Thelwell_Girl
Well-Known Member
How on earth do you do it?!
Bareback or with a saddle?
TG x
Bareback or with a saddle?
TG x
Rising trot without stirrups?
- Thread starter Thelwell_Girl
- Start date
galaxy
Well-Known Member
Pointless pointless pointless!! Only teaches you to grip!!
rowy
Well-Known Member
haha i have mastered it now lol. you have to have very strong inner leg and thigh muscles. grip with your knees and lower thighs and move pelvis forward and back rather than so much up and down. 
NeilM
Well-Known Member
I have no idea, but my OH makes it look easy....the cow!
I blame my inability on my age, weight and the size of my pony.......and the fact I'm a rubbish rider
I blame my inability on my age, weight and the size of my pony.......and the fact I'm a rubbish rider
abbieandfiona
Well-Known Member
Ive done it with saddle and without, years ago my old instructor made our uni group have a go and its harder than it sounded.
galaxy
Well-Known Member
grip with your knees and lower thighs and move pelvis forward and back rather than so much up and down.
EXACTLY why you shouldn't do!!! Why teach yourelf to grip with your knees????!!!!!!!!
and your pelvis should always be moving forward and back anyway, not up and down.
JenJ
Well-Known Member
As a teenager 15 years ago, I was proud of being able to do a stirrupless rising trot for ages.
When I came back to riding again a few months ago and started having proper lessons, the first thing I had to do was unlearn knee gripping!
When I came back to riding again a few months ago and started having proper lessons, the first thing I had to do was unlearn knee gripping!
JenJ
Well-Known Member
Actually, when I was first told not to grip with my knee a couple of months ago, I asked how I'd do rising trot without stirrups.
My instructor immediately replied with why would you want to...
My instructor immediately replied with why would you want to...
Decision_Tree
Well-Known Member
JenJ - Exactly, why would you want to?! seems completely pointless.....
spaniel
Well-Known Member
Nothing to do with your knees (which shouldnt be gripping) and all to do with your upper inner thigih muscles acting as a pad, and the forward action of the hips (not that horrid up and down business some riders seem to think is necessary in a trot.).
AmyMay
Situation normal
Exactly! Pointless.
Edinburgh Rock
New User
Agreed!
But being very cruel I use it for my pupils who insist on flapping their legs and doing the good old fashioned Pony Club Kick....tends to stop them
kerilli
Well-Known Member
i was taught to do it yonks ago, agree that it shouldn't involve knee grip at all, it's just a v slight upwards/forwards movement of the seat.
outandabout
Well-Known Member
Agreed! More about core stability than gripping!
MotherOfChickens
MotherDucker
done properly (and not overused) it's pretty useful, more of a balance exercise in conjunction with hips swinging back and forward. It shouldnt teach grip at all unless you insist on going straight up and down! and I've done it bareback and just without stirrups.
blitznbobs
Well-Known Member
Not totally pointless... if you had a horse with a trot like my fellas and you lost your stirrups - you'd want to be able to rise too...
Benji1
Well-Known Member
My instructor would probably crack me one if I dared grip with my knees whilst doing it. Much more about keeping the weight into your heels (so they don't rise with you!) and using your inner thigh & core muscles
Steorra
Well-Known Member
I think this was originally designed to teach riders more about rising trot ie. that it is a back and forwards rocking with your core muscles engaged rather than lurching up and down the way some riders start off. So you use your core and inner thigh muscles to create the (quite subtle) movement.
I'm not very keen though as 1. it encourages riders to grip with their thighs, and as you progress to more advanced flatwork the rider learns to give aids through the level of tension in these muscles. Therefore riding with them constantly tense is almost as bad a habit as gripping with the knees.
2. Without the stirrups to control the rider's weight, you are effectively bouncing up and down on the horse's back. This is uncomfortable for the horse, and will cause tension through his / her back, when I think it is better to be encouraging the horse to move freely without tension.
If your instructor thinks it will help you learn then fair enough - that is why riding schools exist after all. But I think there are better ways to teach basic core stability (sitting trot without stirrups, working on the lunge with no stirrups / reins so you have to use your core to balance, practicing jumping position in all three paces etc). There are also a VAST number of exercises you can do on the ground to help you learn to engage your core muscles. I'm an ex rower so know quite a few of these if anyone is interested
I'm not very keen though as 1. it encourages riders to grip with their thighs, and as you progress to more advanced flatwork the rider learns to give aids through the level of tension in these muscles. Therefore riding with them constantly tense is almost as bad a habit as gripping with the knees.
