Sitting trot help please

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Bucephalus

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I have been trying to improve my sitting trot. It is getting quite good without stirrups and my seat has got deeper, I don't bounce anymore and can keep my legs where they should be. However, when I take my stirrups back, although my calf is where it should be, the stirrup irons rattle about my feet. I don't seem to be able to keep them on the ball of my foot for very long. If I start concetrating on my feet I start to lose the seat a bit and might start popping off the saddle. Any ideas on how to fix this or is that something that will just happen with more practice?
 
Try and keep the weight in your heels, Ive been doing loads of sitting trot with and without stirrups since Nov, and I still have the odd crap day lol!
I had a lunge lesson on a 18 hh irish mare the other day, I was walk/trot and cantering with no reins aand no stirrups
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! I cant beleive how much my balance has improved since i started the lessons! Im doing my ABRS teaching exams, so have had a riding lesson at a school every sunday since Nov!
 
More practise really, however shortening or lengthening your stirrups (depending on which you feel more secure riding in a whole) could help. If you could sit up very tall in the body but not tense can help aswell sometimes. Also thinking you can do it really helps aswell. I think everyone sometimes gets slighty unbalanced when riding. Don'y worry about it too much
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Sounds to me like your reaching for your stirrups slightly, maybe try putting them up a hole now you have a deeper seat so you can more easilly put your heels down. Just avoid ramming them down as you'll undo all your good work!
 
Couple of questions for you.

You say you can 'keep your legs where they should be'. How are you achieving this?

and which part of your body are you most aware of when you are doing sitting trot?

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Couple of questions for you.

You say you can 'keep your legs where they should be'. How are you achieving this?

and which part of your body are you most aware of when you are doing sitting trot?

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Difficult questions!
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Leg wise I suppose I mean that I no longer grip and they don't creep forwards and my knees don't creep up.

As to the second question I think I have been paying more attention lately to my lower back and try to feel whether I'm always on the saddle or whether I bounce etc. Then the bits I forget about are my shoulders that can tense up (but I do this when I drive as well) and keeping my feet steady on the stirrup irons. The latter gets trickier when I have to use my leg to get the horse forward.
 
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Sounds to me like your reaching for your stirrups slightly, maybe try putting them up a hole now you have a deeper seat so you can more easilly put your heels down. Just avoid ramming them down as you'll undo all your good work!

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I'll try that. I have been trying no to do the ramming down bit. Whenever I think heels down and weight on I pop off the saddle!
 
I've been practicing that too recently - just concentrate on your seat and if you try and lengthen your legs as much as poss, your heels will come down and then you'll be able to keep your stirrups more easily! keep going it is hard to master but def will become easier the more you do it!!
 
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I think everyone sometimes gets slighty unbalanced when riding. Don'y worry about it too much
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I'm a sad perfectionist! I've been riding for 18 months and want to learn everything yesterday!!! It doesn't help that I'm uncoordinated at the best of times!
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Try and think "toe up" rather than "heels down". If you try and force the heels down, then the whole leg can become tense, whereas toeup keeps the leg more relaxed.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Couple of questions for you.

You say you can 'keep your legs where they should be'. How are you achieving this?

and which part of your body are you most aware of when you are doing sitting trot?

smile.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

Difficult questions!
smile.gif


Leg wise I suppose I mean that I no longer grip and they don't creep forwards and my knees don't creep up.

As to the second question I think I have been paying more attention lately to my lower back and try to feel whether I'm always on the saddle or whether I bounce etc. Then the bits I forget about are my shoulders that can tense up (but I do this when I drive as well) and keeping my feet steady on the stirrup irons. The latter gets trickier when I have to use my leg to get the horse forward.

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I feel your pain!
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For what its worth I think you are doing all the right things and as others have said I think you might benefit from just putting your stirrups up one.

It is very easy to tense your leg and grip without realising at all (which is why I asked - but you don't seem to be doing that). And yes, should all be in the lower back.

This is a very good article that might help

http://www.classicaldressage.co.uk/Sitting_The_Trot/sitting_the_trot.html

My instructor tells me to imagine I have no legs at all in order to get me thinking about my seat more and to ensure I am not tense, so my legs just 'hang'. You could also try doing some exercises with your ankles to ensure you are relaxing the muscles.

Good luck!
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Hold onto your saddle at the back with one hand and shorten your stirrups up a whole also grip totally with your knees.

x

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Disagree completely. Do not grip with your knees!
You should feel the movement of the horse underneath you and absorb it in your seat & lower back. If you want to hold onto the saddle at all is better to grip at the front and pull it up so you are pushing yourself down into it.
 
Agree completely with Mayflower in that I disagree about gripping with the knees. (Meant to put that in my post above, but forgot). In case that doesn't make sense - Don't grip with your knees!
 
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Hold onto your saddle at the back with one hand and shorten your stirrups up a whole also grip totally with your knees.

x

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Disagree completely. Do not grip with your knees!
You should feel the movement of the horse underneath you and absorb it in your seat & lower back. If you want to hold onto the saddle at all is better to grip at the front and pull it up so you are pushing yourself down into it.

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I tried this for a bit today; holding the front of the saddle with the inside hand. Feet were marginally better.
 
See if you can get yourself a balance strap - you attach it to the D rings at the front of your saddle and it helps you deepen your seat. I have one on my saddle for my lessons - perfect if you feel a bit wobbly
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- just hold it or even just putting a finger underneath gives you your seat back and some security. Can find them on fleabay for about £5. PM me if you want more details.
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Thank you all for the tips! Slinkyunicorn, I just googled balance straps and had a look. I will try and get myself one. It looks like it will have the added bonus of steadying my hands as well!
 
Make sure you get one that has rolled leather handle (otherwise it cuts into your hands) and also one that has buckles rather than the 'clip' ends - the first one I tried had the clips and when I used it the clips just sheared of and I was left with the strap in my hand!! I think they are brill and always ride with one now - just helps you get your balance back and pulls you deeper into your seat.
 
Try to think about using your ankles as 'shock absorbers' - so think about absorbing the 'bobbing' movement in your ankles so that it's your ankles & heels that bob - it just means the weight is going to the back of your foot rather than the front.

It does sound as if your stirrups may be a touch too long - I'd certianly consider raising them one if the above advice doesn't do the trick.
 
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Hold onto your saddle at the back with one hand and shorten your stirrups up a whole also grip totally with your knees.

x

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And you wonder why your instructor won't let you canter?!

You should never grip the saddle - and absolutely NOT with your knees. Riding should be smooth and fluent - not vice like!
Also, if you grip the back of the saddle, it destroys the vertical alignment, and causes twisting (if you are (I'm assuming) only holding on with one hand) putting both you and the horse out of balance.
 
Never grip with your knees but keep your leg position and just practice.
Just sit deep and look ahead and let it come, thats what I do.
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xxx
 
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