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Discussion on I am perplexed, guys...
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Member:
gwen
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Posted on Thursday, Sep 25, 2008 - 9:37 pm:
As some of you may know, I have had a few changes in trainers in the past several months. I have learned so much about both my riding and my terrific little horse. What I am trying to understand is the difference between two schools of thought within dressage. Bear (haha-figure out THAT homophone!) with me as I try to explain myself.
One technique is having the horse carry himself with a higher head-carriage, nose up and out. The horse ends up "in the frame", but when faced with some inconsistency, will tend to stick the nose out. When hacking, the nose is out.
The other technique is newer to me. The strategy is to have the horse "in the frame" during an entire work session. For example, my horse started quite quick at the trot, and the trainer's strategy was to flex him in. It worked. He was way more balanced than when I first started and he seemed to round, and he was much easier to work with than the beginning. However, here is my dilemma: Although he went well, I feel like I want that more "up" feeling, rather than the frame ALL THE TIME. Like for example, when I would half-halt, he would respond, but would tend to get behind the verticle. This was exactly what the instructor was looking for. She was very pleased with how we did. What is noteworthy, is that she is also a judge.
I have always felt more comfy with him tending to have his nose out rather than too flexed, but find I am not able to grasp the trainer's explanations as easily as the other trainers' methods. It is clearly easier for me to utilize the latter-mentioned technique, but am feeling a bit weird about it. Please let me know if this was too confusing to analyze. If anyone can make heads-or-tails of this, and can give insight, that would be terrific! Thanks a bunch!
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Member:
dres
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Posted on Friday, Sep 26, 2008 - 10:05 am:
Gwen , may i start with another question.. you keep saying a ''frame'' .. there are a lot of horses going in a 'frame' but are not truly engaged from behind and thru their backs.. Do you feel the power under your seat bones when your horse is in this 'frame'? or are you loosing your horse out behind??
On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots..
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Member:
gwen
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Posted on Friday, Sep 26, 2008 - 10:38 am:
Ann, we are still working on that. Which is another element of question for me. For example, the most recent lesson entailed him being "in a frame"-meaning that his neck was rounded and his nose was at most verticle. Toward the end of the ride, we worked on me half-halting, then pushing to engage him and bring the hind end into play more. He is better about this more consistently. This past winter, he would lose his legs often, and that would send him into rush/hollow mode...
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Member:
erika
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Posted on Friday, Sep 26, 2008 - 10:49 am:
Gwen, I'm sure you're aware that collection comes from behind. I'm with you that I would rather have the face in front of the vertical rather than behind. It will take time for him to have the strength to carry himself off the forehand (especially those OTTB's).
I think overbending before he is engaged is to be avoided. Just my opinion, but there are far better qualified opinions that I hope you'll hear from!
Erika
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Member:
gwen
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Posted on Friday, Sep 26, 2008 - 11:16 am:
Thanks Erika. What is funny is that he doesn't like to be on his forehand. It scares him to take a connection and stretch. I don't know. I am probably contradicting myself.
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Member:
dres
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Posted on Friday, Sep 26, 2008 - 11:26 am:
I am not good at explaining what i feel or how i ride.. but to take the part that Erika mentioned .. over bending will lend a horse to pop that outside shoulder or help him 'fall' on the inside shoulder.. thus you are not getting a true straight horse one that is being ridden from back to front , rather a horse that is being forced from front to back and not getting a true connection...
On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots..
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Member:
terrido
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Posted on Friday, Sep 26, 2008 - 11:49 am:
Gwen, Personally I would stick with only the trainer that had you going with nose out front, regardless of where the head is. ;] I am not a fan of always keeping the horse in a 'frame'. That tends to be hand-riding imho, and not correct riding for the poor horse.
Collection, the roundness everyone wants comes solely from the hocks. It's not real if you are "holding the horse's neck" in a certain position. Besides, how long can you truly carry your horse? Cause that's exactly what you are doing.
