Teach the Basics – Seat- Part 1

by Barbara Ellin Fox

“Seat” is used two distinctive ways in horseback riding.  The first is the proper name for the type of riding you do. Saddle Seat, Hunt Seat, Stock Seat, Forward Seat, Balanced Seat, Dressage seat are all names of types of riding or types of seat.  Each style is a little different from the next but they all have the second definition of “seat” in common.  The second definition is “seat” as in the part of your anatomy that is (supposed to be) touching the saddle (or in case of riding bareback, the horse’s back).

My interest in this section of “Teach the Basics” is the second definition of seat, that is the part of our anatomy that is supposed to be in contact, or at least have a relationship with, the saddle or horse’s back.

While “seat” is adapted  to different styles of riding, all of the styles of riding use one or more of three basic seats (anatomy in the saddle) that I’ll explain in this teaching series.

Full Seat
The full seat is the oldest and most commonly use seat. It’s used for Stock Seat, Saddle Seat, Dressage Seat, Balanced Seat and Hunt Seat riding. For the full seat the rider sits into the saddle on three points of contact: the two seat bones and the crotch.  It’s a tripod of sorts. The two seat bones and the crotch are in the neutral position when the top of the pelvis is upright, rather than tipped forward or backwards.  This is the most comfortable position for the horse and the softest on the part of the rider.

Pelvis in the neutral position

The position in the saddle is effected by posture, rotation of the pelvis, flexibility, leg position and even the design of the saddle. For instance, when a person slouches in the saddle, the crotch is lifted and more weight is placed on the seat bones, increasing the pressure on the seat bones.  This is related to a seat aid used for driving the horse forward.  Sometimes called riding behind the motion, the driving seat or the defensive seat , it’s achieved by tucking the seat or rotating the top of the pelvis backwards.  Jumper riders use this action when their horse needs more encouragement for the jump.  Dressage riders use this seat aid to ask for impulsion and Saddle seat riders use this seat aid to gain more brilliance from the horse.  But this is a seat aid and it is only used temporarily.  After the driving seat aid is used, the rider returns to the neutral pelvis position.

Top of the pelvis topped back. The driving seat.

The seat tucked/pelvic rotated back position is also an emergency safety seat for fast or unexpected stops or difficult jumps.  The intention is not so much to drive the horse forward but to secure the rider into the saddle  during a difficult situation.

Tilting the top of the pelvis forward creates an excessive arch in the back.  This causes the rider to become stiff and inhibits the horse’s ability to respond in the back. Stiffness in the rider’s back combined with stiffness in the horse’s back severely limits the progress of both horse and rider.

Top of the pelvis tilted forward

Different Names for the Same Thing:
Riding definitions, descriptions, and terms are somewhat subject to the interpretation of popular instructors, so it’s important to dig deeply  into some of the terminology you may run in to.

Pro eventing instructor and coach, Jim Wofford considers three point contact to  be two seat bones and the pubic bone (crotch).(Training the Three Day Event Horse and Rider)

Sylvia Loch describes 3 point as the two long ischial ridges (seat bones) and  inferior pubic arch (crotch). (see4 page 30 The Classical Seat)

Sally Swift tells us that three point contact is seat bones and crotch with the top three of four inches of your thigh.(Centered Riding pg 60)

George Morris  considers 3 point contact to be the seat and the two legs (page 12 of Hunter Seat Equitation) And George Morris refers to riding behind the motion as the “buttock seat”.  

Coming in the Next Posts:
There are many things that determine how effective the full seat is. Stiffness in the hips will prevent the rider from developing a deep seat.  Stiffness in the lower back will effect how softly the rider sits.  Body alignment, good or bad, will effect how evenly the rider sits. And core muscle tone will help to determine how well the rider moves with her horse. Later in this series on the seat we’ll discuss common problems found in seats and methods for developing your best possible seat.

This blog post is an excerpt from “Basic and Building Blocks- Curriculum for Equestrians” copyright 2010

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