understanding safe & Proper Use of the unisit
As with any activity with a horse, "safety first" should be your guiding motto. Below are some Do's and Don'ts.
Do's:
Use under supervision of a professional. We encourage instructors to be familiar with riding in the Unisit prior to using it with their students.
Use with a rider that can walk, trot, and canter independently.
Use in a controlled, enclosed, and properly groomed arena.
Begin use when horse and rider are thoroughly warmed up with the muscles loose and supple.
Start with short sessions in the Unisit (5 mins.) and gradually increase the duration, to prevent discomfort to the horse or rider, and to allow the musculature to adapt to the new position.
Engage the abdominal muscles and draw back the lower ribs as upper ribs come forward over the pubic bone.
Draw the seat bones toward the front of the saddle as much as is comfortable.
Dont's:
Use alone.
Use on a green, disobedient, spooky or unbalanced horse.
Use on a poorly fitted saddle.
Use on a beginner rider who is unable to confidently walk, trot, and canter independently.
Use in an open area with uneven, rocky, or unsafe footing.
Fasten the strap so tightly that it causes any bruising or discomfort; or so loose it is ineffective.
Use on a cold-backed horse or a tense rider who has not sufficiently warmed up.
Assume upon first use that you and your horse are physically ready to strap in for an extended amount of time.
Collapse the abdominal muscles.
Allow the back to hollow with the seat bones pointing toward the back of the saddle.
Ride with spurs if there is any instability in your lower leg.
Let any part of the body become improperly aligned or unevenly weighted.
Do's:
Use under supervision of a professional. We encourage instructors to be familiar with riding in the Unisit prior to using it with their students.
Use with a rider that can walk, trot, and canter independently.
Use in a controlled, enclosed, and properly groomed arena.
Begin use when horse and rider are thoroughly warmed up with the muscles loose and supple.
Start with short sessions in the Unisit (5 mins.) and gradually increase the duration, to prevent discomfort to the horse or rider, and to allow the musculature to adapt to the new position.
Engage the abdominal muscles and draw back the lower ribs as upper ribs come forward over the pubic bone.
Draw the seat bones toward the front of the saddle as much as is comfortable.
Dont's:
Use alone.
Use on a green, disobedient, spooky or unbalanced horse.
Use on a poorly fitted saddle.
Use on a beginner rider who is unable to confidently walk, trot, and canter independently.
Use in an open area with uneven, rocky, or unsafe footing.
Fasten the strap so tightly that it causes any bruising or discomfort; or so loose it is ineffective.
Use on a cold-backed horse or a tense rider who has not sufficiently warmed up.
Assume upon first use that you and your horse are physically ready to strap in for an extended amount of time.
Collapse the abdominal muscles.
Allow the back to hollow with the seat bones pointing toward the back of the saddle.
Ride with spurs if there is any instability in your lower leg.
Let any part of the body become improperly aligned or unevenly weighted.
Step-by-step installation instructions
STEP 1:
Place the strap around the rider's back with the padded back support against the lower back and both "ends" of the strap resting on either side of the rider and the horse.
Place the strap around the rider's back with the padded back support against the lower back and both "ends" of the strap resting on either side of the rider and the horse.
STEP 2:
Allow the ends of the strap to hang over the rider's thighs on both sides. Place the metal buckle face-up on the rider's right thigh.
Allow the ends of the strap to hang over the rider's thighs on both sides. Place the metal buckle face-up on the rider's right thigh.
STEP 3:
Hook the buckles of the strap to the small D-rings on both sides of the saddle. The purpose of securing these buckles is to simply keep the strap in place should the emergency release engage, keeping the strap from falling and tangling in the horse's legs.
Hook the buckles of the strap to the small D-rings on both sides of the saddle. The purpose of securing these buckles is to simply keep the strap in place should the emergency release engage, keeping the strap from falling and tangling in the horse's legs.
STEP 4:
Place the rider's right wrist through the wrist strap loop. There are two snap options for adjustment - one to make it snug around the wrist, another if you prefer the loop to be more roomy.
Place the rider's right wrist through the wrist strap loop. There are two snap options for adjustment - one to make it snug around the wrist, another if you prefer the loop to be more roomy.
STEP 5:
Place both stirrups forward and in front of the saddle. Or, some like the strap to wrap around on the outside and over the stirrup leathers. Note: You may need to lengthen your irons.
Place both stirrups forward and in front of the saddle. Or, some like the strap to wrap around on the outside and over the stirrup leathers. Note: You may need to lengthen your irons.
STEP 6:
Allow the strap to run down and hang along the inside of the rider's thigh (it will turn), and down under the horse's belly.
Allow the strap to run down and hang along the inside of the rider's thigh (it will turn), and down under the horse's belly.
STEP 7:
Wrap the strap under the horse, over the girth.
Wrap the strap under the horse, over the girth.
STEP 8:
Take the long strap under the horse, over the girth, (be sure no pinching occurs) and run the small rectangle buckle through the large one hanging down from the left side of the saddle.
Take the long strap under the horse, over the girth, (be sure no pinching occurs) and run the small rectangle buckle through the large one hanging down from the left side of the saddle.
STEP 9:
Pull the small buckle AWAY from the large buckle, keeping the two buckles separated. Pull down on the strap until it is comfortably snug under and around the horse (similar to the snugness of a girth).
Pull the small buckle AWAY from the large buckle, keeping the two buckles separated. Pull down on the strap until it is comfortably snug under and around the horse (similar to the snugness of a girth).
STEP 10:
Take the excess strap and run it through the keeper on the underside of the horse. You may need to fold it back through a few times until the full tail has been secured in the keeper.
Take the excess strap and run it through the keeper on the underside of the horse. You may need to fold it back through a few times until the full tail has been secured in the keeper.
STEP 11:
The strap is now snug around the horse. Now you'll want to adjust it to the rider's body. Have the rider draw their waist and lower back into and against the back support, filling up their lower back. Adjust the strap on the rider's left side to tighten and loosen the back support. It should be quite snug.
The strap is now snug around the horse. Now you'll want to adjust it to the rider's body. Have the rider draw their waist and lower back into and against the back support, filling up their lower back. Adjust the strap on the rider's left side to tighten and loosen the back support. It should be quite snug.
Finished Installation:
This is what the properly attached Unisit will look like from both sides of the horse and rider.
This is what the properly attached Unisit will look like from both sides of the horse and rider.
