Balanced Seat _ Balanced Horse

Often when I am doing a saddle fitting for someone it becomes clear that both horse and rider have developed habits of movement that contribute to imbalance, discomfort and pain. Even after the saddle clearly fits both horse and rider, these habits continue. At this point we develop a schedule for Rebalance training and seat education to help them find their balance and begin to work in harmony with each other. This may take the format of a clinic or several individual sessions either for both horse and rider, or for the horse first and then once the horse has begun to develop new habits of balance we add the rider. What we are looking for is for the rider to begin to understand the feel of a balanced seat and thereby be able to help their horse return to balance as well.

A balanced seat means an independent seat, from which we can communicate with our horse with subtle aids of seat, legs and hand. To achieve this balanced seat we need to remain aligned and always working with the laws of physics. In this way we never use the horse for balance and as a result cause it pain or stress, but rather maintain our own balance by using correct equitation along with the forces of gravity.

As a student of Classical Horsemanship I believe in looking to the masters to understand the true approach to balance.

“Classical horsemanship is based on love for the horse; it is not practiced for the glorification of the rider. Horsemanship is a science and very much a matter of scholarship and intellect. It is an art, depending deeply on the spirit in which it is practiced and displayed.” - Charles de Kunffy

“Equitation is not the search for public acclaim and self-satisfaction after applause. Nor is it the pleasure of every prize, or a judge or jury's admiration at a show. It is the head to head dialogue with your horse and the search for communication and perfection.” - Nuno Oliveira

“The horse carries his weight on all four legs; the centre of gravity is not directly supported, and the weight is unequally distributed over all four legs. By nature the forelegs have to bear the greater proportion as they have to carry the neck and head. Therefore, it is more difficult for the horse than for the human to obtain and maintain balance, but balance is the basic requirement for pure and impulsive paces. Moreover, the weight of the rider throws additional weight on the forehand, which makes matters still more difficult for the horse. It is the rider’s art to balance the centres of gravity of horse and rider so that the former is not disturbed in his movements.” - Alois Podhajsky