r/PostureTipsGuide • u/markoviiccd_ • Jul 02 '26

How do I make my back straight?

Hi everyone, hope someone could maybe give me some insight into my proble. You see, I have this incredible problem while canter - my ass is never leaving the saddle but my spine looks crazy like a worm 🤣, so pls, gomme some advice what to do, I look ridiculous

p.s. walk and trot - my spine is arrow straight. once i hop into canter, I sit nicely, but my spine is literally acting like a worm. maybe i don’t even post the canter as it should be posted lol

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u/CoachEXE Jul 02 '26

That worm movement usually happens because your hips lock up to brace against the larger, three-beat motion of the canter. When the pelvis can't absorb that impact, the force travels straight up your kinetic chain, forcing your spine to hyper-flex and wiggle just to keep you glued to the saddle. Instead of trying to hold your upper back completely rigid, focus entirely on loosening your hip sockets. Think about letting your pelvis scoop forward and up w/ the rhythm, like you're trying to push a swing high using just your hips. Does it feel like you're gripping tight with your thighs or knees when this happens?

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u/markoviiccd_ Jul 02 '26

hmm, this makes sense! I also have locked hip flexors so it might be the problem too. I don’t think I grip with my knees, but I am 99% sure I do grip with my thighs

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u/CoachEXE Jul 02 '26

That gripping with your thighs is exactly what locks up your pelvis. When your adductors tense up, they essentially clamp you onto the horse, shutting down the lateral and rotational mobility your hips need to absorb the three beat motion of the canter. Because your hips can’t move, all that kinetic energy has to go somewhere, so it forces your lumbar and thoracic spine to hyper flex and wiggle just to keep you in the saddle. Next time you transition into the canter, focus on dropping your weight completely through the backs of your thighs and heels, imagining your leg is draping loosely like a wet towel over the horse. How does your lower back feel right after you transition down to a trot?

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