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Proper position unites the balance of horse and rider, giving the picture of a team moving as one.
I see, what immediately springs to mind is the rider that is braced on the stirrup. By learning to release the heel and take weight off the stirrup, gravity will help hold you close to your horse. And anything that brings you closer to your horse is your friend. Certainly you've been told, at some time or another, to keep your heels down and you don't need too much experience to realize that weighting your heels helps hold you on the horse. But few riders really know how to accomplish that seemingly simple task and fewer still understand the significance of being weighted in your heels.