids independently of each other.

What Are The Best Exercises For Balance?

Training out of the saddle has a huge advantage. The base is stable and safe to start with. I use drill patterns or movement patterns. The core plays a major role in maintaining balance and must be strong to maintain it. Here are just a few to start with; for more, look at my program. 

Go to my shop and check out the long- and short-form courses to train your riding posture using Rider Biomechanics.

Applied Posture Riding Membership Program.

Age reduces the ability to balance well, and joint pain, stiffness, and limited flexibility in the spine and hips reduce the ability to move well. If a person cannot move well, they are unlikely to recover balance. Neurological problems can impair the nervous system, reducing balance. Past injuries can also be a problem. Weakness in the core is a major factor for poor balance. So prior to taking on an exercise program a rider should have a full riding posture assessment. Have a look at my Rider Biomechanics Training Online Course.

In the saddle, with stirrups, I always train the lower leg first.   I use specific movement patterns in the saddle and out of the saddle to train lower-leg posture, and I use the horse’s neck as an extra base of support.  Once a rider can control the movement and position of the lower leg and establish a strong, stable base for the riding posture, the seat and trunk can be trained. The hands will never be needed for balance if the lower leg and seat are balanced.

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