It would be easy to think that fluidity applies only to dressage or English equitation, but it actually applies to all disciplines, English and Western. Fluidity and balanced riding are about using your whole body when riding and thus allowing your horse to use his. Every horse and rider combination can become more harmonious, comfortable and balanced through learning to be fluid as opposed to rigid. Your horse and your body will thank you for it!
As soon as horse riders put their feet into their stirrups, everything changes. Why? Because their ankles get stiff.
When you stiffen your ankles, every joint from there up to your jaw gets stiff! When this happens, riding becomes uncomfortable, especially the sitting trot for us, and every gait for the horse.
Some students think they can just ride in the saddle without stirrups, but then as soon as you get into stirrups again, you will stiffen up because you have not yet learned how to flex your ankles as shock absorbers for everything from there up.
For balanced horse riding, work on making your ankles loose. With every step, your ankles should flex just as your horse’s hind leg ankles/fetlocks would flex. If you’re pushing down on your stirrups you will inhibit every movement and flexion your horse has in his lower leg.
Move your hips like your horse moves his hips in each gait. Move your ankles like he would, too! Your feet should feel light in the stirrups, not pushing down or out, no matter what style of riding you do, English or Western. We’re talking natural locomotion, joint flexion, articulation and movement.
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