With just a few lines of explanation/question there is much left to subjective interpretation. As in all things riding "it depends". I would much rather work with someone that wants my horse to move correctly well balanced, carrying himself and me than someone that doesn't care if the horse is BTV the entire hour. A horse will move BTV on occasion, and that's ok and natural as they search for comfort, but to overflex them into that position and think that is a correct way of going says to me, run far and run fast away from this person. hahaha Course there are top level riders that do just this and score high for it.
Depending on your horse's conformation a higher head carriage may be more natural. Unless you have a really high level horse allowing horse to place his head where he needs to to use his neck to balance well with what is being asked is what is important. If his nose goes way up and back hollows, you need to ask him again to stretch forward and bring his neck (notice I said NECK and not head) more downward so he can better re-engage the back. If he is consistently hollowing that should tell you something. What that is will depend on the moment. So you ask him to stretch more downward and ask him for much more activity behind, helping him to better engage. A horse can move well engaged with a higher head carriage, but this depends on the strength of the horse. We call this "collection". The nose should always be just ahead of vertical. (Read the old masters)
As to the flexing, you can help the horse to relax more through the neck with correct and proper bending. If the horse is tense, that tension will be in the neck, they most likely won't want to stretch forward and down with the neck which helps engage the back. I'll admit at first when I read your post I pictured a flexing to help release tensions happening, but reading it a second time I began to think 'no, the person probably flexed the horse to the inside and held him that way, more likely.' Again not necessarily incorrect, it depends. Possibly he needed help shifting more weight to the inside shoulder, etc. Because that's also a huge part of balance, where are they carrying their weight? is it indeed over all four feet evenly?
For instance, my mare has a tendency sometimes to always carry more weight on her left shoulder no matter which direction we are going. So on a right rein asking her to flex more to the inside helps her shift more weight evenly onto also her right shoulder and not just having it all "on the outside". Sometimes I can ask her to shift more by my shifting my seat and some days she needs to have a bit of flexing thru her neck too. Again, it depends. And riding is very much feel, because every step can be vastly different. 
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Member:
sunny66
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Posted on Friday, Sep 26, 2008 - 11:57 am:
Would it make sense to do both? I alternate, I've found that slow and steady works the best... not all or nothing. When you talk about framing, it's to teach the horse to carry himself properly, the horse does need to be moving forward, be off and in front of your leg. When you are doing this it is imperative that you also give with the rein so you are not "cranking and spanking" this is not correct. Giving can be just a scratch on the wither or relaxing/softening of your shoulder. When you have that "frame" and you give and the horse keeps his head in the same position or goes lower/out, you're doing it correctly. Pick up the reins again with even more give... and if your instructor hasn't already, ask about the nuchal ligament or mane comb... it.is.amazing!
It's likely that your horses' back came up and he was "engaged" when he went btv, hence the instructors praise. Your goal is to keep the back up while your horse is on the verticle It's a process... but listen to your gut. If you feel it's too much, don't do it as much. Give him a lot of breaks, but I think it really does help to get correct muscling.
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Member:
terrido
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Posted on Friday, Sep 26, 2008 - 12:03 pm:
Gwen, if he seems afraid to stretch to meet contact he isn't ready. What I mean is you need to help him understand it's ok and comfy. Your post about "Toward the end of the ride, we worked on me half-halting, then pushing to engage him and bring the hind end into play more." sounds very backward. Again I don;t know if you have a high level trained horse or what, but he sounds to be more on the green or lower level side with what you are saying.
This above sounds like a backward way to achieve collection. First step the horse has to learn to relax all the way through his neck, throat and poll (jaw will follow all of these). At this point the horse can engage the back and start to build the strength of muscle to carry his body more balanced and correctly. So at this stage we work to achieve good balance, helping the horse shift weight where they need to be solid over all four feet in all gaits, etc. At this point (if I recall) you can begin to work on contact, lightly, and still in a stretched position. The horse would follow your hands if you move them forward and down. If not keep working on the first two stages.
