Help with sitting trot.

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oldie48

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Starting to think at some point we might be up for doing medium, well Mr B will be but rider will struggle as I can't sit to his trot. I got him nice and soft in his back this morning but as soon as I started to try to sit, he tightened his back and I bounced around in a very ugly way and he got tighter and tighter. I'm getting rather old and stiff and never mastered it with my previous horse who was a bit less bouncy. Please share any hints or tips for learning to sit but please don't ask me to remove stirrups as I don't think I'd last a minute! I did watch someone ride a medium test in rising, do you get absolutely hammered for it by the judge?
 
Start with little and often, you say you can get him soft, so sit for an extra two strides (so three in total so you're not changing diagonal) until you and him are both staying relaxed and then build up the number of steps.

Also try working on your own core strength, being able to engage your core muscles help a lot with sitting! It's taken me about a year but finally I can sit 'ok' to Topaz, it was a lot of getting her soft and through and then my own fitness to get here :o.

I'm not sure you can do affiliated Medium rising (the medium trots and extensions can be ridden rising) without a dispensation from BD?
 
judge consensus on BD forum recently was you'd get -2 for each movement that you did rising, which should have been sitting.

He's a HUGE mover so agree with doing little and often. I found it a tad easier if I put him in shoulder-in and went sitting with him still in S-i position because it was easier to keep him soft and through.

Panic strap on the front of the saddle? Might help you get the feeling without tipping you forward as a neckstrap would?

FWIW agree with not dropping your stirrups etc, it tends to just make people more tense. Shame about Wiz at AM because he had big movement but was a little less unseating.
 
I went to a demo once, of a dressage rider, and he made a comment about sitting up to the trot rather than down. So imagine sticking the saddle to your bum and bringing the saddle and horses back up with you in the sitting trot, rather than sitting down into it.
That was a game changer for me.
 
milliepops said:
judge consensus on BD forum recently was you'd get -2 for each movement that you did rising, which should have been sitting.

He's a HUGE mover so agree with doing little and often. I found it a tad easier if I put him in shoulder-in and went sitting with him still in S-i position because it was easier to keep him soft and through.

Panic strap on the front of the saddle? Might help you get the feeling without tipping you forward as a neckstrap would?

FWIW agree with not dropping your stirrups etc, it tends to just make people more tense. Shame about Wiz at AM because he had big movement but was a little less unseating.
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Thanks MP, I was hoping that you'd reply, he does have a tendency to tighten, doesn't he as soon as you sit? Yes, I'll try the SI. Did get him quite collected hoping it would be easier but tbh it was still bloody difficult, tried med and it was impossible but quite hilarious.
Medium is a distant dream really for me if there's a -2 for each movement. Glad you think the trot is big!
 
AlexHyde said:
Start with little and often, you say you can get him soft, so sit for an extra two strides (so three in total so you're not changing diagonal) until you and him are both staying relaxed and then build up the number of steps.

Also try working on your own core strength, being able to engage your core muscles help a lot with sitting! It's taken me about a year but finally I can sit 'ok' to Topaz, it was a lot of getting her soft and through and then my own fitness to get here :o.

I'm not sure you can do affiliated Medium rising (the medium trots and extensions can be ridden rising) without a dispensation from BD?
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thanks, little and often is the way to go then. My swiss ball has been sitting in the corner of the bedroom since Xmas reminding me to get back into action as my core has been sadly neglected of late, well since October when Mr B stood on my toe and broke it, I could ride but walking and most exercise was was very painful, however, I no longer have that excuse!
 
Would add that the more consistent he gets in his self carriage you'll find it easier, he can pull you (one) off your (ones) seat occasionally before he decides to agree to the work...

I'd discuss it with justine too, she's fixed a few things for me and I bet she'd have good ideas

(Old and weak willed, indeed!! :p )
 
milliepops said:
Would add that the more consistent he gets in his self carriage you'll find it easier, he can pull you (one) off your (ones) seat occasionally before he decides to agree to the work...