2. Without the stirrups to control the rider's weight, you are effectively bouncing up and down on the horse's back. This is uncomfortable for the horse, and will cause tension through his / her back, when I think it is better to be encouraging the horse to move freely without tension.
If your instructor thinks it will help you learn then fair enough - that is why riding schools exist after all. But I think there are better ways to teach basic core stability (sitting trot without stirrups, working on the lunge with no stirrups / reins so you have to use your core to balance, practicing jumping position in all three paces etc). There are also a VAST number of exercises you can do on the ground to help you learn to engage your core muscles. I'm an ex rower so know quite a few of these if anyone is interested
MrsMozart
Just passing through...
Steorra - details of core muscle exercises please
Thelwell_Girl
Well-Known Member
I think this was originally designed to teach riders more about rising trot ie. that it is a back and forwards rocking with your core muscles engaged rather than lurching up and down the way some riders start off. So you use your core and inner thigh muscles to create the (quite subtle) movement.
I'm not very keen though as 1. it encourages riders to grip with their thighs, and as you progress to more advanced flatwork the rider learns to give aids through the level of tension in these muscles. Therefore riding with them constantly tense is almost as bad a habit as gripping with the knees.
2. Without the stirrups to control the rider's weight, you are effectively bouncing up and down on the horse's back. This is uncomfortable for the horse, and will cause tension through his / her back, when I think it is better to be encouraging the horse to move freely without tension.
If your instructor thinks it will help you learn then fair enough - that is why riding schools exist after all. But I think there are better ways to teach basic core stability (sitting trot without stirrups, working on the lunge with no stirrups / reins so you have to use your core to balance, practicing jumping position in all three paces etc). There are also a VAST number of exercises you can do on the ground to help you learn to engage your core muscles. I'm an ex rower so know quite a few of these if anyone is interested
Instructor hasnt said anything about it... Just wondered!
Steorra - details of core muscle exercises please
Me too
MICHAELA8228
Well-Known Member
Amen to that!!
myhorsefred
Well-Known Member
Back in the 70s, when I learnt to ride, rising trot without stirrups was taught quite frequently. And I remember we were told to grip with our knees!
When I came back to riding as an adult years later, I had to unlearn gripping with my knees. Have mastered it, but it is very difficult to unlearn something drummed into you as a child.
We probably did lots of other things 'wrong' in the 70s.
When I came back to riding as an adult years later, I had to unlearn gripping with my knees. Have mastered it, but it is very difficult to unlearn something drummed into you as a child.
We probably did lots of other things 'wrong' in the 70s.
Sol
Well-Known Member
I don't grip with my knees when I do it...... not done it for ages though so tbh, I can't remember HOW I do it but it's hard work! Strong stomach muscles? 
There is very little 'up' movement anyway, so you are pretty much just moving your hips forwards and backwards slightly more. I do a tiny bit every now & then if I'm doing no stirrup work just to rest and stretch/use different muscles as it stops me tensing up too much
There is very little 'up' movement anyway, so you are pretty much just moving your hips forwards and backwards slightly more. I do a tiny bit every now & then if I'm doing no stirrup work just to rest and stretch/use different muscles as it stops me tensing up too much 
SVMel
Well-Known Member
I don't grip with my knees when I do it...... not done it for ages though so tbh, I can't remember HOW I do it but it's hard work! Strong stomach muscles?
Ditto!!!!
Sol
Well-Known Member
Going to have to get a video of myself doing stirrupless rising trot now, I've never SEEN anyone do it, it must look odd
Steorra
Well-Known Member
These are from the circuit training I used to do when I was rowing at university. With all these exercises stop before you get too tired and start overcompensating with your back muscles.
Here goes
1. Lie on the floor (pref. on a mat), and raise your legs from the hips. Keep your hands by your sides, legs straight, and your shoulders, hips and back on the floor. Try to relax the muscles of your back. The muscles that tense in your abdomen to hold you in this position are the ones you engage when riding. Got them?
