Menu
As a rider, you need to use your arms, legs, hands, and seat independently of each other. Mastering this control over your body can be easier said than done, and what you understand in theory doesn't always translate smoothly into practice. Some riders are naturally more talented than others, which can be frustrating if you find it difficult to get the hang of things. The good news is that you can train yourself to become better. By improving your coordination through visualization, there’s a good chance you can make what your trainer tells you work effectively in the saddle.
Also read: Foal training tips – How to get a good start
The key to coordinating your movements starts with imagining how each part of your body should move. In other words, you should first train your body awareness without being on the horse.
When you visualize, don't think about how your riding will look to others. Instead, try to recall the sensations you feel in your body when you ride. Start with your back, for example: Where should it be positioned so that your center of gravity aligns correctly with the horse’s? Which muscles should you feel working? Then, imagine what you need to do with your hands, your legs, and maybe finally your feet. Once you've focused on yourself, try shifting your thoughts to the horse. Recall as vividly as possible how it feels when the horse moves (more or less) perfectly under you. This feeling is important to identify, as it should be your foundational goal.
To transfer these feelings to the saddle, it can be helpful to visualize specific situations or exercises. For example, imagine how you should use your body when the horse needs to halt, make a transition, or clear a specific jump. You could also visualize what to do if you and the horse lose balance. How can you use your body to get back on track? If you find this challenging—perhaps because you’re not sure how it should feel—it might be beneficial to practice on a horse that can perform the exercise correctly. Perhaps you have a trainer or a friend who will let you ride their horse once or twice?
When you can imagine the sensations, they will be easier to find when you're in the saddle. Visualizing an exercise doesn't mean you can hop on the horse and execute it perfectly right away. You still need to start from where you left off the last time you rode. However, by having visualized the feeling, you now know what to aim for—and, most importantly, what to do with your body to achieve it. This also makes it easier to keep a cool head when things don't go as expected. In this way, visualization is a valuable tool to preempt challenges in the saddle.
By imagining how your different body parts should work just before you mount the horse, it will become easier to anchor those sensations in your body once you are in the saddle. The more you visualize and then test it out, the easier it will be to gain control over your movements—thus turning thought into action.
Also read: Horse coat: What you need to know about shedding and clipping