Another thing that helps a green horse learn to take contact is you fixing your hands in one place and holding them there no matter what. Use with caution, you need to have help here if you haven't done it before. Too short a rein will not help the horse learn, too long a rein... well you get the idea. So once you have the rein length established for what you are doing, set your hands in one place and hold them there. Let the horse find its own comfort zone. Very quickly the horse will relax more once they start to trust where your hands are. This also of course make your hands 'still'. You can rest against the pommel, the neck, hold a bucking strap, whatever. Arms, wrists, hands are fully soft and relaxed, with NO tension. Hold the reins with a soft fist, and keep hands in the same position. Give the horse time to figure it out. Once half halts are in place, once the horse starts to trust your hands in this manner THEN you can start contact.
What I have discovered doing it this way is that my horse had a contact with my fixed hand position. When I would then move my hands (together) forward she would stretch her neck out with them. She would keep the same level of contact and follow my hands. This is the beginning, of course. Pre-contact-101a or something. haha
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Member:
sunny66
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Posted on Friday, Sep 26, 2008 - 12:22 pm:
Hi Terrie, if by backward you're referring to my post, that's what I thought too, at first. I questioned the instructor and thought I'd give it a go since by the way she talked/ acted / instructed/ questioned she was so obviously "for the horse." Then I saw and felt the results. For me and my horse the key is to listen and be moderate and be sure the horse is relaxed and maybe even having a little fun But I fully realize I am not the best writer and may not be explaining myself clearly.
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Member:
terrido
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Posted on Friday, Sep 26, 2008 - 3:49 pm:
Sorry Aileen, I was referring to Gwen's post about how the instructor had her half halt and push to have the horse engage hindend into play more. This is a way to help the horse learn and understand contact and initial collection. But with her other post seems a backward approach to get there.
So, it's one thing to play a bit with 'stuff' and quite another to fully train that way. If that makes any sense? What I mean is her post lends me to think her horse isn't ready for higher collection at all yet, and still this instructor had her play with it a little. Again a bit of play to get a feel briefly is one thing...
It's just me but I too use slow and steady. Get one piece of the foundation in place before moving to the next, etc. building a strong solid basic foundation. Once you have this most anything you put on top is literally icing on the cake in many ways. But without that solid foundation getting the icing to stay put is not an easy task. ;]
For instance, after my young mare learned to accept a light steady contact my trainer had me play a bit with a stronger contact. We began where we always begin, at halt. He had me take up rein until I had a soft feel of her mouth and then he had me work for a stronger contact, essentially pushing her from behind more into my hand, until she accepted the contact. Once we reached that then I asked her to walk on. Of course the contact fell apart the first few times, so back to halt and begin once more. And then as I recall we didn't do that again for another 4 months or so, we went back to the soft, light connection, helping her remain relaxed, balanced, forward/engaged at walk and trot, constantly re-establishing softer and softer aids, and half halts until I could think half halt and she had done it.
The point I am trying to make in a very round the bran way is that the 'frame' everyone wants to see on a horse does not come from your hands, it comes from their hocks. In the beginning whether the horse carries the neck high or low is irrelevant, (to me) what matters is HOW they are moving overall. Are they fully engaged? Is the poll the highest point? Are the hocks active enough to allow the relaxation thru the poll? etc. Once you have all of the above happening, the throat opens and becomes soft and jello-y the head is carried as if suspended from the poll, the energy swings thru the back from the ground to the hocks to the back to the rider's hands, nose poked a bit out in front - happy relaxed fully engaged, moving horse.
My mare is a Friesian with a high set neck, she naturally runs around like a giraffe, it's how she has been bred, it's her conformation. I don't care if she carries it up as long as she engages, relaxes and her poll is the highest point. If she dips nose to chest (behind the vertical, btv) I ask for more activity from her hocks, I don't move my hands.
