| Have you ever watched a Cheetah run? A Cheetah | | | | In order to achieve this you would ideally being sitting |
| has been known to run up to 70 mph, and uses his tail | | | | on your horse in such as fashion that you are giving |
| in a whipping motion behind him in to maintain his | | | | him the impression you're not really on him, and he can |
| balance. | | | | move any way he wishes with great freedom. |
| Whilst some horses are capable to speeds up to 50 | | | | If you move from a perfectly balanced position on |
| mph, they do not use their tails to maintain balance, | | | | your horse by leaning slightly forward this places more |
| instead, they use their head and neck for balance. | | | | weight on the front end of the horse, making it heavier |
| As we ride a horse and try to get him collected and | | | | and out of balance. In order to compensate for this he |
| balanced, we are working to break him free of the | | | | will have to transfer his own weight to offset it so he |
| habit of using his head and neck for balance. We're | | | | can do his job. The same issues occurs when you |
| trying to transfer his center of balance from up over | | | | lean backwards or from side to side. This is one of the |
| his withers to back under our seat. Many riding | | | | reasons that instructors insist on you looking straight |
| instructors will emphasize the importance of keeping | | | | ahead and not down when you ride, as looking down |
| your shoulders over the balls of your feet in order to | | | | changes your centre of balance, and moves it |
| maintain a riding position that assists the horse in | | | | forward. If you are out of balance then you are |
| transferring this centre of balance. | | | | actually in your horse's way and interfering with his |
| As a rider, your balance assists the horse's balance | | | | ability to carry out the tasks you are asking of him. |
| and you are aiming for perfect balance on your horse. | | | | |