Finding Your Balance in the Saddle

As riders, we spend so much time focusing on what our horses are doing that it’s easy to forget about our own bodies. But the truth is, your position has a huge influence on your horse’s way of going. The more aware you are of how you’re sitting, balancing, and using your body, the clearer your communication will be.

Think of it this way: your “seat” isn’t just where you sit in the saddle—it’s your thighs, back, core, chest, arms, and even your eyes. When all those parts are steady and balanced, your horse can hear your aids more easily and stay consistent in the work.

The Role of the Thighs

A common pitfall is relying too much on the back of the body for stability. This often leads to pulling on the reins or leaning back. Your thighs are key here—they act like the seat belt of your position. They connect you to the saddle and draw the horse up into collection when used correctly.

Try this: at the halt, rotate your thighs in so the back of your breeches is flat against the saddle. Think of your thighs hugging toward your midline without clamping. This stabilizes you without making you heavy in the seat or gripping with your glutes.

Rethinking Your Stirrups

Many riders push too much into their stirrups, bracing down instead of using them for balance. Instead, imagine your stirrups as trampolines, not floors. If your joints are soft and springy, you’ll stay balanced. If they’re stiff, you’ll tip out of alignment.

A fun way to test this is to have a friend slide their hand under your foot on the stirrup. Try to make your foot so light that they can still feel their fingers while you stay balanced.

Stacking Your “Boxes”

Alignment is more than just shoulder–hip–heel. Instead, think of your torso as three boxes:

Top box: collarbone to sternum

Middle box: sternum to belly button

Bottom box: belly button to pubic bone

Stack these boxes evenly, and you’ll feel much more stable. To check yourself, imagine a flashlight shining out of your sternum—point it at your horse’s neck and see if it stays steady as you ride through different gaits.

Engaging Your Core

A strong core doesn’t mean bracing. It’s about balance between pulling in and pushing out. Breathwork can help you find this sweet spot—try blowing up a balloon without your hands, or “expand into your belt” as if you’re pushing out against a waistband. This connects your abdominals and stabilizes your seat without tension.

Stay Curious, Not Critical

Riding well is less about muscling through and more about awareness. Use mirrors if you can, check how your horse responds when you adjust, and don’t be afraid to “embrace the weird.” A correct position might feel strange at first, but with practice, it will become your new normal.

At the end of the day, small changes in your position can have a big effect on your horse. By tuning into your own body as much as your horse’s, you’ll unlock clearer communication and a better partnership.

Photo by Stefan Lafrentz