Maintaining an outline in rising trot

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CobsGalore

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We've established a nice consistent outline in sitting trot, but this is something I find very difficult to maintain when I start rising!

Has anyone else had the same problem? Why does it all go to pot when I start rising? Is it a balance issue?

HELP please! :(
 
It's most likely because when you rise your hands are moving too much, meaning your horse can't accept the contact and work into it.

Stuff on the lunge practicing rising without hands, but also check out your stirrup length... Are you reaching for them? This can make you grab at the reins as you rise and is really easily fixed.
 
Lolo said:
It's most likely because when you rise your hands are moving too much, meaning your horse can't accept the contact and work into it.

Stuff on the lunge practicing rising without hands, but also check out your stirrup length... Are you reaching for them? This can make you grab at the reins as you rise and is really easily fixed.
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^^^ this^^^
 
Yes thinking about it, I do also tend to throw my contact away when rising.

So I need to find someone prepared to do some lunge work with me then? When practising rising with no hands, where do you put your hands??
 
Sitting trot is often easier because you stay "closed" around the horse and as you rise, your leg comes away from their side and your hands move, leaving the horse with very little instruction. Try getting the shape in sitting, go rising and the second you feel it start to fall apart, come back to sitting or even walk and start again. Repeat until you get a more consistent feel.
 
I tend to take my legs off when I rise! Have to really concentrate to not do it, could be what's happening with you.
 
Fixed elbows can make hands bob up and down especially in rising trot and as a result means the rider doesn't have a consistent soft elastic contact, so just a thought but I try and check my elbows are soft and not fixed :)
 
CobsGalore said:
Yes thinking about it, I do also tend to throw my contact away when rising.

So I need to find someone prepared to do some lunge work with me then? When practising rising with no hands, where do you put your hands??
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You can also use a lunge lesson to do exercises that help your suppleness. Hands on waist and turning your body left and right, hands out to the side or hands on your head. All good fun and certainly improves your core and seat.
 
CobsGalore said:
Lots to think about. Hands, elbows, legs etc! Determined to to get this problem of mine sorted!

Are there any exercises that can help me not to fix my elbows?
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Lol always so much to think about when riding ;), to demonstrate the need for soft elbows if you place your hands on top of somewhere static eg back of a chair then pretend your doing rising trot in order for your hands to say in the same place and your upper body to stay upright your elbows need to move. If you fix your elbows your hand move up and down or your upper body tips forward. Core strength plays a huge part in balance, pilates can help to improve balance too :
 
When you ride on the lunge try and do rising trot without irons or reins, also if riding in an enclosed space try riding without reins and controling the pace with your body, it all works towards balance and core strength.
 
FestiveG said:
When you ride on the lunge try and do rising trot without irons or reins, also if riding in an enclosed space try riding without reins and controling the pace with your body, it all works towards balance and core strength.
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I agree with this and would also advise you to stock up with radox or other muscle oak!!!!
 
This is a hard question to answer as it just happens by auto! And I am meant to be a UKCC level 2 coach soon!

I would imagine sitting you are using more leg to stay balanced which is creating impulsion and the horse works from behind into the contact better. I would try riding forward with more leg whilst riding, not asking for an outline and only once the horse is swinging forward ask for a contact :)
 
Hi Cobsgalore,

I have the same problem, the trouble is as soon as I start thinking about something else (leg position, body etc) my elbows fix and my hands move.

My instructor gave me a tip that might help you too. When you start rising initially, stretch both pinky fingers down towards the withers so that you are just touching the horse. This will help you to see how much your hands are moving and help bring suppleness to your elbows if you concentrate on keeping your fingers in the same position. Once you bring your horse into an outline move you fingers back to their original position and try to maintain the feeling (repeat when you feel you need to) this has really helped me.
 
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