Regarding spiral seat when riding, my interpretation is turning the shoulders into the direction of turn while the hips stay aligned to the horses hips. This weights the inside seat bone and the alteration of weight as a consequence of the change through the shoulder girdle gives all the desired weight aids. Of course, one has to be sure not to collapse at the waist or slump the upper body and remain tall in the saddle without tensing.
Is my interpretation too simplistic? Am I missing something?
Yes, that's my understanding of it too. However, I think it should be used with caution. It's very easy for a rider who does not have full control and awareness of his seat to let the inside seatbone come backwards as the shoulders turn to the inside. Which as we know, will block the horse from making a good turn. I actually don't think that the shoulders need to turn a lot - do an experiment and see, I think you'll find that you have more influence on the horse solely from using your seat and weight aids than turning the shoulders. The one movement where turning the shoulders is necessary is shoulder in, IMHO.
AntwortenLöschenI know lots of people teach the spiral seat - my seat instructor is always on about it. But I think often it's enough to have an awareness of your seat and weight aids, and just to look where you're going. That sounds really simple - but so many people stare straight ahead and never turn their heads! Your head is one of the heaviest parts of your body, so simply turning your head and looking where you want to go often helps to clarify the weight aids to the horse, and it can also turn the shoulders a fraction, but without the rider being very conscious of turning them and therefore reduces the risk of the rider overdoing the shoulder turn and losing the seat.
Yes, I agree. My confusion came from reading/hearing several different people's ideas and explanations of the spiral seat. One or two insisted that the inside seatbone should be moved forward, one insisted the outside seatbone should be moved forward. Another insisted that turning the hips into the turn was the correct way. None of those seemed right to me, though they were respected riders, hence my question.
AntwortenLöschenYour statement about turning the head, which turns the shoulders ever so slightly, is what I had been trying to do. Not enough turn to be noticeable to a casual observer, but enough for the horse to sense a shift in weight.
Is this something that is used for the SRS? If so, what is their way of doing it?
Ah yes, humans have lots of different explanations of how we should ride. But the horses are our best teachers, they can tell us more than most humans can.
AntwortenLöschenInterested to hear the SRS views on it.
:-) Agree wholeheartedly.
AntwortenLöschenRomy
"spiral seat" , Schulter parallel zu Pferdeschulter, Hüftlinie parallel zu Pferdehüfte, was hat das bitte mit Spirale zu tun.....wer hat dieses Wort eingeführt ...eine Spirale ist eine Kreisbewegung, die immer mehr zum Zentrum führt...also wat nu.
AntwortenLöschenLipizzan wrote: "...can tell us more...."
AntwortenLöschenGut, wenn man Lehrpferde reiten kann, die das Gefühl vermitteln, wie es sich anfühlt, ein korrekt gerittenes Pferd. Dazu ein guter Lehrmeister und die Auseinandersetzung mit
entsprechender Literatur, dann Pferde unterschiedlichen Niveaus reiten, ein Leben reicht eh nicht aus, und so einmal am Tag sein Pferd zu reiten, da sind schon Grenzen gesetzt.