Have you ever looked at a photo or video of yourself riding and thought…

Alejandra Gonzalez

Why am I always sitting just a little to the left?

You adjust. You centre yourself. You think you’ve fixed it.

Then five minutes later, there you are again. Slightly off-centre.

It’s frustrating, especially when you’re doing your best to ‘sit evenly’ in the saddle. But here’s something most riders haven’t been told:

• This isn’t just a riding habit.
• It’s a human pattern, and it’s completely natural.

We’re not meant to be perfectly symmetrical

Movement professionals now recognise that human asymmetry is part of how we’re built, not a flaw.

• Your liver sits on the right side of your body.
• Your diaphragm is stronger on the right and has a different shape.
• Your heart is slightly offset to the left.
• Your lungs aren’t the same size.
• And your muscles, especially around the hips and ribs, naturally develop imbalances over time.

This creates a default postural pattern in most of us:

We tend to shift left in the pelvis and rib cage while holding tension in the right hip and shoulder.

So that slightly off-centre seat?

It’s not a failure; it’s a reflection of how we’re built.

What that means in the saddle

This natural asymmetry doesn’t stay hidden when you ride.

In fact, your horse probably feels it more than you do.

It can show up as:

• Always collapsing to the left or falling out on the right rein.
• A stronger leg on one side, a ‘mushy’ aid on the other.
• Weight tipping more into one seat bone.
• Difficulty turning or bending in one direction.
• Your horse consistently drifts to one side or resists certain movements.

The important thing to understand is:

Your horse isn’t resisting you; they’re responding to your body.

You don’t need to be perfect – just present

One of the most liberating things you can realise as a rider is this:

• You don’t have to ‘fix’ your asymmetry to be effective in the saddle.
• You just have to become aware of it.

When you understand your body’s natural tendencies, it becomes easier to ride with clarity, softness, and intention. That’s when your horse starts to feel more supported, and more willing to meet you halfway. Understanding your natural asymmetry is the first step, but not the last.

By gently improving your proprioception – your ability to feel where your body is in space – you can begin to ride with more awareness, balance, and connection. Whether it’s through quiet breathwork, movement exploration, or simply noticing how you sit in the saddle, these small moments of attention make a big difference.

Your horse doesn’t need you to be symmetrical.

They just need you to be present and in conversation with your own body.

Start by listening to your body, because your horse already is.

With love and awareness,

Ale