That's why Jan Dawson, head of the American Association of Horsemanship Safety, has developed Secure Seat, a system for teaching riding fundamentals regardless of equestrian discipline.
Students master one exercise before moving on to another.
For instance, to prove that they've achieved correct body alignment, students must be able to stand upright and balanced in their stirrups first at the halt, then at the walk and the trot. Other exercises are designed to lower a rider's center of gravity, unlock the lower back and anchor the lower leg. Dawson says that in addition to teaching basics to beginners, the exercises make an effective refresher course for experienced riders. Dru Malavase, an instructor with the United States Pony Clubs and former head of that group's safety committee, says that Secure Seat could be a boon to summer camps and larger riding programs. While it's little more than a variation on the balanced seat we've been teaching for eons, it is useful because the concepts are reduced to readily understandable chunks.