We covered the basics of seat balance for beginners in Riding Strategies: Balanced Seat. Here are some more advanced strategies to improve your position and balance.

Mental Focus. An often-overlooked element is your mental state. When riding, it is important to focus on where you want to be a few strides from now. Letting the mind wander is a sure way to start leaning, slumping, tensing, or giving off conflicting cues.

Even when you just want to meander down the trail, you should offer some focus for your horse. Remember, you are lead horse. If you don’t offer some focus, such as that tree 100 yards away or that spot 100 feet down the trail, he will assume he is lead horse for the day and problems can arise. You can and should be relaxed, but offer some focal point in all your riding.

When trail riding, gaze ahead at a tree, rock, bend in the path, or other marker. Your horse will pick up on the focus and be much more comfortable knowing what the goal is. When riding in the ring, look through his ears at the upcoming jump or spot in the ring where you want to go. Always have some sort of focal point. This simple exercise will keep you more balanced in your seat and moving as one with your horse toward that shared goal.

Physical. We’ve discussed sitting deep in your seat. Your pelvis is tilted slightly forward, your heels down. But how to improve your balance beyond that?

Exercises off the horse can help improve your posture and strength. I’ve found remarkable success with core training. This is a strengthening of the muscles deep in your abdomen, the “center” of your body. The best core training plan is an exercise program known as Pilates (puh-lah-tees). You can work out to a video/DVD or with a certified Pilates instructor. I guarantee you that your posture will improve after only a few weeks of Pilates training.

Riding from your center means just that – that your own center, your core muscles, be the basis for your balance. A straight back and rigid head cannot take the place of a properly aligned center of balance.

Watch you balance as you walk. Are you hunched, do you walk with your pelvis properly aligned under you? The things we do off the horse often reflect how we sit onboard the saddle.

How are you carrying your weight? You’d be surprised if you realized most of us carry our weight on our toes and not our heels. It is must easier to balance with your weight on your heels (just like it’ll be easier to balance in your saddle with your heels down).

If you ride a trolley, bus, train, or even sail on a boat, test your balance by standing with no hand support: Just you and your balance. As the vehicle moves beneath you, try shifting your weight back slightly onto your heels. Much easier to balance, no? Were you standing with your weight primarily on your toes at first?

Next, try picturing your abdomen and hips as your solid center of gravity. The horse’s center of gravity is just behind its withers. Keep your center just slightly behind his and move with him by keeping your pelvis tucked under you but flexible to his movements.

Moving in unison with the horse, being as one unit, is crucial to improving your riding. A slight weight shift from your center, gentle leg pressure and focus from your eyes on the next target should be all that is needed to communicate your directional changes. Try it and see if your neck reining is much lighter in touch now that you are riding from your center.

One note of caution. Leaning forward on your horse when riding can be dangerous. If your center is out over his withers and he suddenly stops, where will you go? Right onto his head or even over his head. If he stops and rears suddenly and your weight is too far backward, you will go right off the back. Therefore, centered riding is essential to practice. Think – what would happen if he moved suddenly left, right, up or down? If you are riding with your center of gravity firmly steadying you at all times, you will be prepared for any situation.

Emotional. One last comment, about emotion. If I go out to the barn and am in a bad mood, it is instantly picked up by my horse. Same with being sad or confident. The horse is extremely sensitive to the attitudes of those around him. He has to be, his survival depends on reading the moods of other animals.

Horses can be an escape from our human lives, which are often filled with heavy responsibility, stress, and conflict. Remember that every time you go out to the barn -- you should leave all the negativity, stress, and worry in the boot of your car. Simply being in tune with your horse and focused entirely on him will improve your daily riding. The goal is to be one with him when you’re on his back, moving as one animal. And if you bring anger or resentment or stress with you, he will not want to move as one with you. So when you put on your riding boots, leave everything else at home.

Good luck and see you on the trails.

The Pilates Body: The Ultimate At-Home Guide

Nevermind the other books, this one is the best out there by one of the first certified Pilates instructors. Even if you will eventually work out to a DVD, you really need to read this book to 1) learn how to do the exercises right and 2) avoid injury. This book is a must.

Classical Pilates Technique - The Complete Mat Workout Series

Workout DVD showing the techniques as designed by Pilates himself (hence, "classic"). One thing you'll find when you get into Pilates is that many people want to change the original exercises. This is Pilates as it was invented.

Pilates Workout for Dummies

Easy to follow and not just basic exercises either; includes more advanced stuff once you’ve got the basics down.

Thera-Band Exercise Balls

I was introduced to Thera-Band when going through physical therapy for a knee injury two years ago. Although one of the beauties of Pilates is the ability to exercise with no equipment other than a mat, the Thera-Band ball can be used for several of the abdominal exercises with great results.