Forums at The Military Horse

Note the position of this Portuguese Cavalryman:

M. Freire wrote:

I have to assume that some horrible error is in progress here:

M. Freire wrote:

This photo depicts what I think a lot of us are probably more likely doing:

Originally posted by M. Freire

wkambic wrote:Good explanations, Sir!!!

In considering all of the various "theories" I wonder if the following isn't really the most important thing for a rider to do: "And third: You provide a more reliable weight for the horse to contend with." Providing that "reliable weight" (I presume meaning assuming a stable position) means the horse knows where you are and where you will be. It can then balance itself more effectively.

This is important in a lot of equestrian pursuits but even more so in the more athletic events.

Good point Bill. However one achieves that stability, it is the one of the three that directly affects the horse.

A little off topic, but are those portugues dragoons using 1902 Headkits (but with the headrope coiled & tied up not around the neck) and UP saddles?

On the slide bit I would say that the rider leaning forward in the earlier picture is perhaps forwards in order to be ready for the horse launching himself off part way down, (as the other horse does) presumably this jump off lessens the sudden stop, but would need a forwards seat to avoid being left drastically behind the motion?

Dpuckey wrote:A little off topic, but are those portugues dragoons using 1902 Headkits (but with the headrope coiled & tied up not around the neck) and UP saddles?

No, that's Portuguese tack. We have a thread on that somewhere I'll try to bump up.

Dpuckey wrote:On the slide bit I would say that the rider leaning forward in the earlier picture is perhaps forwards in order to be ready for the horse launching himself off part way down, (as the other horse does) presumably this jump off lessens the sudden stop, but would need a forwards seat to avoid being left drastically behind the motion?

Perhaps, but that lean is pretty close, the way I understand it, to the later recommended form that was used at Ft. Riley. I'm not an expert on this, of course, and could be wrong.

Friends,

in my statement I was talking about a "true" slide, this is sliding down a very steep slope on the horses haunches. That is when we were taught to sit straight above the center of balance, something I called leaning back, which was wrong, fortunately I was corrected. I also agree that you should take up a forward position when cantering down a steep slope, at least that is the way we rode. Why, has been explained here very well, thank you. It is sometimes difficult to know the reason for something you've been doing for ages.


Tom

Tom Muller wrote:Friends,

in my statement I was talking about a "true" slide, this is sliding down a very steep slope on the horses haunches. That is when we were taught to sit straight above the center of balance, something I called leaning back, which was wrong, fortunately I was corrected. I also agree that you should take up a forward position when cantering down a steep slope, at least that is the way we rode. Why, has been explained here very well, thank you. It is sometimes difficult to know the reason for something you've been doing for ages.


Tom

Tom, I have found that sometimes it is best "not to know the reason", becaise then we start to think about it too much and everything falls apart.

Jim

Jim,

that is b..... true! "Think with your guts" putting it bluntly, is often the better way of doing something.

Tom

Tom Muller wrote:Jim,

that is b..... true! "Think with your guts" putting it bluntly, is often the better way of doing something.

Tom

It really is funny how that is often the case, Tom. I was taking a jumping lesson last week and was really trying hard to get my position just right, which not working out. The last time through the grid I was tired, depressed a bit and simply went for it. The instructor was excited, said it was perfect and now I had it. The truth of the matter is, I have no idea what I did or did not do that last trip through.

Jim

Sometimes one can overthink a movement- happens to me all the time.

Just out of curiousity, are the "slides" still in existence at Ft. Riley?

Yesterday I pulled out the 1942 traing taopes and popped in the one on "Jumping and Cross Country Riding", because there was something in the jumping part I wanted to see. The tape rolled on to the cross country and the "slide" lesson came up (I forgot that was where it was). It says to lean forward and maintain your position by placing one hand on the withers or use the bridge. The demo rider starts down and toward the bottom the horse starts to scramble with the hind legs, so he opens his chest angle (returning almost to verticle), the rear legs come back under and all is well.

No mention of this was made. I thought it interesting based on our comments taking both sides in this thread. If you have the tape watch the lesson.

Jim

Bumped up due to related thread.

Bump.