Lagoballo Riding Challenge: Test Your Hands-Free Riding Skills
- Loz
- Dec 14, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Dec 14, 2025
Think you’re riding from your seat and legs—not just your hands?
Here’s a fun way to find out! At Lagoballo, we love exercises that build independence and harmony, and this challenge will show you how well you can influence your horse using your 7-point seat.
Why Try This Challenge?
Riders often rely on reins more than they realise. These exercises help you:
Improve balance and feel.
Communicate through your seat and core.
Build trust and responsiveness in your horse.
Safety First
Only attempt these exercises on a safe, calm horse in a controlled environment. Keep reins within reach and return to normal riding if your horse feels tense.
Have Fun
Video yourself doing it and ensure you have a giggle at your results! It's all about awareness and working on opportunities here.
Exercise 1: Walk with Eyes Closed
At the walk, close your eyes for a few strides.
Drop the reins and focus on your seat.
Can you encourage your horse to swing their ribcage evenly left and right?
After a few strides, open your eyes and continue riding.
Tip #1: Feel the rhythm through your hips—your horse should feel like they’re flowing under you.
Tip #2: Don't know what to do with your hands? Put them on your hips, head or hold them out in front as if you were holding the reins.
Exercise 2: Shoulder-In or Circle Without Reins
Before entering the short side corner of the riding arena, give two half-halts to balance your horse.
Drop the reins (keep your eyes open for this one) and try:
Option A: Ride down the long side in shoulder-in.
Option B: Ride a 20m circle.
Use your seat and legs only—no rein corrections!
Yes, you can try both options if you are super keen!
Tip #1: Keep your core engaged and inside leg active for bend. Your outside leg supports the shoulder.
Tip #2: Don't know what to do with your hands? Put them on your hips, head or softly hold them out in front as if you were holding the reins.
Tip #3: For the 20m circle, ensure your inside seat bone is slightly forward and you turn your boobs, hands and torso in the direction of the circle. The outside thigh should naturally come on to guard the horse from going off the circle track.
Think of "lunging into the direction of the circle".
What This Teaches You
How much influence your seat really has.
Awareness of where you might be overusing your hands.
How to ride with subtlety and confidence.
Awareness of how effective/ineffective your seat might be.
Ready to take the challenge? Share your experience in the comments or tag us on social media (@Lagoballo)—we’d love to see your progress!
📅 Book a lesson at Lagoballo to master these challenges and unlock your 7-point seat:
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