[QHriderKE]

Upon being told that I ride with a "forward seat" I actually found out what a "forward seat" is and thought it wasn't a bad thing, so kept on riding like I normally do.

Anyways, I feel like I've been riding more and more forward the past few rides, especially after the day when me and my mother tried to seperate a longhorn cow and calf and bring them home and I rode my 3 year old. Well, she gets a little hot from time to time, and this was no exception, so I was direct reining her and kept pressure on the bit almost steady. But it was a pretty interesting chase, leaping through brush, up hills, over ridges yadda yadda. I think we even hopped a fallen tree once...

But after this ride, it seems I keep on riding more and more forward, which is telling my horse that "oooh we should be going faster" cause to her, i guess it feels like I'm bracing myself for take-off. So I've been reminding myself to sit back when I'm working her.

My question is: Should I work on getting rid of my apparently natural "forward seat" and start from square one?

Oh, and I'm starting my new job of training/putting miles on young horses. Would these people, who are very ranch/roping based, like me riding with that forward seat?

 

[Dreamcatcher Arabians]

A forward seat is generally only desirable in hunt seat riding. With Western horses you sit back more on your pockets of your jeans. My trainer tells me to sit down on my pockets and let the horse 'come to me' or pick me up. Since I grew up riding hunters it's a bit of a challenge to sit back more, but the more I sit back the more secure my seat feels on the western horse.

Ropers and cutters won't want you riding in front of the vertical (straight line from shoulder to hip to heel).

 

[QHriderKE]

I grew up riding western! Never sat in an English saddle on a horses back before in my life!

Here's where I normally sit when working my horse:

But, my seat turns into a forward seat when I lope...

 

[Dreamcatcher Arabians]

Yes, you do have a forward seat. Concentrate on sitting back and down so you can absorb the motion of the horse rather than rolling forward and posting with the motion. In these videos your shoulders are leaned way forward and you're driving with your seat. In order to sit the motion and not interfere with the horse you need to lean back onto your pockets and concentrate on keeping your pockets in contact with the saddle all the time.

 

[hennisntacanibal]

I agree with what Pat said, only I would change the wording just a little, and say sit up straight, rather than sit back, because that sometimes translates to "recline". When you ride too far ahead or behind the vertical it does funny things to your leg position, which is why your horse is reacting funny, and probably part of the reason you were having issues getting into the "pocket" on the barrel pattern.

 

[QHriderKE]

Today while I was riding some horses at my new job I figured it out, I just really have to force my legs down and forward... but it could also be my roping saddle that I ride with at home, it sets you up and makes you wanna stand up...