10/28/2026
Physics is physics..
And the horses know what feels best
Imagine your horse suddenly disappeared from underneath you.
P**f. Gone.
Where would you land?
If you land on your bottom, you were behind the movement. If you land on your face, you were leaning forward. If you were truly balanced, you would land on your feet.
But it's not enough to land on your feet. You also have to stick the landing. That takes a stable core and supple hips, knees, and ankles. Locked joints can't absorb the up and down motion of your horse's back, so you bounce... and your horse braces against you, which makes him even harder to sit.
This is self-carriage: balance PLUS something else. A rider without it goes down with the ship when the horse loses his balance. A rider with it can catch the horse and help him back into balance.
Here's something to try on your next ride. Every time you lose your balance, you start to brace somewhere. If you can't recover within a few strides, come back to the walk or halt, rebuild your seat, and then ask for the trot again. Balance before movement.
And as I like to say, ride like an avocado: firm on the inside, soft on the outside. Here's why - https://youtu.be/KESLiGUJsws?si=cR491WqxVk7uZ1yO
Balance and self-carriage are at the heart of Sitting Trot Mastery, which begins on Friday, November 6.
Join us here - https://courses.artisticdressage.com/sitting-trot-mastery
Thomas
