Symmetry, Strength, and Optimizing the Rider's Seat

There’s so much more to your seat and symmetry in the saddle than meets the eye. It’s not just about good equitation or looking pretty in the saddle. Your horse’s health, musculature, and soundness are profoundly impacted by your balance while you ride.  Also, it’s just plain miserable to constantly be fighting your own position while you ride. If you’re constantly focusing on just turning your toes in, or not falling off the left side of your horse, there’s little hope to be effective and clear with your aids, thereby growing your partnership with your horse.  But, here on Equestrian Voices, we have good news! One, there’s a lot you can do out of the saddle to fix position issues that you’re having in the saddle. (Yes, in this regard, you truly can become a better rider from your living room!) Two, most problems with seat and position come down to 3 main symmetry issues, and we talk all about them in this ep.  We’ve turned to Maeve Sheridan MCSP, owner/operator of Activate Your Seat. Maeve is a highly specialized physiotherapist - for both people AND horses - with over 20 years of experience treating musculoskeletal disorders and sports injuries.  Caroline and Maeve tackle: