Staying Lifted: Avoiding the "Man Hole" for Effortless Turns

How to Keep Yourself – and Your Horse – Balanced When Riding and Turning

Building on our last blog about harnessing the magic of body cues to guide your horse through a turn, today we’re diving into a vital but easily overlooked skill and advancement to enhancing your riding: staying “lifted” and avoiding the dreaded “man hole” when your horse drops its back or hollows out in a turn. This subtle art is the difference between a ride that feels smooth and connected, and one where both horse and rider end up off-balance and frustrated.

What is the “Man Hole”?

Imagine you’re riding along, and as you ask your horse to turn, you suddenly feel like you’re sinking or falling into a hollow spot – as if your horse has created a “man hole” beneath you. This sensation often happens when the horse drops its back or hollows, especially during turns or transitions. If you follow your horse down into that hollow, you lose your balance, communication breaks down, and your horse has to work even harder to recover.

Without a rider, a horse can show a manhole, similar to the image below.

An example of a horse's man hole: see the areas where it points to a "hollow"

So what does a "man hole" feel like when riding. An example, when you are stationary for a while and your horse cocks one of their back legs and you feel your pelvis drop on one side. How annoying is it to stay in that position for a while? That is an example of how you might feel in your pelvis... it gets sore in your lower back if you are like this for a while, right?

OK, but what about at the walk? As you know, at a walk, your pelvis should move in a figure eight (or infinity loop) evenly both sides. If your horse has a "man hole" your pelvis would drop more on one side. To describe the feel, remember when you ride a bike and one of your feet slip off the peddle and you try to ride with one leg only? It would feel similar to this. Then when you put your foot back on the pedal it is balanced an even. Visibly, someone watching you ride from behind at the walk would see the side you are dropping into the horse's "man hole" go lower down on one side, like this:

Left image: shows rider falling into "man hole" on the horses left side; Right image shows a rider balanced and not allowing their pelvis/seat bones to drop into the "man hole"

The goal here is to train your body to feel these "man holes" and maintain your own balance to encourage the horse to do the same and not expedite the issue by collapsing/falling into it.

This is especially important when you turn your horse. Think back to the lever mechanism - the horse would have to work super hard to stay balanced with the weight being so uneven.

Why Does the “Man Hole” Happen?

Horses naturally try to balance themselves and their rider. However, when a rider tips forward, collapses at the hips, or drops their own back and seat during a turn, the horse often responds by hollowing out its back. It’s a cycle: the rider drops, the horse drops, and suddenly you’re both in that “man hole” together. This makes it harder for your horse to bend, balance, and move fluidly through the turn.

The Solution: Stay Lifted Above the Hollow

The trick is simple in theory but takes mindful practice: don’t follow your horse into the hollow. Instead, stay energetically “lifted” over your seat, keeping your core engaged and your posture tall, even when you feel your horse start to drop away underneath you. Like the image from the above section (the part on the right-hand side - the rider is maintaining their pelvis/seat in a level to create balance).

• Engage Your Core: Imagine a string gently pulling the crown of your head towards the sky. This lightness through your spine keeps you upright and prevents you from collapsing into your horse’s back.

• Think Up, Not Down: As you ask for a turn, visualise “riding above the man hole.” Keep your seat bones lightly in contact, but don’t let your lower back sag or your pelvis tip forward. Your energy should feel like it’s floating above the saddle, not pressing down into it.

• Let Your Chest and Thighs Lead: Recall the headlights analogy from last time – point your “headlights” (chest/nipples) in the direction you want to go. As your chest leads, allow your outside thigh to softly support the turn. This keeps your balance up and forward, rather than sinking back and down where the horse has dropped.

• Embrace a "Gap" Feel: when your horse has a "man hole" and you don't drop down into it, you may feel like your seat bone on that side is off the horse or there feels like a gap is there. You are maintaining your balance! Go you!

Try to notice what your horse does at a walk and see if you can spot this and work on not falling in their "man hole".

What Happens if You Drop Into the “Man Hole”?

If you do fall into the hollow, you’ll feel your horse get heavier on the forehand, the turns become sluggish, and you might even feel the saddle tip or slide. Not only does this make riding less enjoyable, but it also puts strain on your horse’s body and can lead to long-term issues with balance and confidence. For you this may be indicated by stiffness or pain in one side of your lower back (as your body has to compensate for the dropped pelvis position).

Your horse will also less likely want to ride with a soft, engaged and lifted back which also makes riding more difficult, choppy and uncomfortable. Have you heard the term like riding on a "plank of wood"? That would indicate your horse isn't able to do this.

Practical Tips for Staying Lifted in Turns

1. Body Scan: As you prepare to turn, quickly check in with your posture. Are you upright? Is your core gently engaged? Are you sitting evenly on both seat bones?

2. Visualise the Path: Before you move, look ahead and mentally draw a smooth arc you want to follow. Don’t let your eyes drop – where your gaze goes, your balance follows.

3. Float Through the Turn: Feel like you’re gliding just above the saddle, not pushing into it. Keep your back softly tall, shoulders open, steer with your "headlights" and elbows relaxed by your side.

4. Check Your Thighs and Knees: Make sure your outside thigh maintains gentle contact, helping to support your horse’s bend – but don’t grip or clamp (follow the horses ribcage swings side-to-side).

5. Use Rein Aids Sparingly: If your horse misses a cue, gently support with the rein, but don’t rely on it. The more you stay lifted and lead with your body, the less you’ll need your hands.

   
   

Common Pitfalls – And How to Avoid Them

• Collapsing at the Waist: If you find yourself folding forward as your horse turns, pause and reset. Take a breath, sit tall, and start the turn again.

• Chasing the Hollow: When you feel your horse drop, resist the urge to “go with” them. Instead, lift your posture, engage your core, and invite the horse to come back up to you. Feel for that "gap" on the dropping side in your seat/pelvis.

• Overusing the Inside Rein: Pulling on the inside rein to force a turn almost always results in more hollowing. Let your body do the talking first.

The Reward: Light, Responsive Turns

When you master the art of staying lifted and resisting the urge to drop into the “man hole,” you’ll notice an immediate change in your horse’s way of going. Turns feel effortless, your horse becomes lighter in the bridle, and you both move as a harmonious team. This isn’t just about looking good in the saddle – it’s about creating a positive, comfortable experience for your horse and fostering true partnership.

Left hand side: shows an incorrect turn with the position of the seat, legs and rein aids, right hand side of the rider has dropped into a "man hole"; Right hand side shows the correct turn with positioning of the seat, legs, rein aids and level pelvis/seat

Give It a Go!

Next time you’re in the saddle, pay attention to how your body feels during turns. Are you staying lifted, or are you following your horse down into the “man hole”? With practice and patience, you’ll find your turns becoming smoother, lighter, and more connected. Remember: your job is to show your horse the way, not to follow them into every hollow they create. Stay up, stay balanced, and enjoy the ride!

Share your experiences below – I’d love to hear how you and your horse go with this next step on your riding journey. Happy riding!