There was an old poem that my grandmother used to tell me about holding my head high and always looking between the horse’s ears when I rode.
While I can’t remember the poem (and I don’t agree with ALWAYS looking between the horse’s ears), I do agree that the habit of looking up is certainly one that will influence riding ability.
Listed below are 10 reasons why looking up will positively influence your (or your students’) riding ability.
- To see other riders and horses
Have you ever been at a competition or riding in a crowded area and had to avoid riders who are looking down. They are probably lucky that you have been considerate enough to avoid them, but watch for long enough and they will have a collision or near collision with another rider who is looking down. - Accuracy within the arena/ riding area
Many competitions require the horse to be ridden accurately for a higher score. As you are riding around the arena/ riding area, looking up and towards the next point and the one beyond will assist in your accuracy - Possible danger coming from outside the arena
Looking beyond the arena is also a requirement of safe riding. This broader view could see a vehicle with a flapping tarpaulin, a pack of dogs or an out of control rider approaching the area where you ride. Knowing this in advance could prevent an accident - To feel the energy
You shouldn’t need to look at your horse’s head to know they are going forward. This is a feel exercise and best done with you head up so you can best feel the amount of energy your horse is creating. - To see the straightness
When you are riding with mirrors in your arena, you should regularly check your horse’s way of going, in particular straightness. Even without mirrors, you should be able to feel straightness. A quick check is to look over your right shoulder, then look over your left shoulder and you should see the same amount of rump on both sides. There is more to straightness than this simple exercise, but it is a good one to get started. - To feel the straightness
As you develop your feel and maintain your centre of balance, you will feel if you horse is straight. You will not feel the same in the saddle on a crooked horse. This feel is developed when you are looking up - To avoid crookedness
When you head is down, it is usually tilted in some way. This crookedness in the rider is compensated by the horse is some way,usually resulting in crookedness is some way. - 10% of body’s weight
Your head is about 10% of your body weight. Sitting in the correct position in the saddle is not enough when you head is down and forward, putting more weight onto the horse’s forehand. - Correct position
There are many styles of riding, and we may talk about the position of ear, shoulder, hip and heel when the rider is riding in a straight line in a classical sense.In some competitions you will be scored higher for having a correct position and I am unaware of any style of riding where looking down is the correct position of the rider. - To minimize jumping refusals
Have you ever been to a jumping competition, particular with young/ beginner riders? Notice how many times the horse refuses in relation to the rider looking down. Many riders focus on the jump instead of beyond the jump and end up looking down as the horse approaches the jump. The simple correction of looking beyond the jump as the rider approaches will minimize jumping refusals.
Has this encouraged you to look up when you are riding?
There are many other reasons why looking up will influence your riding ability, why don’t you list them below?
this is really informative and useful infromation and is helping me to remember to look up whilest riding.
its like riding a bike, when you look up your horse goes where you are aiming to go without even thinking
The article is straight forward and promotes good spacial awareness while moving through a given space, which is particularly appropriate while mounted atop a horse. This article is appropriate information not only for horse riding but also driving, running, flying, and any other form of traversing space. Awareness is critical in navigating any environment but particularly important at faster-than walking-speeds in order to avoid collisions.
This is a very useful article as not enough people look ahead when they ride. This causes many problems and can confuse your horse. This article is very accurate and truthful. Always remember to look up!
This article is very helpful and I agree 100% with this article. I always find myself having to correct myself on having my head down whilst riding. Riding with your head up can improve your riding and much more.
Yes most riders start to ride with focusing on the horses head position too much. Point is you do need to be sensitive enough to realize what movement the horse is having by not looking at him all the time. So head up is helpful.
Really spot on reasons.
By reading this article it has informed me of some of the reasons why we should look up when we ride or compete. I have acknowledged these tips and I will be using them next time I ride. I always find myself looking down at either my horses head or shoulder and not looking where I’m going. By looking up this will help me to improve my riding ability. Looking up will also help to improve my jumping ability. It will allow me to help encourage my horse to jump up and over the jumps in the correct line.
This is really useful information and is also information that most riders should use. when I’m out competing I often see kids and even some older riders looking down at the jump which causes them to fall off when the horse refuses
I agree. It seems to be a natural reaction to look down, riders need to be educated to look up.
🙂
This is a very useful article especially for beginners, it is helpful for all riders and gives great advice on how to improve technique. These tips will benefit my riding, particularly when jumping.
This article is has provided me with more reasons and awareness to make sure I am aware of my surroundings as I sometimes look down when I am riding. As a rider these will help me remember why I need to keep my head up.
This article is very good at teaching beginner riders and people that have been riding for years, the importance of looking up when riding.
This is a very useful article. No matter whether your a beginner of an experienced rider, looking up is very important. You should always be aware of whats going on around you and to also be able to concentrate on what you are doing. Looking up defiantly improves accuracy.
This article is very useful. Looking up is very important and you should always be aware of your surroundings.
This artical is very useful fir beginners in the fact that new riders naturally look down to make sure they are safe. so it advisers newer riders to get into a habit straight away of looking up and the reasons why you should look up. Looking up definitely improves concentration, accuracy and the ability to ride with confidence.
This article is so useful for beginner riders in showing that if you look down, that’s where you will end up.
These points are extremely important for all riders especially for beginners so they can get into a good habit. When riding I sometime forget to look up and it becomes a bad habit so these pointer are a really helpful reminder to keep my head up when riding.