Granted she and I would only qualify to ride at 2nd level, but ya gotta start somewhere, right? haha So no, we're not quite ready for super high collection of the higher levels yet. We do play with collection quite a bit though, and now more with extensions too. Initially it was just find a good working pace, and improve the quality of what I had at that pace. LOL
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Member:
gwen
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Posted on Friday, Sep 26, 2008 - 8:24 pm:
Okay, thanks everyone. 
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Member:
erika
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Posted on Friday, Sep 26, 2008 - 10:23 pm:
Aw, Gwen, you are probably feeling a little overwhelmed by all this aren't you? (I know I am!!)
I think the problem is that it's so hard to explain how things should feel. I know you've been down a long road with your wonderful new horse. From off-the-track to riding horse can be a long and frustrating road. I've been there before.
You sound like you are depending a lot on your trainer, and it seems that your gut is not in accordance with what you are being taught.
If you feel that your trainer is accomplished and able to do what you are looking to do, there are lots of different ways to get there, and she/he may be able to help you. But I also can't help but worry that if one depends too much on outside help, that one starts to distrust one's own instincts.
I'm curious how much riding you do "just for fun". Do you have the ability to ride out with friends and just have a good time? Every time you ride your nice horse, you are communicating to him what you want...even if you don't realize it, when he does what you like, you are going to relax and he will get the message.
You will know the feel when you get it. You obviously care so much, and your desire to communicate with "Fabio" (I know you don't call him that, but I remember from the website that it was his nick-name, and somehow it stuck with me---I like this horse!)is apparent.
Just ride, and enjoy... you'll get there.
Erika
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Member:
gwen
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Posted on Sunday, Sep 28, 2008 - 5:22 pm:
Thank, Erika. My gut is not very trustworthy sometimes. I tend to over-analyze and over-think things, and I need to stop thinking so much and just ride. I am working on getting him out on the trails more. I think I am doing a baby/training ride next weekend. I am so kicking myself for not taping or getting pictures of my lesson. Next chance I get...
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Member:
ekaufman
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Posted on Monday, Sep 29, 2008 - 9:36 pm:
Hi Gwen,
You've had some interesting feedback here. Not sure I can add to it except by pointing out what you know already-- horses are individuals, and so are trainers. Many roads lead to Rome, but not all, in this case.
I suppose I would look at the riders and horses who have been riding with each trainer, and decide which look more correct (balanced, harmonious, powerful).
It isn't possible to work on everything at once with any horse. Even as they become more advanced, we are always trading one thing against another. Knowing in which order to do that with any given horse and rider requires a lot of experience, and some trial and error.
Accepting a contact is a pretty basic building block. So is engaging the hind end. An "up" feeling is nice to have, but a horse can *feel* uphill and be way behind the leg, so that feeling alone is not always a sure indicator of progress.
My best advice, I suppose, is to watch other students and lessons, and form an opinion based on that evidence.
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Member:
jowidner
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Posted on Monday, Sep 29, 2008 - 10:45 pm:
Hi Gwen, Yes, a lot of discussion to mull over. I got a little dizzy trying to process it all. Erika and Elizabeth both raise good points. Not to increase your information overload, but I am curious, did you learn anything helpful regarding your riding from the Alexander Technique perspective?
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Member:
gwen
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Posted on Tuesday, Sep 30, 2008 - 7:36 am:
You are absolutely right, Elizabeth--and everyone else who mentioned this. There is no cookie-cutter way to train a horse. That is what is hanging in the back of my head. I sort of had an epiphany yesterday as I was scooping poop (anyone else have a lot of light bulb moments during this time?). I said to myself-this current method has provided me with more feelings of success and accomplishment than I have felt in probably seven years!
