When I think about good riding, the first thing that comes to my mind is a good, strong position. To me, position is everything, and the basis for any training you want to achieve. The question of achieving good balance cannot even begin to be discussed unless every day you are working on the basics of horsemanship and position.

To achieve balance with your horse, you need to ride in your best position, which makes you a strong and effective rider. Every rider’s natural balance is different, so you must also consider suitability. There are many factors to consider: your height, weight, arm length, leg length, upper body length and natural physical strength play a role. We look at the horse and rider’s conformation to determine if they are an ideal match.

It is also important to determine suitability of the horse’s temperament and ability to the rider. Carimba [the eight-year-old mare used as a model for these exercises] would be described as a horse for a professional and is not well suited for an amateur rider. She is very hot and sensitive; in the warmup ring she is very nervous of the other horses and you have to be safe and protect her confidence. For myself, she is the perfect type!

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