How do you develop a novice rider's position for walk-trot western classes?

The western riding position evaluated in walk-trot horsemanship and equitation classes requires the rider to sit balanced and centered in the saddle with a relaxed, deep seat and a quiet leg that rests against the horse's side without gripping or swinging. The rider's back should be straight and relaxed rather than rigid or collapsed, and the shoulders should be back and level without tension. The rein hand should be held at a comfortable height above the saddle horn with a straight line from the elbow through the hand to the bit, and the non-rein hand should rest quietly on the thigh or be held naturally at the side. Developing a correct western position for a novice rider begins with developing balance and security in the saddle independently of the reins. Many beginning riders habitually use the reins for balance, which interferes with the horse's movement and produces visible, penalized position faults. Exercises that develop independent balance — riding with the reins in one hand, practicing without stirrups at the walk, and focusing on sitting deeply and quietly without gripping — reduce the rider's reliance on the reins and develop the independent seat that walk-trot classes evaluate. The jog is the most important gait to develop a correct sitting position for because it is the gait on which the most judging time is spent. A novice rider who has not developed the ability to sit the jog quietly without bouncing, gripping, or using the reins for stability will show those faults clearly in competition. Consistent work at the sitting jog in every lesson, with the instructor providing specific feedback on position faults, develops the muscle memory and core stability that produces a correct, quiet western seat.