The (nearly) lost art of teaching fundamental concepts

When it comes to riding instruction – especially around the difficult task of teach ‘the seat’ – how would you finish the sentence: “I wish….”???

• I wish I knew…. (how to teach a feel, how to sit correctly, how to explain this better, …. you fill in the blanks) may be how many will start this sentence.
• I wish I found… (an instructor, a horse, a way, to learn a correct seat, ….) may be another.

Teaching the seat is difficult as we attempt to explain something that needs to be ‘felt’ to be understood. But there are some simple steps that can help improve the way we teach and learn a functionally correct seat.

An elusive concept

‘The seat’ is an elusive concept. Observing various riding lessons, I get the impression that the seat has become something external, something that needs to ‘look right’ versus ‘feel right’. “Heels down, shoulders back!”

Or something completely removed from function. “Collect him/her!” “Ride a circle!” “Stay by the wall, don’t drift toward the inside!” Without mention how the seat will contribute to reaching the goal, which is ultimately always the communication with the horse.

A ‘correct’ seat always puts function before form. If we want to do more than learn/teach how to ‘sit pretty’ (and often stiffly), we need to ask for/provide better riding education.

5 Ways to re-introduce ‘Seat Education’ into Riding Lessons:

1. Give (instructor) and take (student and instructor!) longe lessons
   1. Free to focus on our own body and how it interacts with the horse, we can gain security, relaxation and independence and truly observe and correct our ‘functional posture’.
   2. Use a horse that is in rhythm and calm on the longe line and that responds promptly to voice commands.
2. Practice on a barrel
   1. A barrel or a sturdy saddle stand can be a great tool to start practicing an independent seat. Make sure to fasten the saddle to the barrel or stand so it will provide a true experience when the student is asked to respond to shifts in position.
   2. Have the student respond to rein pressure or pressure to various parts of her body by shifting pelvic position and balancing from the ‘seat root’.
   3. Identify off-center posture that feels ‘normal’ to the student. It is easier to identify and correct a postural habit on a static barrel and then take this new awareness to the horse.
3. Explain (students ask for explanation) how the seat contributes to all exercises you are teaching (learning) or commands you are giving (given)
   1. Example: Some horses drift to the inside of the arena. The way to counteract this is counter-intuitive. Humans tend to want to ‘push’ with their shoulders. This will bring the rider into the a position that exaggerates the problem and thus causes frustration. One needs to do exactly the opposite, which is counter-intuitive for humans. The instructor needs to take time to explain the role of the seat in detail, otherwise the student continues to struggle.
4. Address tension and postural habits on the ground
   1. 1. Many clients look for improvement in their horses by releasing tension and thus enabling functional posture in their horses by booking horse massage and especially Masterson Method® sessions. Releasing tension in the rider’s body before mounting can produce similarly positive results.
      2. Ask the student to stand straight, identify any imbalances, then ask to stretch and stand again. Observe how awareness contributes to improvement.
      3. Create small stretching and warm-up routines for your students to do before every ride. You do not need to be a fitness instructor to do so. There are many books such as Dynamic Stretching: The Revolutionary New Warm-up Method to Improve Power, Performance and Range of Motion

    

5. Practice at home…
   1. For instructors: Practice your teaching at home. Explain to yourself what the FUNCTIONAL role of the seat is in the particular exercise.
      1. HOW to sit in the respective exercise or scenario
      2. WHY to sit like this
      3. WHAT the functional aspects are (e.g. stimulating a muscle, getting out of the way, counter-balancing, staying over the center of gravity, etc.)
   2. For students: Practice your learning content at home.
      1. Mentally revisit the last riding lesson.
      2. Practice the exercises in your mind and on the ground.
      3. What are your questions pertaining to the seat? Do you understand the HOW, WHY, and WHAT?
      4. Write down your questions and bring to your next riding lesson.

I hope these pointers are helpful to you.

Lasting Success

Always remember this quote from the H. DV. 12 German Cavalry Manual:

“Lasting Success can only be achieved if the hearts and souls of all [students and instructors] are filled with the joy of riding and the love for the horse.”

(H. DV. 12 German Cavalry Manual, Original Source of the Training Scale)

Until next time… Enjoy your horse!

Stefanie Reinhold
www.ReinholdsHorseWellness.com