Train Your Seat

The pelvis cannot simply be held still. It has to move, adapt and coordinate with the trunk so the rider can remain organized within the movement rather than being displaced by it.

When the pelvis becomes too rigid, that adaptability is reduced. Movement that could be distributed through the pelvis and trunk has to be managed somewhere else, often creating more tension and making it harder for the rider to stay with the horse.

This is where a common cueing can work against healthy function. Bracing the core, gripping or trying to hold still in an attempt to create stability can reduce the adaptability the rider actually needs.

Stability does not mean rigidity. It’s actually achieved through balanced movement.

The goal is mobility and control to create stability, allowing the pelvis to respond to the horse while the rider remains organized around their centre.

This is why understanding healthy function matters so much when we teach movement.

When we understand how the body is designed to move, we can use imagery to help the rider experience that function rather than trying to manufacture a position.
Imagery turns anatomical understanding into an experience, helping the nervous system organize movement with greater ease, coordination and adaptability.

Does a neutral pelvis set us up for success in the saddle?

For years, riders have been taught to find a neutral pelvis and hold it. A stacked, aligned position set up at the halt as if it indicates balance and proper movement through every stride. It looks correct, but it does not predict movement quality, force absorption or control. The moment the horse moves, that idea of neutral falls apart.

When pelvic tilt was measured in competitive dressage riders on a simulator, how they sat at the halt did not predict how the pelvis actually moved in walk, trot, and canter. Pelvic position did not track with competition level either. In other words, how a rider sits still tells us very little about how they ride.

What did make a difference was control of movement. In a separate study, riders who could actively tilt and direct the pelvis were more stable and better synchronized with the motion of the horse's back. The ones who could not sat more braced and more forward.

This matters because the horse's back never stops moving. Every gait is a combination of movement in three planes.
- Anterior and posterior tilt (forward to back)
- Lateral tilt (side to side)
- Rotation (right to left)

Walk, trot, and canter each ask for a different combination of the 3 planes. Each moment requires a different demand of range, movement, stability and control. A fixed position can only do one thing with that movement, which is resist it.

When riders build mobility and control in each plane, they can follow the movement of the horse.

Mobility and control are two different things, and the research points at control as the one that matters. Mobility is access, whether you can get into anterior tilt, lateral tilt, or rotation at all. Control is what you do with that access: can you produce the movement without compensating, grade how much you produce, reverse it, stop halfway, and do it in time with something moving underneath you.

Let’s stop teaching static alignment and start coaching movement.

The Pelvis Hybrid Training Diploma is now open for registration.

Get both online education and in-person training, so you can learn the anatomy, biomechanics, imagery, and teaching framework, then bring it into a hands-on environment with support and practice.

Current in-person options:
Staffordshire, UK | September 30 to October 4, 2026
Calgary, Alberta, Canada | September 16 to 20, 2026

This is for coaches, trainers, bodyworkers, and equestrian professionals who want practical tools for teaching rider biomechanics in a way riders can actually feel and apply.

Comment HYBRID and we’ll send you the correct registration link.

https://open.substack.com/pub/trainyourseat/p/welcome-to-train-your-seat?r=8kzo83&utm_medium=ios

I’m still taking everything in from this past weekend, it was an experience that felt full in every possible way.

Thank you Horse Expo Canada for having me and for putting on such a well-run, thoughtful, world-class event where every detail felt cared for. What stood out to me was that this event truly felt like it was built around community. You could feel how much the organizers care about bringing people together, creating a space where so many different areas of horsemanship, training, education, and horse care can be shared.

Over the weekend, I had the opportunity to teach demos, Pony Club members, and coach riders at our booth on the Racewood Riding Simulator.

It was a very full few days, and I am so grateful for every person who came to learn, ask questions, ride, watch, and connect with us at our booth.

A huge thank you to Schleese Saddlery Service for providing us with the beautiful dressage and western saddles for the simulator. It was amazing to have saddles that allowed riders to feel supported, comfortable, and able to notice the difference in their own movement.

Thank you Canadian Pony Club for being so wonderful to work with. It was such a joy to teach young riders who are already learning to pay attention to their own movement and how it affects their horses. What a powerful foundation to build from. When young riders start to understand their own bodies and their biomechanics, they are being set up not only for riding success, but for a more thoughtful partnership with their horses.

My clinic riders, Ashtynn, Lark, Molly, Vanessa, and Violet, it takes courage to bring yourself and your horse into a learning space in front of an audience. Thank you for braving the weather, for trusting me, for being open to trying something new and for helping demonstrate how rider biomechanics can support both horse and rider in moving better together. Each of you brought something so valuable to the weekend with the insights you shared.

My TYS Faculty Alejandra and Trish poured their hearts into teaching, coaching, answering questions, talking with everyone who stopped by the booth, setting up, problem-solving, and supporting the whole weekend. I am so grateful for your effort, your care, and your brilliant coaching.

TYS coaches Jamie and Georgina were at the booth, sharing their good energy, and representing us well. I feel incredibly lucky to have such amazing trainers within Train Your Seat.

My bestie Kenna, came on as my clinic team member for the weekend. We had many laughs, so much fun, and was truly the best videographer, helper, and cheerleader during my demos.

One of the things I loved most about the weekend was meeting so many incredible and dedicated horse people. Everyone has their own area of focus, their own skills, their own way of helping horses and riders. And what I kept feeling again and again is that the equestrian world needs all of us, every person who is trying to do better by the horse.

For me, the heart of this always comes back to our own responsibility. Looking in the mirror and asking, “What am I bringing into this partnership?” If we want to help the horse, the best place to begin is by noticing what we can change in ourselves first.

Thank you to everyone who made Horse Expo Canada such a meaningful experience. I’m back home feeling tired, inspired, and very grateful 🤍

I’ll be presenting at Horse Expo Canada this year, here’s where you can find me in the Western Outfitters Arena, Parkland Pavilion.

Friday
10:30 AM, Pelvis
5:45 PM, Pony Club

Saturday
10:45 AM, Lower Leg

Sunday
1:15 PM, Shoulders

Each session focuses on how riders influence the horse through their own movement, not just position.

If you’re at the Expo this weekend come by our booth 2204 and say hi!