Do you ever feel like you’re "fighting" the saddle rather than flowing with it? Many riders struggle with upper body balance because they view riding as a sit rather than a stance. To find true stability, we need to shift our focus from "parking" in the saddle to finding an active, athletic balance over our feet. Here’s how to refine your position and unlock a more stable core.

For upper body stability, stop thinking of your "core" as just your stomach. Instead, imagine your core as your entire trunk, wrapping all the way around and up to your armpits. You can find this feeling by lengthening your lower back while simultaneously pushing your hands forward against an imaginary wall.

Believe it or not, you can even practice this in the car! Push your hands against the steering wheel while pressing your lower back into the seat. These two opposing forces help you find a stable frame in your torso while keeping your arms supple enough to follow the horse’s motion and maintain a soft connection.

This Weeks Challenge

Once you feel confident standing at the walk and trot, start playing with "stride counting" to test your independence. While trotting, try standing for three strides, returning to a rising trot, and then sitting for three strides. You can vary the pattern—standing for two, sitting for two—to ensure you are truly balanced over your center of gravity rather than relying on the horse’s rhythm to hold you in place.

Want to learn more?

Balance, proprioception, and body awareness don't have to be a struggle. Many of these exercises can be practiced on the ground to develop awareness before.

Check out the course Mini Course "Balance and Core Stability" to learn how your seat bones effect the horse's line of travel as well as the gait.