what has your trainer said about your leg postion?? and your heels??? heels down should help keep your seatif you feel your sitting up your also forward. and that usaly means ur heels are not down. try puttin all your wieght in ur heels sit deep in ur sadle and almost lean back??? might help. but try riding with a saddle but drop your ironsget a feel for your saddle and your seat. not many people can ride without a saddle so i would not feel bad about it

One thing that may help you is as follows. Borrow and English saddle from someone. Take the stirrups off and work on your position this way. When I find my position needs work this is what I do.

I too would suggest finding a different saddle. While I prefer an english saddle and a dressage saddle in particular you might also try riding in an australian saddle. A little more similar to the feel of your western saddle without the horn.

And it would be a good idea for you to drop your irons in the saddle and really feel the connection. I believe when you ride bareback you have more of a crotch/theigh connection with that close contact. The western saddle sits you back further on your tush putting you in a different position altogether. You may well prefer the feel of an english saddle much better.

And if you do, let me know as I have an old jumping saddle in my barn gathering dust. It's too small for my big mare. You could try it out.

Brice... I just don't understand... u say you are an avid rider.. you've been riding for 6 years and it doesn't seem like you've learn alot... Hmmmm?? How can you be thinking about jumping? Maybe you need to get a new instructor and start over.. I don't see how you could be riding for years and still not be able to do the basics.. Certainly you should not be "running" barrels... or jumping.. YOU must learn and listen.

i used to not have this problem, thats why i think it is mental, it started after i fell off and really hurt myself, i couldnt walk for around a week, i DO run barrels, i have been running barrels for the past 3 years, im not the greatest, but i can get the pattern done with a decent time.

I just think you need to take some real lessons and learn how to properly ride. And also, learn about horsemanship.. If you have the passion.. use it, and become an educated horsewoman.. Banging and crashing around on your horses is just wrong.

ok, thanks for your answer, i underdstand ur concern now, thanks! i will try and put up a video of me soon and have you critique it if you dont mind???

oh boy. that was a little harsh Jen!

Brice im sure you know how to ride, but yeah Its just a mental thing. I had a similar problem a while ago when even I would ride (English) I would constantly be thinking about my leg positioning and where my body was and it drove me insane! It would mess me up completely. I couldnt focus on actually riding the horse or doing what I knew how to do and my riding definitely suffered because of it. I was lucky enough to be switched onto a different horse who was 17hh+ and broad. I was able to relax on him and not worry about where my legs were and just have fun with it. I would reccomend riding a horse (maybe a friends?) who is a very push button horse, preferable a shorter back and a little broad and just have fun with it! Just relax. Once you relax and not worry about it try not to obsess about it. Try switching to a dressage or Australian saddle (not english it pushes weight to their front feet and doesnt help you sit back in the beginning) and ride without stirrups but keep in mind where you want your legs and try your hardest to keep them there!

Just remember to have fun with it and not worry so much about it and youl be okay!

u should try english at a trot u can post tht would probly make it easier on you.