07/04/2026
A dressage saddle requires a much more open hip angle than a gp or jump saddle. This allows the legs to hang longer and your seat to feel deeper. And to achieve this we need strength and length in the psoas, the main hip flexor muscle.
The psoas is the only muscle in our body that connects the spine, pelvis and hip, and therefore is key to developing a good seat. A strong and supple psoas helps deepen the seat, allows the rider to follow the horse’s movement, and improves the rider’s ability to communicate with their horse.
Improving psoas control and endurance by eccentric training (resistance training into a lengthened position) improves the control and precision of our seat aids, achieving an independent seat and allowing our leg and rein aids to be more controlled and precise. And allowing us to achieve a more open hip angle and still maintain an upright and relaxed but controlled position in the saddle.
As a Chartered Physiotherapist with 25 years experience of assessing and treating riders, I developed the Activate Your Seat exercise programme against the resistance of the bungi as this is THE best way I have found to improve psoas strength and control.
To purchase your bungi plus access to both online exercise videos head to www.activateyourseat.com (link in my bio).
I post worldwide 🌎
If you have ongoing hip pain when riding, please seek advice and an assessment from a registered physiotherapist.
💙 Breathe better, move better, ride better
Maeve
