Table des matières<\/p>
- Why is William Fox-Pitt is the perfect speaker for such topic?<\/a><\/li>
- Why is it so important to have a good riding balance?<\/a><\/li>
- How William Fox-Pitt makes us re consider our riding balance achievments<\/a><\/li>
- Let’s talk biomechanics<\/a><\/li>
- The revelation<\/a><\/li>
- To conclude<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n
Why is William Fox-Pitt is the perfect speaker for such topic?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
First, for those who do not know him: William Fox-Pitt is an English eventing rider from. He was the first Briton to be world number 1 eventing rider. He has an impressive track record among which 4 Olympic medals. He is also the only rider to win 5 of the 6 CCI **** in the world (Burghley, Badminton, Luhmuhlen, Rolex Kentucky and Pau).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And it has the distinction of being very tall!<\/strong> he measures 1.98m for 76kg. A rather atypical profile. As he says himself, he was not very athletic and had a hard time finding a correct riding.<\/strong> He took some hard work to acquire this position and balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This was his battle. Besides, he says it himself: riders who come to ride with him get very bored. As long as they do not find a good balance and position, they do not train anything else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/400px-William_Fox_Pitt_Lionheart_cross-country_London_2012.jpg\")
By Henry Bucklow\/Lazy Photography (Sffubs) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n Why is it so important to have a good riding balance?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
According to William Fox-Pitt, a bad riding balance (on the flat or when jumping) can be the cause of many problems. If the rider is not in balance, the horse will compensate for this imbalance.<\/strong> Thus, the horse will find itself unbalanced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
William Fox-Pitt links it with the mouth. If riders are forced to put harder bits on horses, it is mainly because they themselves are not balanced. Horses that have to carry their riders will consequently become stronger in the mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How William Fox-Pitt makes us re consider our riding balance achievments<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
For him the right balance, whether on the flat or when jumping, is when the rider can keep the same position as when on the horse but on the ground without falling over.<\/strong> If he falls forwards or backwards, it means that his horse is compensating for this imbalance. So far everyone is pretty much in agreement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Where he dropped my knowledge concerning standing position is when he recommended to climb with all joints bent, shoulders forward of the vertical and buttocks back. A bit like when squating.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
He does not advocate a constant alignment of shoulders, pelvis and heels as I have learned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Often between obstacles in cross country, we see riders standing straight, very rigid, like police officers. They often sit back in the saddle at each stride, and they have legs that keep on moving “<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/positions-1-1024x691.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAccording to him, a flexed standing position is better for the horse. “Even if it’s not fashionable”. This position, which he systematically adopts between each fence, allows more mobility, flexibility, a greater capacity to dampen the movements and more independence of the rider compared to the horse.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
And this position does not prevent him from straightening his back and sit back before the fence! He has more room for maneuver than in the”police officer” position as he calls it. Indeed, when one already has a straight back, it is more difficult to straighten before the fence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Would William Fox-Pitt be a skier in another life?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
In fact, when looking at William Fox-Pitt’s jumping course or cross course, you will notice that he is riding a bit like a skier. His back moves very little compared to the ground while his legs dampen all horse movements. He is relatively independent of the horse. He does not undergo the movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Why is it so important to have a good riding balance?<\/a><\/li>