Debbie Sams: Collapsing Hip

Part 13 in the “Deep Seat” series

Collapsing Hip

Usually, a rider is not aware that she is collapsing on one side, but this is a very common problem. Take time to evaluate whether you have even contact with both seat bones. If not, you are in danger of being unseated and of making your horse crooked.

Problem

If you pull your shoulder down and the hip up on the same side, you are collapsing your hip. When this occurs, the connection between the seat bone on that side and the horse is not adequate. This posture causes you to be off balance (Illus. 36).

Illus. 36

Solutions

Dowels — Imagine that there are dowels (very straight sticks) that are attached to your seat bones, and stretch straight up to the top of your shoulders. Think about stretching both sides equally (Illus. 39).

Ruler — Imagine that a ruler is stretching up into the armpit and down into the hip. The hip and armpit will stretch apart (Illus. 40).

Illus. 40

Balance the bowls — For this exercise we want you to imagine that your head is a bowl; another bowl resides in your chest and a third bowl in your pelvis. These bowls are filled with water. If the bowls tip to the side, forward, or backward at all, the water will slosh out. Therefore, you must keep the bowels balanced (Illus. 41).

Illus. 41

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

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.