ACTHA Monthly | January 2015 | 13
Trail
Talk
With
Lisa Wysocky
Winter weather makes it hard in many parts of the world to get out on the trail. But, that doesn’t mean your riding skills have to get rusty. As silly as it sounds, you can ride your dining room chair instead of your horse.
We all like to relax on the trail, but if we forget good riding basics, it makes the experience harder on your horse and when the weather improves, you will return from a day out in Mother Nature stiff and sore.
To ride your chair, first sit in the chair using good posture. Every time you slouch on top of your horse you dig your tailbone into him and it also makes it harder for him to carry you. A horse has to work up to 30 percent harder to carry an unbalanced rider than a balanced one. Now you are ready to practice turning.
1. Hold a pair of imaginary reins and think of yourself riding along a beautiful trail at the walk. Your horse moves his legs in the following order: left rear, left front, right rear, right front.
2. When your imaginary horse has his left front foot off the ground, pull your left hand back toward your left hip (or if neck reining, move your left hand to the left). The timing of the foot lift is important, as it is much easier for your horse to turn to the left when he is not weight bearing on that leg. (Try turning left when your left leg is on the ground.)
3. At the same time, keep your chin level, turn your head to the left, and drop your right seat bone into the saddle to push your horse left.
4. Finally, apply pressure with your lower left leg (or ankle) where your lower leg normally falls, and with your right leg a little behind where your leg normally falls. Finish the turn by releasing the pressure, and returning your hands, legs, head, and seat to a neutral position.
This can all be a lot to process just to get your horse to turn, so go slow as you imagine the footfalls of your horse. Walk yourself through the steps over and over until the process becomes instinctive. When you have mastered the turn at the walk, you can add any riding move you want to practice: turns or posting at the trot (footfalls are left rear and right front together, followed by right rear and left front together), stops, backing, side- and half passes, canter departures and more.
Even if the weather gives you a few good days, riding your dining room chair is a great way to work out the mechanics of riding before you get on your horse. Plus, the weather should always be fabulous in your dining room!
Lisa Wysocky is a horsewoman and clinician; a PATH instructor, mentor, and ESMHL; and the author of many books, including the new Therapy Horse Selection, and the award-winning Cat Enright equestrian mystery series.
Find her at LisaWysocky.com or on Facebook.
Riding Your Dining Room Chair