I rode him yesterday, using the newer-to-me techniques, and continued to end up with answers that seem to be on the right track for an end result.
One thing that sticks in my head is when my other trainer says, "When I am out on a trail, and I ask my horse to stop, I don't want him curling behind the bit on me." I get this, and it is what I keep coming back to with concern...
With regards to the Alexander Technique, uh we didn't touch it. SORRY Jo Ann! 
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Member:
ekaufman
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Posted on Tuesday, Sep 30, 2008 - 10:17 am:
Hi Gwen,
Sure, curling is not on our wishlist of training outcomes. On the trail, it means that you may not have great brakes. In the schooling environment (and I realize some don't make this distinction), it means the horse is not in self-carriage, and is not "through."
But only you and the folks who can see the horse can decide whether this is a temporary phase as you and he learn together, or something that is Going Terribly Wrong and must be fixed.
I think you know this-- green horse and green rider is a challenging combination, for everyone including the trainer. So make friends with your uncertainty instead of trying to banish it! It's going to ride with you for quite a while.
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Member:
sunny66
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Posted on Tuesday, Sep 30, 2008 - 11:03 am:
Gwen, sorry if I was confusing, that's one reason I don't post much! I'm just kind of excited that me and my horse are "getting" something and it appears to be working well. Elizabeth if you have the time I would love to read your thoughts on what you would do, from the posts I've read you're quite knowledgable and I'm always wanting to learn more.
Terri, no problem like I said above, I just do not write well!
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Member:
gwen
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Posted on Tuesday, Sep 30, 2008 - 2:34 pm:
hehe, Elizabeth. What has been interesting, is that the current methods have brought back the muscle memory from years ago, when riding was going better for me. Another "aha!" I guess.
NO WORRIES, Aileen! I can't even get out of my own way at times... You were quite clear with your thoughts. The interpreter on the other hand--not so clear-headed.
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Member:
ekaufman
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Posted on Tuesday, Sep 30, 2008 - 4:06 pm:
Hey Aileen,
If that were my adorable Mr. Prospector OTTB I would rush about jumping him over things for a while, I'm afraid, because I'm a fool at heart. I have a horrible embarrassing crush on Gwen's boy, which she kindly ignores.
I dunno that I have much useful to say. I suppose with my rehabs that the order of building blocks I try to follow are like this:
1) forward in the right rhythm (all 3 gaits)
- right rhythm is the proper working gait of the horse
- includes transitions
- needs a light "live" steady contact
2) longitudinal balance (tail to nose)
- more correct transitions
- half-halts
- start educating the contact so the horse begins to come through
- baby beginner rein-back
3) lateral balance
- intro to straightness
- leg yield, shoulder-in
- more proper flexion
But it depends on the horse and how it goes. I believe the "frame" is a product of the above, not a goal in itself, so I never seem to think about whether my horse is in a frame. I do notice when my horned mare flips her head upside down or locks her jaw (hard to miss) but I think of it as her way of avoiding coming through her back.
I also notice when she squeals and BUCKS in the depart for collected canter, so why would anyone bother to listen to me????
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Member:
gwen
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Posted on Tuesday, Sep 30, 2008 - 8:25 pm:
Elizabeth, you are very kind. Sometimes I think, "Oh how much Elizabeth could do with him..." You would bring out his true potential. Until I get to the point of frustration where I say that I have been holding this horse back for too long, and slap him on a trailer to MI (right?), poor Theo has to continue to tolerate me. 
So I am quickly going to describe a scene of our ride/lesson. Theo starts off at the trot, quick and unbalanced. So I put him on a circle and insist he give me an inside bend. When he does (after trainer says, "put your inside hand to your pants pocket and hold it there!") he immediately comes over his center. I then "catch" his other side with my outside aides, which causes him to "FRAME UP" and off we go, ready to work on maintaining a nice rhythm. This is what we go back to throughout the ride. Up pops the head, icky goes the rhythm. Then back to inside flex-HAND IN YOUR POCKET! Then catch him outside, then off we go. So,
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Member:
gwen
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Posted on Tuesday, Sep 30, 2008 - 8:28 pm:
uh, I am not sure what I was going to say after "so,". I guess you can formulate your own appropriate conclusion.
