Best Exercise To Improve Position Over Fences
Panel Expert: Robin Martinez
Answer by Robin
Hands down it would be the squat! A correct squat perfectly mimics a correct position over fences. I see many riders standing up in their stirrups in the air and pushing their hip forward (hands coming up) rather than hands forward, following the horses mouth and hips moving backwards. This habit is very difficult to address while on the horse. I’ve found much more success by having a rider practice a squat off the horse using a bench that is approximately the same height as their knees.
Squat exercise:
Stand with your backside facing a bench or chair, ideally the same height or lower than your knees. Pushing your hips back, reach for the bench with your bottom. Eyes and chest should stay up, not collapsed, hands in front of you as if you were holding your reins. The key to keeping your weight evenly balanced is to raise your big toe up just enough to touch the inside of your shoe. The biomechanics of lifting your big toe are the same as putting your weight in your heels when in the stirrup. After lightly grazing the bench push your hip forward to arrive back at the standing position then repeat. Try doing 3 sets of 10 repetitions daily then see how your position in the air improves. Happy riding!
If you’d like more personalized help, I offer virtual training to riders everywhere so I’d love to hear from you!
For more information on virtual training, visit my website: www.blackjackfarmsandiego.com
Happy riding!
Robin
“A true horseman will only ask athletic feats of his horse if he has his own body under control.”
– from The Principals of Riding/German
National Equestrian Federation
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