VIVE LA DIFFERENCE!
We asked British Equestrian
Federation Elite Recreational Coach and Consultant, Andrew Stennett, BHSM
Cert Ed FE UKCC Level 4, to share his thoughts on the differences in training
men and women.
Let’s look firstly at our physiological differences in the
saddle. Men have narrower seat-bones than their female counterparts, as well as
a narrower pelvic girdle and hip sockets. The ‘classical’ lengthened riding
position in the dressage phase is actually physiologically easier for men, as
they can flatten their backs more when tilting their pelvis. However, the
female pelvis is usually broader than men’s, and there’s more range of motion
in women’s pelvic joints than their male counterparts.
Every rider regardless of sex will ride differently, but men
and women in general will not ride in identical ways. Males can more easily
achieve a deeper driving seat and apply stronger leg aids with less effort. Ladies
have the advantage of lighter weight and usually cultivate a more tactful way
of riding their horses in compensation.
At any Pony or youth riding club lessons, a usual ratio of
some 20% males to 80% females will be seen. From a coach's viewpoint, male
child riders typically enjoy the speed aspect in particular, jumping as much
and as high as possible, and sometimes having less regard for actual learning! To
generalise, they will be bold and brave, and pay less heed to any possible
danger. The girls tend to be more thoughtful in warming up their ponies, and
listening to instruction!
Looking back through recent history in today’s popular
equestrian events, there can be differences in the rankings between men and
women. Nearly every other sport is divided to separate the sexes for the sake
of fair play, however in all equestrian disciplines, there is no such
segregation, and we compete on a level par. At the top end of eventing and
showjumping disciplines, more men compete at this level than women, so it is no
surprise that there will be differences in the results, with more men taking
higher placings than women. In elite dressage, the ‘male / female’ split is
currently very even. But at the lower end of all of the competitive equestrian
disciplines, females do outnumber males considerably.
The anatomical differences in men and women are completely
opposite to each other, explaining why men and women physically have to ride
differently, as they move into adulthood. The straight hips, and heavier, more
muscular frames that men possess will generally enable a male rider more easily
to handle a bigger, sharper equine athlete. The wider pelvis of a lady will be
more comfortable wrapping around the saddle and the horse’s barrel than the
deeper, sometimes more ‘driving’ seat of a man.
The more leg that can be applied will usually result in a
bigger movement and jump from the horse. It is essential to be able to hold the
horse between hand and leg, and the stronger the core muscles are, the more
effective you will be. Teaching techniques have to be adaptable, not only
between men and women, but tailored to each individual person, as no two riders
are the same. Regardless of the sex of the rider, the horse must be produced to
perform at its best in its chosen discipline, which is why equine sports are
judged without division of rider gender!
Obviously, good riding underwear supports your anatomy, so Derriere’s range of padded and non-padded undergarments is a boon for any rider, with several unparalleled designs in both male and female versions.
Andrew Stennett is a registered instructor, NVQ/UKCC Assessor & Verifier. He is a Qualified Teacher of further Education specialising in Equestrian Learning and Development, and is a British Equestrian Federation Elite Recreational Coach.
Andrew is a fan of Derriere Equestrian products, telling us they make a big difference
to his riding. “I personally recently started competing again after a break.
Derrieres have enabled me to get back riding in comfort, and they are helping
me compete at the same level as in my youth,” he says.
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