Full Seat or Half Seat?

"why do trainers always teach as if their students are riding German Warmbloods?"

You know, I never really did think about the fact that there are many different styles of riding...until I met Connie. For the most part, I did exactly as I was told, and can remember hearing "sit up" and "sit back" or "drive with your hips." Since this is all I knew, it is how I rode Ruby.

I have been taking lessons and showing one of Connie's horses- Jimmy. As a thoroughbred that does not like when you sit on his back, I have to ride him in a very light seat; sometimes in half seat. Before Connie, I had always been taught this was wrong: "sit up straight, shoulders back, spine flat and perpendicular to your hips." At first I was not quite convinced that Connie's way was going to work, but Jimmy sure seemed to like it; in fact, he started moving more freely, relaxed his head, and started stretching down.

For show purposes, most judges (especially in equitation) still like to see you sitting upright, but for hunter under saddle (HUS), they actually prefer Jimmy's lighter half-seat style. Getting off your horse's back allows the horse to move on his own, and shows that the horse accepts the weight of the rider while still engaging from behind.

This was from my last show with Jimmy (we ended up winning champion in this equitation division, which sort-of confused my show theory for my full vs. half seat argument), but you can see that I am slightly forward, instead of sitting straight up. The key here is to allow a small angle at your hips, but to still keep your shoulders back (all trainers I have met have been anti-slouching! That seems to be one thing they DO agree on!). My fingers are not closed and my thumbs aren't up, but that seems to be an old habit I can't get rid of!

If you hear of a new way of doing things, try it before you criticize it! Although my past trainers would want to strangle me for riding this way, it seems to be Jimmy's preference (and the judges' in this case)! I will admit, however, that this seat is less secure, so I would only try this on a horse that is reliable- if he/she spooks, you probably won't be able to stay on since you center of gravity is slightly shifted.

I am glad that Connie has forced me to branch out- even riding and showing a horse (Cole) in dressage- something I had certainty never done before! I know from personal experience that many riders choose one discipline..then bash the other disciplines for being sub-par. Remember, each discipline has it's own faults (racing puts strain on underdeveloped bone tissue, hunters are notorious for drugging or lunging until dead before shows, jumpers throw kids on horses and freight-train in a dangerous matter, dressage is know for the terrible practice of Rollkur, gaited disciplines will use inhumane methods to encourage the horse to high step, etc).


As long as you are safe, ethical, and having fun, maybe there is no right or wrong way to ride- let your horse tell you what he/she likes best. Just remember that making a judge happy should never be higher of a priority over making your horse happy.