by Barbara Ellin Fox
I’m frequently asked about the differences between seats and systems of riding. One question is sort of like the “chicken or the egg’. Is Balanced Seat the result of a dressage seat with forward seat added to it? Or is it the result of forward seat with dressage added to it? My personal experience is the latter. … Continue Reading
In 1938 when Capt. Littauer first told riders to “…support(ing) yourself with your hands laid on the horse’s neck.”, he was addressing riders who were beginning to jump. He encouraged riders to support themselves in this way because, he says, to do other wise “requires a very athletic body and constant daily practice”. Obviously he was speaking of the casual rider at the beginning stages of learning to jump. (For more check out my blogs ” Evolution of the Crest Release” and “Forwards and Backwards”.) … Continue Reading
by Barbara Ellin Fox
The April 2009 Practical Horseman Magazine had an article “Dressage for Jumpers” based on the recent George Morris Horsemastership Session in which Robert Dover instructed. Instructions had been given to riders to sit on their tailbones. And Robert Dover states, “You’ve got to be comfortable on your rear ends. I don’t know why you think it’s more comfortable on your crotches.”
These directions and several comments about the Balanced Seat pricked my little Balanced Seat loving heart and caused me to post at the EquiSearch Forum. Knowing that Hunter Seat riders frequently ride too much on their crotches and drastic measures could be needed to get the idea of change across, I would not have felt obliged to post had the instructions been given in a private lesson. But the GM Horsemastership Sessions are nationally advertised, the public is invited to audit free of charge, and information is written for the Practical Horseman magazine, plus on the internet, reaching a huge audience of riders, instructors and perspective instructors. I could not let the false impressions the Balanced Seat continue and I couldn’t condone the poor image of sitting on tailbones and rear ends! … Continue Reading
by Barbara Ellin Fox
Controversy is as common place in the horse world as it is in politics or religion. No where is the controversy stronger than between the advocates of eventing and of hunter seat equitation. The eventing riders have their roots in the military balanced seat riding while the roots of the hunter seat equitation rider lean more directly to the forward seat.
One of the fuels that fans this controversy is the crest release. Simply defined, the crest release is a method of placing the hands on the horse’s neck during jumping, so the rider does not interfere with the horse’s mouth. Riders are encouraged to support their upper body via their hands on the horse’s “crest” . The crest release is a crucial component of Hunter Seat Equitation and makes it the only horse sport that requires upper body support from the hands. In the world of eventing, supporting your upper body on your hands can be a fatal mistake. … Continue Reading
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