Debbie Sams: Getting Plugged In

Part 16 in the “Deep Seat” series

Getting Plugged In

Problem

Imagine that your seat bones are the prongs on an electrical plug. When the plug is falling out of the wall outlet, your appliance cannot do its job properly because it is lacking a consistent connection. The plug must be moved straight into the outlet for the connection to work most efficiently. In the same way, our seat bones need to be connected and fully plugged into the horse for greatest influence on the horse. Being plugged in also has a direct impact on your ability to stick to your horse (Illus. 43).

Solution

Deep seat bones — For the seat bones to be deep and plugged in, they must follow the horse’s motion and be connected fully to the horse’s back.

Following — The following seat is free to move with the horse’s motion. Shock absorbers are free and movable in the rider’s lower back, hip, and knee and ankle joints. The rest of the body sits tall, soft and relaxed.

Connected — While the seat must move with the horse, the seat bones still need to be plugged deeply into the horse. If they are not plugged in, see Illustrations 10 to 16 for suggestions.

Read Part 1 (Sticking to Your Horse with a Deep Seat) in the "Deep Seat" series

Read Part 2 (Deep Seat versus Light Seat) in the "Deep Seat" series

Read Part 3 (Deep Seat Problem and Solution) in the "Deep Seat" series

Read Part 4 (Arched Back — Problems and Solutions) in the "Deep Seat" series

Read Part 5 (Torso Leaning Forward — Collapsed Chest) in the "Deep Seat" series

Read Part 6 (Rounded Shoulders, Collapsed Chest) in the "Deep Seat" series

Read Part 7 (Knees and Heels Creeping Up) in the "Deep Seat" series

Read Part 8 (Toes and Knees Turned Out) in the "Deep Seat" series

Read Part 9 (Gripping with Knees) in the "Deep Seat" series

Read Part 10 (Behind the Motion) in the "Deep Seat" series

Read Part 11 (Heels Up) in the "Deep Seat" series

Read Part 12 (Looking Down) in the "Deep Seat" series

Read Part 13 (Collapsing Hip) in the "Deep Seat" series
Read Part 14 (Twisting) in the "Deep Seat" series
Read Part 15 (Not Using Shock Absorbers) in the "Deep Seat" series

Debbie Sams teaches English and Western riding with an emphasis on dressage. At her Springer's Stables in Broadalbin, New York, she also teaches drill team and vaulting. Her farm gives pony parties and holds horse camps for scouts and local community college and elementary school youth programs, as well as for the Sacandaga Bible Conference and Retreat Center. Debbie has been teaching drama and drill team on horseback since 1979; in 1985 she became a Certified Horsemanship Association Instructor. She is the author of 101 Drill Team Exercises and has also put her horse knowledge to work in writing for such publications as Practical Horseman, Equus, and the Northeast Horseman’s Journal.