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Member:
ekaufman
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Posted on Tuesday, Sep 30, 2008 - 9:30 pm:
I would definitely have him bucking in the canter depart by now Gwen! Theo is lucky to have you, but I do admire him (from CO).
If you feel that he and you are progressing in this path, then ride along for a bit and see how you do.
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Member:
gwen
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Posted on Wednesday, Oct 1, 2008 - 7:36 am:
Okay, Elizabeth. I need to stop asking questions and RIDE.
Oh, boy Colorado. I guess I was hoping you were closer to me, because I truly do think of sending him to you at times.
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Member:
sunny66
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Posted on Wednesday, Oct 1, 2008 - 10:52 am:
Elizabeth, thank you That was a great post!
Gwen, have a great time riding and thanks for starting this thread, I learned a lot
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Member:
gwen
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Posted on Wednesday, Oct 1, 2008 - 1:09 pm:
Oh man, what a ride I had today. I rode with old trainer and incorporated both techniques. We ended with a canter to die for!!!
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Member:
mrose
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Posted on Wednesday, Oct 1, 2008 - 3:35 pm:
Isn't it the most wonderful feeling in the world when "clicks" and all goes right! Glad you had a great day; I'm jealous!
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Member:
jowidner
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Posted on Wednesday, Oct 1, 2008 - 10:15 pm:
Hooray Gwen! Good for you!
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Member:
gwen
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Posted on Sunday, Oct 12, 2008 - 7:47 pm:
Photo of Theo and I taken yesterday. Just curious how you guys think we are doing. Any thoughts you can glean regarding my questions within this thread? I continue to work on not being so "huntery" with my position...
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Member:
dres
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Posted on Sunday, Oct 12, 2008 - 9:05 pm:
Gwen lovely relaxed horse.. I would take that over a tense horse in a second!!
Are you thumbs up or are you riding with puppy dog hands? This will effect the pressure on the bit even with such a loose contact that you hold..
It appears you weight is on your toes not the back of your leg and down your heal.. unlock your knees and bend your knee a little bit more to get your leg more balanced under you with the idea of all the weight going down the back of the leg with a flat thigh on the horse.. I rode hunter/ jumper first too, correcting the hip / shoulders takes time and then once you correct it you will find or I did I over corrected it and had to once again slightly close my hips..
Dressage riding is a journey..
others will be able to write what I am saying much better..
On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots..
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Member:
ekaufman
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Posted on Sunday, Oct 12, 2008 - 10:23 pm:
Hi Gwen!
Oh it's nice to see a photo of you guys looking happy. Theo is your most important reviewer, and I agree with Ann. He looks happy, focused and relaxed. If the horse says there is more right than wrong, you can put that in your pocket.
But you wanted dressage feedback, so here are some thoughts.
Your position isn't correct for dressage-- you probably know this already. Doesn't make it bad, but if dressage is your sport, you'll need some significant restructuring. All things being equal, the shoulder needs to be above the hip (Ann has commented already on the hip angle and the leg). For you, that means you will need to strengthen and adjust the front of your body, and align your shoulders by drawing your sternum up and back, which will also reduce the curvature in your lower back.
Imagine wearing a Wonder Woman insignia on your sternum, and trying to make sure that it's visible between his ears to a hapless villain in front of you. Focus on straightening your front rather than your back-- that idea helped me, anyhow. I rode around for years in a half-seat, and my "jumper's hunch" has plagued me ever since.
Try raising your chin slightly and drawing your head back-- remember that your head is the top of your spine-- if you carry your head too far forward, you cannot correct your posture.
