Thoracic Sling Explained: Rib Cage Rotation the Old Masters Way | Arne Koets

Everyone says "thoracic sling" now. But how many riders can explain what it is — or what their seat has to do with it? Arne Koets and his 27-year-old ex-bullfighting horse Sultan show how the Old Masters — Steinbrecht, La Guérinière, Andrade — rotated the rib cage up or down to bring the horse up underneath the rider. 🐴 Join the Helios Harmony Membership: https://heliosharmony.com 🎥 FREE Helios Harmony Intro Course: https://longridehome.com/onoutpout 📚 All Books Mentioned: https://longridehome.com/books 🎟️ Xenophon Press Discount Code: 7greatCUSTOMER (7% off) https://xenophonpress.com 🛡️ Follow Arne Koets: https://arnekoets.nl A proper nerd-out: Rupert asks what most riders are too polite to ask, and Arne answers from the saddle — why lifting your inside seat bone can beat "sitting deep," and how a twist in the horse's spine can even change what he sees. Rupert Isaacson — journalist, bestselling author and long-time student of the classical texts — tests that library against a rider who fights and jousts in armour. From Löhneysen's servant moving the withers to La Guérinière's appui, every idea is shown on a real horse. Not theory for its own sake: it's how a horse stays balanced on mud, hills and fences — and sound at 27. In this video, you'll discover: ✔️ What "thoracic sling" really means — the muscles holding the rib cage up ✔️ Trabstellung vs Galoppstellung: why Steinbrecht said one position blocks the canter and the other invites it ✔️ Why Arne lifts his inside seat bone instead of pile-driving it down ✔️ Shoulder-in vs leg-yield: same sideways look, opposite rib cage rotation ✔️ La Guérinière's appui — and why half-pass makes the canter depart easier ✔️ "Sit deep" vs the Renaissance idea of unifying the horse up into the saddle ✔️ How a disunited counter-twist can pinch the spinal cord sheath — and even make a horse shy ✔️ Why "four fingers behind the shoulder" fails in Spanish walk 🕛 Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro: thoracic sling and rib cage rotation 00:49 – Why everyone's suddenly saying "thoracic sling" 03:32 – Bending from the front: "driving a tank" 05:44 – Feeling the rib cage drop under the seat bone 07:07 – Steinbrecht on Trabstellung and Galoppstellung 09:44 – Rotating the rib cage up by moving the wither in 10:39 – Löhneysen: have your servant move the withers 13:08 – Lift the inside seat bone, don't pile-drive it 14:10 – Andrade: bring the hip joint forward 17:04 – Shoulder-in to canter 18:16 – Leg-yield vs shoulder-in: opposite rotations 20:47 – Half-pass to canter and the meaning of appui 23:46 – Why it matters: riding on planet Earth 26:35 – Inside seat bone without dropping the rib cage 30:04 – "Sit deep" vs unify the horse up into the saddle 32:29 – Riding from the back is an ecosystem 33:44 – Disunited: the counter-twist in the spine 35:11 – The dura mater, the optic nerve and shying 36:08 – The thoracic sling explained 40:13 – The historical saddle 43:54 – Four fingers vs Spanish walk 46:39 – When the saddle shifts: the buck button 48:20 – Wrap-up 📺 Related Videos: 🔹 The ORIGINAL Half Halt according to La Guérinière | Inside Rein Explained:    • The ORIGINAL Half Halt according to La Gué...   🔹 Master Horse Hindquarter Activation Without Extra Leg Pressure!:    • Master Horse Hindquarter Activation Withou...   🔹 Dressage Is Only 2 Easy Patterns!:    • Dressage Is Only 2 Easy Patterns!   🗂️ Playlists: The Old Masters of Dressage – From Ancient to Modern:    • The Old Masters of Dressage - History - an...   Discussions with Richard Williams about Classical Texts:    • Richard Williams - Xenophon Press   Live Free Ride Free Podcast:    • Live Free Ride Free with Rupert Isaacson   Equine Assisted World:    • Equine Assisted World with Rupert Isaacson   👤 About Long Ride Home: Rupert Isaacson is a horseman, bestselling author, and founder of Helios Harmony — classical horsemanship rooted in the Old Masters. Iliane Lorenz specialises in bitless riding, rider seat development, and mounted dressage. Together they share ethical, effective riding that puts the horse first. 👍 Like, Subscribe & Share to support classical horsemanship. 💬 Have you ever been told to "sit deep"? After watching this, what do you think your instructor was actually asking for? #ArneKoets #ThoracicSling #Steinbrecht #LaGueriniere #HeliosHarmony #RupertIsaacson #ClassicalDressage #HorseTraining #OldMasters #Horsemanship #EquineTraining #DressageTheory #LongRideHome #BitlessRiding Affiliate Disclaimer: Some of the links in this description may be affiliate links. If you use them to make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting our channel!