I'd discuss it with justine too, she's fixed a few things for me and I bet she'd have good ideas

(Old and weak willed, indeed!! :p )
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Thanks, as we are working on M61 at the 5 day, hopefully Justine will give me some help although she did say I could do it rising, at least I think she did!!
 
scats said:
I went to a demo once, of a dressage rider, and he made a comment about sitting up to the trot rather than down. So imagine sticking the saddle to your bum and bringing the saddle and horses back up with you in the sitting trot, rather than sitting down into it.
That was a game changer for me.
Click to expand...

Absolutely this ^^...

It will take time, theres no magic solution as it is all in your mind but do try the above.

Don't "sit" anymore now as you trot, and try and rise from your knees (the old imagine you are kneeling trick - except no "grip" just rest your knees on the horse and pivot up)...... as you get comfortable with that, rise less and less and imagine the horse coming up to you rather than you down to the horse. This will give the sense above and you will find yourself just sitting to the trot but RELAX and let the two hlaves of the horses back the two halves of your back.

Check out a really useful video by heather moffett - not to everyones taste but useful.
 
It is difficult on big moving horses, I nearly fell off my horse the first time I tried his trot and that was rising.

I try and practice as much as I can, basically everytime I ride now, even if its only for a few steps. I had a lesson with a guy from Germany a while ago and he forced me to do sitting trot a lot during my lesson, but it did actually improve my horses trot and really improved his canter.

When I do sitting trot, I do just try and stretch my legs as far down as I can, really make my ankles and knees flexible so that they take the bounciness really.

That is just working trot though. I can do collected too but I dunno how on earth I will manage medium and extended trot. Even his canter throws me out of the saddle at times if he really uses his back end properly.
 
Lol at setting an example :o, didn't even ride tonight as traffic and weather were against me, and my legs still feel like they might drop off from the Zumba Strong class I did on Monday :eek3::o.

My current plan is to whizz Skylla up the levels as she has a much more agreeable movement and maybe buy a bigger jacket :lol:.
 
:D:D:D Love it Alex


Yup Stretching legs down is a good thing if you're drawing them up and gripping with your knees but take care not to end up ramming them down artificially as this will result in tension elsewhere ;)
 
I do like the "big jacket" idea, it would hide the muffin top and I have this mental picture of the jacket staying in the same place and my head and neck bobbing up and down as I rise and fall. Anyone tried those sticky bum breeches and the gel seat saver thingy? I did do 10 minutes of core exercises this evening before I went out but tomorrow is a starvation day, so I might not have enough energy to do core tomorrow. I will also try all the ideas, and let you know how I am getting on and thanks for everyone's help!
 
Welcome to try my gel out seatsaver ;) I only use it for shows as my cream breeches have a self-fabric seat and it glues me on :lol:

WAY too much stickiness combined with silicone seat jods :o
 
milliepops said:
Welcome to try my gel out seatsaver ;) I only use it for shows as my cream breeches have a self-fabric seat and it glues me on :lol:

WAY too much stickiness combined with silicone seat jods :o
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Thanks I'll take you up on that as I really can't justify replacing my competition breeches as I haven't done any competitions. Yup I fit the description "all the gear and no idea" to perfection! Can't really justify buying a "big Jacket" either as I have a new competition jacket too! If I can't master the sitting trot I can still bumble along in elementary for ever can't I under the new rules? got him in today and something had wound him up but being the complete gentleman that he is, he passaged and piaffed very politely whilst I opened and closed gates etc to get him in so I'm sure there's more to come but he might need a more supple rider? See you on Sunday, please bring seatsaver!
 
Try and find somewhere with a mechanical horse - they are invaluable. It is great for working out the best way to sit to the trot without interfering with the horse's going.

ETA: Make sure you are sitting back on your bottom as you will absorb the movement and bounce less
 
Ah yes the other part of my 'almost' ability to sit to Topaz are my sticky bum breeches and saddle with calf skin seat and flaps with mega knee blocks, no moving for me :lol::o.

