Rising or sitting - preference??

[JustKickOn]

I'm just wondering if other people have a preference between rising trot and sitting trot?

Recently, I have found sitting trot to be more comfortable to ride to but I also seem to have more control over how the horse goes. I don't 'fiddle and faff' with my hands so much, and seem to stay sat back a bit more and not tipped forward. With this, K seems to soften a lot easier, and is more willing to work over her back, and has a more consistent rhythm to her trot.

I find in rising trot, my hands go here, there and everywhere and I tip forward from the hip. The trot becomes rushed and I don't feel as in control. The only time when I do prefer rising trot is when coming down from canter to trot and when asking for extended trot.

Anybody else find this? What do you think the benefits of each are when schooling?
And also, any recommendations for not tipping forward in rising trot!? It's driving me bananas!!

L

 

[QueenOfCadence]

I like both (depending on which horse I'm riding). The big black beast of a WB I'm currently riding and showing has a lovely smooth (but very expressive gait) and is lovely to do a sitting trot on, he also goes better when being ridden in a sitting trot and his lateral/collected work is impossible to do in rising (I just find him too big to collect with my seat in a rising trot).

However my own little ponio is 14hh and is a pain in the ass to do a sitting trot on (literally), so unless we're going through movements in our tests (which is about 5 times a week - the other 2 days we spend hacking or generally playing around in the arena) we do sitting trot. Whenever I get the chance to do a rising on him I will , much less effort. Riding him in a sitting trot has given me lovely loose hips though ^.^

So I guess it depends on the horse, I personally wouldn't ride a young horse or a horse being retrained in a sitting trot because I find it very uncomfortable if they aren't strong in their backs and working through from behind - and I'm sure they appreciate my empathy xD

 

[coss]

it depends on the horse. How accepting they are of having a rider sitting on them etc.
What is often the case is that they become more accepting and it is far easier to hold them together in sitting trot as your seat is far more effective but you may find that you are getting a slightly shorter stride as they may not be able to move through their back as much as you think. Best thing I have found is to play about in both sitting and rising in all sessions - that way you are refining seat aids but not losing expressive movement from being more collected.
I always warm up in rising as to get swing through their back they need you to be off it - once they are warmed up and can swing more you will be warmed up too and able to sit and move with them.

Do your legs go forwards in rising trot which would create and imbalance which you are correcting by leaning forwards? or are you tipping and your legs going back? I would do some work without reins so that you aren't being drawn forwards by the front end at all. Have you tried doing changes of rein where instead of sitting for two you rise for 2? that's a real brain work out. I wonder if you are maybe rising too high - if you stand in your stirrups you will often find you have to tip forwards a bit to maintain balance, so maybe do less work in your rising trot and just come out the saddle a bit. A great thing an instructor said to me once was only rise as much as the horse gives you. If they're not pushing through enough then you need to create more energy to get a bigger step to rise to sometimes.

 

[highlandponygirl]

I'm just wondering if other people have a preference between rising trot and sitting trot?

Recently, I have found sitting trot to be more comfortable to ride to but I also seem to have more control over how the horse goes. I don't 'fiddle and faff' with my hands so much, and seem to stay sat back a bit more and not tipped forward. With this, K seems to soften a lot easier, and is more willing to work over her back, and has a more consistent rhythm to her trot.

I find in rising trot, my hands go here, there and everywhere and I tip forward from the hip. The trot becomes rushed and I don't feel as in control. The only time when I do prefer rising trot is when coming down from canter to trot and when asking for extended trot.

Anybody else find this? What do you think the benefits of each are when schooling?


Snap. Sounds similar to me.
I prefer sitting trot too, I feel I have a better position and balance when I sit. I also sit without stirrups regularly and I think it has only benefitted my riding because I have secure deep seat and better overall balance and have a better leg position and have achieved a more classical position.

 

[JustKickOn]

Do your legs go forwards in rising trot which would create and imbalance which you are correcting by leaning forwards? or are you tipping and your legs going back? I would do some work without reins so that you aren't being drawn forwards by the front end at all. Have you tried doing changes of rein where instead of sitting for two you rise for 2? that's a real brain work out. I wonder if you are maybe rising too high - if you stand in your stirrups you will often find you have to tip forwards a bit to maintain balance, so maybe do less work in your rising trot and just come out the saddle a bit. A great thing an instructor said to me once was only rise as much as the horse gives you. If they're not pushing through enough then you need to create more energy to get a bigger step to rise to sometimes.

My legs don't go forwards or backwards, they stay where they should be, but my hips go back a little and my shoulders forward. It's not a severe tilt, but it's enough for it to push the horse onto her forehand a little. I *think* it's a lack of core strength and bad habit allowed to develop over the years.
Work without reins isn't an option with the current steed ha, but the rising for two could be quite an interesting one to try. Thank you