Try holding this position for 30 seconds, longer if you can.
2. Lie on your front this time, clasp your hands in front of you and place your forearms on the floor, centrally beneath your chest (lengthwise not across). Raise yourself slightly, with your weight on your toes (like in a press up) and arms. Keep your back straight and hold for 30 seconds (or no more than a minute on this one as it stops you breathing properly).
3. This one is for people who are good at interpreting instructions! And who don't mind looking a bit daft.
Sit on the floor with your weight on your seatbones. Raise your legs and tilt your torso back so all your weight is on your seatbones and, without any other part of you touching the floor, sit up to almost vertical, bend your knees and pull your legs in, and reach with your hands forwards past the outsides of your legs for balance.
Got that? Then go back to your original position (extend your legs, bring your shoulders back, pull your hands in to your chest). Repeat (30 reps would be an impressive start). Essentially you are rowing a non-existent boat.
4). If you didn't get the last one...sit ups.
5). This requires a certain amount of upper body strength but it's also a good core exercise. Lie on your left side and prop yourself up on your left arm, with the arm straight from the shoulder to the floor. Raising your other arm in the air will help with balance.
Keep your back straight and your body and legs in alignment. Your weight should be resting on your hand and the ankle / foot of the same side. This is harder than it looks. Then switch sides.
If you are fairly fit then you can run through these exercises perhaps 4 times, at 1 minute each. I used to do an hour of these (with a few others thrown in) once a week, but although I'd say I'm still fairly fit and active I couldn't do it now!
If your back or neck hurts at any point then please stop! It means that 1. you haven't quite got it right and won't get the benefits and 2. you might injure your back!
Hope these help.
Here goes
1. Lie on the floor (pref. on a mat), and raise your legs from the hips. Keep your hands by your sides, legs straight, and your shoulders, hips and back on the floor. Try to relax the muscles of your back. The muscles that tense in your abdomen to hold you in this position are the ones you engage when riding. Got them?
Try holding this position for 30 seconds, longer if you can.
2. Lie on your front this time, clasp your hands in front of you and place your forearms on the floor, centrally beneath your chest (lengthwise not across). Raise yourself slightly, with your weight on your toes (like in a press up) and arms. Keep your back straight and hold for 30 seconds (or no more than a minute on this one as it stops you breathing properly).
3. This one is for people who are good at interpreting instructions! And who don't mind looking a bit daft.
Sit on the floor with your weight on your seatbones. Raise your legs and tilt your torso back so all your weight is on your seatbones and, without any other part of you touching the floor, sit up to almost vertical, bend your knees and pull your legs in, and reach with your hands forwards past the outsides of your legs for balance.
Got that?
Then go back to your original position (extend your legs, bring your shoulders back, pull your hands in to your chest). Repeat (30 reps would be an impressive start). Essentially you are rowing a non-existent boat.4). If you didn't get the last one...sit ups.
5). This requires a certain amount of upper body strength but it's also a good core exercise. Lie on your left side and prop yourself up on your left arm, with the arm straight from the shoulder to the floor. Raising your other arm in the air will help with balance.
Keep your back straight and your body and legs in alignment. Your weight should be resting on your hand and the ankle / foot of the same side. This is harder than it looks. Then switch sides.
If you are fairly fit then you can run through these exercises perhaps 4 times, at 1 minute each. I used to do an hour of these (with a few others thrown in) once a week, but although I'd say I'm still fairly fit and active I couldn't do it now!
If your back or neck hurts at any point then please stop! It means that 1. you haven't quite got it right and won't get the benefits and 2. you might injure your back!
Hope these help.
Sol
Well-Known Member
Steorra - those sound great, I might give a few a go tomorrow
Steorra
Well-Known Member
Let me know how you get on! Cookies for anyone who works out number 3.
Sol
Well-Known Member
Just 'tried' number 3 to see if I can actually work it out - I think I get it, but it's nearly impossible! xD Photos?! (don't think the amount of lucozade I'd just drank helped the balancing at all.... )
)Steorra
Well-Known Member
It is tricky...especially without someone to show you. Try to make it a continuous movement, that should help you balance. I'll see if I can find a pic online.
Also, you totally deserve a cookie.
Also, you totally deserve a cookie.