Feel I should have mentioned this earlier, I can't really sit I just bought the equivalent of a horse riding seat belt :lol:;).
 
peanut said:
Try and find somewhere with a mechanical horse - they are invaluable. It is great for working out the best way to sit to the trot without interfering with the horse's going.

ETA: Make sure you are sitting back on your bottom as you will absorb the movement and bounce less
Click to expand...

Thanks for this suggestion, I have just been reading Heather Moffat's Enlightened Equitation she's got someone on a simulator. I think they have one at Holme Lacey?
 
AlexHyde said:
Ah yes the other part of my 'almost' ability to sit to Topaz are my sticky bum breeches and saddle with calf skin seat and flaps with mega knee blocks, no moving for me :lol::o.

Feel I should have mentioned this earlier, I can't really sit I just bought the equivalent of a horse riding seat belt :lol:;).
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I bet you can and you are just being kind and encouraging. Did you do any exercise yet? I did some but as I have no stiffness it's clear I wasn't trying hard enough. It's blowing a gale here so I won't ride perhaps I'll go sit on the swiss ball and do a bit of flexing but I'm not confident that my spine is like most people's as it is very stiff!
 
I battled the wind and rain and mucked 2 and half stables out does that count?

I did the opposite on Monday, thought this class is pretty easy and I must be fitter than I thought, then BAM Tuesday/Wednesday couldn't move my legs :o. Riding tonight, if I ride Topaz that's loads of exercise :lol:.
 
scats said:
I went to a demo once, of a dressage rider, and he made a comment about sitting up to the trot rather than down. So imagine sticking the saddle to your bum and bringing the saddle and horses back up with you in the sitting trot, rather than sitting down into it.
That was a game changer for me.
Click to expand...

This is exactly how I do it.
 
Watching the Heather Moffet videos of her explaining how to sit to the trot really helped me - after that practice practice and some more practice. When I was getting ready to go medium with my older mare who was just digusting to sit to, I used to do sitting trot when I was out hacking.

Now on my younger horse and she is utter bliss to sit to after my old horse. But getting them super soft and swinging through the back will make it much much easier
 
AlexHyde said:
Ah yes the other part of my 'almost' ability to sit to Topaz are my sticky bum breeches and saddle with calf skin seat and flaps with mega knee blocks, no moving for me :lol::o.

Feel I should have mentioned this earlier, I can't really sit I just bought the equivalent of a horse riding seat belt :lol:;).
Click to expand...

I feel like I should make it a bit easier on myself by getting the sticky bum breeches.

Its a nice feeling once you do get it right. Its taken me nearly 2 years, but I can sit the trot now and again. But it is difficult, just got to persist.
 
Sticky bum breeches are the most fabulous invention ever! Baby Skylla tried sending me airborne tonight (canter was tres exciting :o), but lovely dressage saddle and breeches had my back :lol:.

Sitting trot really does depend on the horse too, Skylla and Doodle are super comfy but Topaz with her super high knee action is hard work even when we're soft and through...
 
AlexHyde said:
Sitting trot really does depend on the horse too, Skylla and Doodle are super comfy but Topaz with her super high knee action is hard work even when we're soft and through...
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Ah, that's my problem, I think. B has quite of lot of knee action and he is leggy. He easily gets tense and tight too. Several of my friends are moving towards Spanish horses as they get older to get a comfier ride but B will be my last horse (God willing we both keep going for a few more years) so I'm just going to have to work through the problem. Did more core exercises yesterday and have a satisfying ache this morning! Also lost 2 k over the past 2 weeks so have a slightly diminished muffin top but still a lot of wobble to go! Have a good weekend!
 
Fantastic start!

I can finally feel my legs again so rode baby Skylla last night, still feel ok this morning so will ride two tonight. Going to start swimming again I think (it's easier on the knees :o) and keep up the Zumba Strong class, debating about giving up booze for a month or so to see if that helps but don't drink an awful lot anyway so not sure if it will be worth it...
 
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