Happy rider, Healthy horse⎮dressage rider, dressage exercises, horse trigger point therapy, horse acupressure

EP 04 // Feel Like a Sack of Potatoes in the Saddle? How to Find Your Seat and Ride with Balance

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🎙️ Episode 4 — Feel Like a Sack of Potatoes in the Saddle? How to Find Your Seat and Ride with Balance

 

✨ Episode Summary:

Do you ever feel like you're just bouncing around in the saddle, disconnected and unbalanced—like a floppy sack of potatoes? You're not alone, and you're not stuck there.

In this episode of the Happy Rider Healthy Horse podcast, we’re diving deep into how to improve your seat in the saddle—so you can ride in balance, feel, and flow. You'll learn how to shift from being a passive passenger to an active partner in the saddle using clear, practical tips you can try in your very next ride.

We’re talking about rider biomechanics, transitions, hip awareness, and even how a 7-minute core workout can dramatically improve your posture and connection. If you’ve been struggling with bouncing, gripping, or just feeling “off,” this episode is your roadmap to finding your seat again—with softness and clarity.

 

🔑 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

  • Why "fixing" your seat with tension only backfires
  • How your breath and alignment influence your horse’s movement
  • The power of transitions to help you feel your hips and improve seat timing
  • Key differences in biomechanics between trot and canter
  • Why your core strength matters more than brute strength or stiffness
  • How subtle changes in posture and position can unlock better performance
  • Ways to create lightness, symmetry, and softness so your horse moves better under you
  • How to give your horse space in the ribcage and spine to truly work with you

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    🧠 Rider Homework:

    This week, pick one thing to explore:

    • Try some intentional walk–trot transitions and notice your hip movement
    • Focus on the shift in your seat between trot and canter
    • Do a 7-minute core workout and notice how it affects your balance
    • Write down what you notice in your ride—or share it with the community!

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      🔁 Let’s Keep Going:

      ✅ Want guidance and personal feedback?

      Book a 1:1 online coaching session with me and let’s take your riding to the next level—without guessing or going it alone. [Insert booking link]

      ✅ Join the Happy Rider Healthy Horse Facebook Community

      for support, tips, and shared progress: [Insert group link]

      ...more
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      Happy rider, Healthy horse⎮dressage rider, dressage exercises, horse trigger point therapy, horse acupressureBy Sarah Martine - Veterinarian, dressage rider coach