When I learned to ride over 30 years ago I was taught how to sit correctly on the horse when riding so that I was seated correctly  and so that I was balanced in the saddle. This may be “Old School”, but it’s still valid today and more riders need to learn this method.
  Riders need to sit up straight and tall in the saddle. Sit centrally in your saddle looking ahead into the direction you are moving. Heels pushed downward with the ball of your foot in the stirrup/iron. Your toes should be pointing forward and higher than your heel with the inner leg wrapped around the horse.
   Your hands should be held level above the wither of the horse while your wrists should be straight with the thumb uppermost. The upper arm relaxed with the elbows held into the side.
   There should be an imaginary line that runs from the rider’s ear, through the shoulder, through the hip, and through to the heel.  A second imaginary line runs from the bit in the horses mouth, through the rein, through the wrist, through the upper arm, and through to the elbow.
  Here is breakdown of the rider’s postion:
   • Eyes - need to be looking ahead into the direction that you are moving.
 • Head - needs to be mobile and able to turn into the direction you are moving.
  • Shoulders  - care must be taken not to round the shoulders, but to keep them relaxed and mobile. This way, when the shoulders are closed, for example, when riding a half halt, the instruction will be understood by the horse.
  • Elbows - should be relaxed to allow the horses movement to flow through. The elbow should also hang loosely at the side of the rider’s upper body.
   • Wrists - need to be straight and not curved inwards or outwards, with the thumb uppermost and on top of the rein.
   • Fingers - need to be closed around the rein in order for a contact to be held, but mobile enough to allow the rider to squeeze and play with the rein to aid in turning and softening of the rein.
   • Back - needs to be held tall, straight and relaxed to allow all of the horse’s movement to flow through the rider without jarring.
   • Hips - need to be mobile and non restrictive to allow the horses movement to freely flow through the rider’s body.
   • Seat Bones - the rider’s weight is channeled equally through both of the seat bones. When riding lateral exercises slightly more weight can be placed into the inside seat bone.
   • Waist - needs to be able to turn through, in order to follow the horse’s movement, care must be taken not to tip in and collapse through the waist when riding a turn or lateral work.
   • Thighs - the inner thighs need to be held in close contact with the horse, as this gives a secure upper leg.
   • Knees - need to be flexible and have the inner aspect in close contact with the horse.
   • Calfs - need to have the inner aspect wrapped around the horse, and it is from the calf downwards that the lower leg nudges the horse forwards.
  • Ankles - should be mobile and facing forwards.
  • Heels - the rider’s weight needs to be pushed downwards into the heels, this helps the lower leg to wrap around the horse.
   • Toes - should be pointing up and positioned to face forwards.
    • Ball Of The Foot - the ball of each foot should be positioned onto the stirrup iron, to help to keep the foot in the correct position.
     I see so many riders today,  riders of all ages and levels, who don’t follow this method. It’s important to have a balanced proper seat for your safety in the saddle. Many people today have their stirrups/irons too short or too long - not at the proper length - and their foot positioned too far into the stirrups/irons. I see riders who aren’t sitting centrally in the saddle but are off to the left or the right. It’s important for your safety that you keep the balls of your feet in the stirrups, your heels down and sit in the center of the saddle so if the horse does spook or stumble you won’t be unseated as easily.
It may be “ old school”, but it’s the proper and safe way to ride.

 A number of years ago when someone said they were attending a “ Clinic”
it usually meant they took their horse to a trainer for an intense one or two days of training and education in a particular discipline- whether it be dressage or reining. Today, however, things seemed to have changed greatly.  Now people attend clinics by sitting in bleachers watching the person giving the clinic work with a horse in the arena. Todays “clinics” have  turned into entertainment for the masses.
 I see all the photographs of horses jumping over chairs and barrels and through hoops. I have seen videos of these clinicians standing on a horse’s back cracking a bull whip. This brings to mind the historical posters of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show or the great entertainment at the rodeo. Oh, don't get me wrong, I have the utmost respect for those trick riders, stunt riders and entertainers, but  they don’t bill themselves as horse trainers. Of course they have worked hard and trained their horses to perform, but being able to stand on a horse’s back and crack a bull whip is certainly not a requirement for a good trail, endurance, pleasure,
driving, hunter jumper, dressage etc. rider or horse.
  Personally  I can not think of a time when I wished my horses were trained to allow me to stand on their backs  and crack a whip or swing a rope, unless I wanted to be a trick rider.  I have no need to have my horse jump over a chair or any other non-traditional item, again unless I want to start a new career as a trick rider or my horse wanted to audition for the circus, rodeo or films.
 At these “clinics”, as they are referred to, a horse has been pre-selected for the demonstration. The horse has met certain requirements for height and age. According to some “clinician’s” websites you will be notified if your horse is accepted as the “ demo horse” after you have submitted your information. Somehow I don’t feel that’s quite right.
 I think what actually bothers me the most is that some people who attend come away feeling inadequate - as if they just aren’t bright enough to get it. Some, who do take their horse, also come away feeling as though it was their fault that they couldn’t make the horse do what the trainer had done. A good trainer/instructor should educate, train and work with both horse and rider, so they come away from the clinic with some knowledge. The instructor shouldn’t make the rider feel as though he/she is incapable of understanding  what they are teaching and, therefore, it’s the rider’s fault.  If you speak to someone who has taken , say, a dressage clinic they will tell you “ Oh I really learned a lot and I’d take the clinic again, because the trainer is so good,” they won’t say “well I’m just too nervous or I don’t have the intelligence to understand what she was teaching me”.
 I know I have been on this soapbox in the past, but I feel it’s an issue worth addressing again. Over the past 17 or 18 years we have seen more and more of these people giving “clinics”  across the country.  In that time we have also seen an increase in horses with problems and more fearful riders - think about it!
 I will state again there are people like Monty Roberts and Linda Tellington Jones, to name a few, that I respect.  I also respect many people who give traditional clinics who help horses and people.
  I just believe if you want to see trick riding you can attend a rodeo or circus and enjoy the show. If you want to further your education or seek the help of professional then it’s not about entertainment - that’s bad for everyone, most importantly the horse.