Rising trot, why?

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GrumpyHero

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I've always wondered the actual purpose of it since its the only gait which we 'rise' in, whereas we remain seated (theoretically:p) in all other gaits.

Is it purely for the comfort of the rider?
Or does it benefit the horse?

Numpty question :)
I promise i'm not an idiot!
 
As amymay says, but many of those who jump will also rise in canter, in addition to using a two point seat XC.
 
History lesson...

In the days when carriages were the main form of long distance travel, especially when you had teams of 4 or 6 horses, there was a rider on the front left horse called the "postillion" who helped to guide the horses.

Now, as this rider would be trotting for miles and miles which could become extremely tiring for both horse and rider if they just sat on the horse, the postillion riders found it was less tiring if they rose every other stride.

This is where the term "posting" the trot came to be used

:)
 
Casey76 said:
History lesson...

In the days when carriages were the main form of long distance travel, especially when you had teams of 4 or 6 horses, there was a rider on the front left horse called the "postillion" who helped to guide the horses.

Now, as this rider would be trotting for miles and miles which could become extremely tiring for both horse and rider if they just sat on the horse, the postillion riders found it was less tiring if they rose every other stride.

This is where the term "posting" the trot came to be used

:)
Click to expand...

that's interesting!
thanks for that, you learn something new every day!
 
I was watching a program on H&C about the endurance ride in Mongolia, they used local's horses who were 'interesting' rides. The mongolians who ride for hours at a time and practically grow up in a saddle didnt do a rising trot...they just sort of joggled about on top, looked really uncomfortable!
 
Mongols are gluttons for punishment though, those wooden saddles are apparently not at all comfortable, and they used to eat, sleep and pee in the saddle on raids, it's not about comfort, it's about getting there at all costs...not sure it's something i aspire to!
 
I rise to the trot, or sit deep and hang on :( .......depending on which pace of trot my french trotter is doing! If she's out on a hack she struggles to strike into canter on some surfaces, so will revert back to her natural fast trot. IMPOSSIBLE to rise to! We've perfected in the school though and with a slight incline, she'll strike off beautifully. :D
 
Funny I got asked this last night when teaching my OH as he was struggling to get the hang of rising but could easily sit the trot!

I said "well it's more comfy once you've got the hang of it" bless him he didn't believe me!

Thanks for posting this thread I can go back to OH with so different answers now!
 
Casey76 said:
History lesson...

In the days when carriages were the main form of long distance travel, especially when you had teams of 4 or 6 horses, there was a rider on the front left horse called the "postillion" who helped to guide the horses.

Now, as this rider would be trotting for miles and miles which could become extremely tiring for both horse and rider if they just sat on the horse, the postillion riders found it was less tiring if they rose every other stride.

This is where the term "posting" the trot came to be used

:)
Click to expand...

Thanks for that. I drive but did not know that.

One of my instructors in Scotland, refused to let us do a sitting trot until the horse's back was warm.
 
Try doing sitting trot on a Gelderlander. It's practically impossible so I'm mighty pleased rising trot was invented.
 
kezz86 said:
Funny I got asked this last night when teaching my OH as he was struggling to get the hang of rising but could easily sit the trot!

I said "well it's more comfy once you've got the hang of it" bless him he didn't believe me!

Thanks for posting this thread I can go back to OH with so different answers now!
Click to expand...

Slightly off topic, but when I was teaching Officer cadets from Dartmouth years ago many of them simply couldn't get the hang of rising, I found that replacing "Up, down" with "In, out" worked much better.

As to why, as far as I am concerned, posting is generally more comfortable on a trotter (as opposed to a gaited horse) than sitting.

I have given up posting to the trot and bought myself a gaited horse, my old achy joints actually enjoy riding again now.
 
Haha countrybumpkin my haffy does that, trotting so fast its hard to do either! I think a hill would help, sadly we don't really have any!

I have to admit I find sitting trot a lot easier these days but I was always under the impression rising was better for the horse.
 
Fransurrey said:
OK, I will raise your numpty question with my own, based on a reply above!

What is a two point seat?!?
Click to expand...

Think jockeys.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunt_seat

I quote:

Riders usually employ a "two-point" position while jumping fences, depending on the type of course and height of fences. The position is so named because the rider has "two points" (both legs) in contact with the saddle. The rider supports his or her body using leg and stirrup, keeping the heels down, closing the hip angle, and lifting the buttocks out of the saddle while keeping the head and shoulders up.

On the flat, or when used on course between jumps, the two-point position allows the horse to have a great deal of freedom of movement because the rider's weight is lifted off its back.

Position in two-point varies according to the task. Hunter riders generally have a very upright two-point, as they usually show on very level footing and at slower speed. Eventers may have a more crouched position, usually with the heel slightly more forward while riding cross-country, to provide more security as they ride over varying terrain at a fast gallop.
 
There is a little bit about it in Dr. Deb Bennetts The Conquerers, about how the horse went from Europe to the Americas.

When everyone rode on a horse to get around, the horses were amblers - pacers - which was very smooth and could be very fast. So everyone just sat to the trot. As the other article says, as roads improved and carriages were used more then the fashion was for trotters. Also, as the horse was being used in the army, they found that a trotter rather than an ambler was able to pull the heavy loads and stay sound.

Many of the ambler breeds went to the Americas - which is why there are breeds that continue to pace, and where the five gaited horses came from. In Europe, the amblers died out, as more horses were used for carriage driving with the high stepping trotters and dressage and schooling became popular and horses were used less for getting about over long distances.

So the "rack" and the Icelandic "tolt" are suposed to be very comfortable to sit to, and cover the ground easily for the horse and rider, although I haven't ever tried it.
 
I was always taught that you always used rising trot for young horses to save their backs & later encourage them to use their backs properly. Once they were established then you could sit the trot. I'm not sure whether this was an old wives tale but it made some sense so I have always stuck to it.:D
 
Orangehorse said:
So the "rack" and the Icelandic "tolt" are suposed to be very comfortable to sit to, and cover the ground easily for the horse and rider, although I haven't ever tried it.
Click to expand...

The rack goes by many different names according to the breed.

http://www.gaitedhorses.net/Articles/Rack/RackingGait.shtml

I love my arabs and doubt that I will ever be without one, but I will never have anything but a gaited riding horse now. I am the worst sort of convert :o
 
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