> He is definately travelling ventroflexed. So are you. If you tip > your pelvis slightly you will align your pelvic floor with his back. > This will help to keep from driving his spine down. It will feel > different to you, but will help if you contain your own frame with > your stomach muscles.
Sitting on the seat pockets has been the only way many express how to tuck you butt under you. It isn't enough to teach correct alignment. Oh no...I've started down a path here that could get me hung. Your butt's (all of them being tight little (petite) masses of muscle) are really a contact point between your pelvis and what ever surface your butt touches. Your pelvis can move in spite of where your butt surface is placed. If your butt is placed too high (back), your pelvis cannot shift forward and upward enough to be properly aligned. The easiest way to adjust the pelvic floor when tipped is by a simple exercise. When in the saddle, sit naturally, then lift each knee above the top of the whithers. Now let your knees down without shifting your butt back. This has pulled your petite little muscle masses and attached pelvis so the pubis is lifted up slightly. Further than the original posture you had than when just sitting there. It also aligns your lower spine better. You will feel your own top (back) line tighten slightly as well. Now hold that position with your stomach and back muscles as the horse moves. I have done this so many times with people both in clinics and lessons that you cannot believe it. It is a very common thing to see. That one thing can make a tremendous difference in the horses movement under you. One of the things I hear a lot is that people feel out of balance this way. Yes they are feeling out of balance because they are used to riding out of balance. Now they are in balance and they are less than comfortable (unfamiliar). Ride it more and you will begin to re- learn how to ride balanced with your horse. Hope this helps, Brandon Carpenter http://www.hashknifehorses.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Judy http://icehorses.net http://clickryder.com
