Question # 290: I recently started riding a very nice, well trained thoroughbred. She is pretty big, probably 17+ and a little long backed. My normal ride is a 15 hand compact very (overly) sensitive ottb, so she feels ginormous....
...She also takes a lot more leg, more than my horse, which I'm still getting used to. I forgot to mention that I'm 5'2" so my leg literally comes to half way down her barrel. I've been struggling a little with feeling in sync with her especially at the canter, she has big almost warmblood show jumper like hind movement, and I believe I'm bracing a bit in my stirrups in trying to find my balance, because when I drop them I can get the exact ride I'm after and it's wonderful, and so fun.( It's been great riding a horse that can do all the things after a lifetime of green ottbs.) :-) I'm wondering if you have any advice or exercises that I could work on to keep from bracing, because I'd like to be able to get that great ride with my stirrups too. (Amy)
Hi Amy!
How wonderful that you have this opportunity! Riding other horses will often improve your riding by leaps and bounds. And big moving horses in particular will teach you how to really follow the movement! When you can sit a big moving horse's trot or canter, you know that you really know how to sit the trot and the canter! Now, on to your question... (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer)
Sorry this page is available to subscribers only.
If you're not a subscriber why not join today?
If you are already a subscriber, please login.
If you believe you should be able to view this area then please contact us and we will try to rectify this issue as soon as possible.