Position is a long road, but the great news is that you guys look like a happy and relaxed pair. Nothing's on fire in that photo-- lovely!
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Member:
gwen
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Posted on Monday, Oct 13, 2008 - 8:22 am:
Thank you for the feedback, girls! Something I am also trying to overcome is a fear of "bothering" him. Which is weird, I know. When I say that, I mean that I perch on him to avoid catching his back if he bounces me. I often find myself carrying my upper body forward like that all the time, just when walking around. Bad habits die hard. I also am worried about taking too strong of a contact with the reins, so I let them slide through my fingers. I am quickly learning though, that it actually bothers him more when he can't find the contact. When the reins slip, and when I have to shorten them (again and again), he gets worried like, "Where did you go? Don't leave me like that!" I have marked my reins, and started to wear gloves all the time. Hopefully that will help. I can't honestly say Ann, whether or not I am playing the piano. I will stay aware of it though.
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Member:
canter
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Posted on Monday, Oct 13, 2008 - 10:53 am:
Gwen, I have the same problem with letting the reins slip through my fingers. What helps--but doesn't completely eliminate-- the problem is the web reins with the little tabs along the length of them. So, for example, I know that for basic work, the 3rd tab/marker from the bit should be in my palm for a correct rein length and steady contact. Since I have the bad habit of not closing my fingers around my reins, I can feel when that tab starts disappearing out of my hand and can re-adjust w/out looking down. I've developed a somewhat better feel, but the reins still help me out a lot.
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Member:
sunny66
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Posted on Monday, Oct 13, 2008 - 10:55 am:
Just to add to the great comments from Ann and Elizabeth that helped me too! I had a lesson yesterday ... She told me to think of sitting on my pockets to get rid of the curve in my spine (I needed to feel both seatbones), then lift my ribcage up to bring my shoulders back and down... and to quit messing with my hands so much keep them quiet and above the wither ... and to quit moving my legs so much - these last two don't involve you, just wanted you to know I'm a mess! lol -- but by the end of the lesson he was moving forward in self carriage and I was behaving too
I kept it simple and he loved it
You make a beautiful pair!!!!
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Member:
terrido
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Posted on Monday, Oct 13, 2008 - 11:15 am:
Gwen, I think right here you have hit the perverbial nail. ;) Hunt seat or a hunter style position is a bit different than a dressage seat or position, mostly it's the upper body position and hands.
Step one is to SIT into the saddle. It's really ok to sit on his back (at walk). Next step is learning to let your legs completely relax. This is the first phase because until you can find that ultimate relaxation place, quite possibly anyway, you won't be able to return to it. This was the hardest bit for me to get.
By learning to completely let go of all muscle control entirely in your legs and just sitting on the horse at walk for a while you will find then you can get the hips to open more, or enough to reposition the leg better. This will also help you find out what it feels like to sit "deep" into the saddle. You just cannot sit into a saddle if there is any tension from your waist to your toes. ;]
Phase two then is learning to turn the entire leg in from the hip. Yes while keeping it completely relaxed. This places the thigh on the saddle better, helps your legs learn to "wrap around" the horse and hug gently, etc.
When you find the above the upper body will more naturally come back into a more upright position. ;) It should make it much easier for you to sit up more straight anyway.
And the hands, well that even for me 8 years later is a constant thought and checking process! Thumbs on top, hold reins between thumb and forefinger, in a soft fist. No open fingers!! Yup different than riding a hunter. By keeping the fingers closed softly a slight squeeze sends a huge message, but also helps prevent too much fussing to the mouth. And yes I have to occasionally LOOK at my hands to be sure they are doing what I want them to do. Just like I occasionally have to look at where my body is, find tensions, etc. it's a constant checking because it's still not all automatic for me. And sometimes I just close my eyes and feel where my body is.
You look good though, nothing that cannot be perfected a bit over time. Your horse is relaxed and that speaks volumes.
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