A Little Fix for the Dressage Rider’s Posture II

One of the big takeaways from last weekend’s show is that I still am not sitting at vertical, which is affecting Jet’s ability to have a more uphill carriage.  Since I have four weeks until the next show, I thought I would dedicate a week just to me and figuring out what mnemonic or visual image would be helpful to my sitting the F$#@ up.

My core integrity and straightness are pretty good as evidenced by Jet’s straightness and accurate figures, it is just that lingering slight forward tilt held over from my hunter days that defies eradication.  I know the answer is not in my shoulders or upper body it is more at my hip angle.  I found the above picture for posting trot and had the thought that if you took the posting out of the equation and just thought of the front of your hip as a more open hinge in the seated gaits, what would happen?

Well let me tell you, good things.  Go stand in front of a mirror sideways in riding position and then imagine a hinge at your hip opening a few more degrees.  Keep your pelvis level and try not to change anything except making your hinges slightly more open.  Feel how it changes your balance, your thigh angle, and your alignment.  Then try it on your horse in some easy loose rein work and then in some connected up riding.  Feel the difference in balance and posture.  Visualizing the hip hinges as more open has been a game changer for me!