Sitting trot & other frustrations!

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Dobby

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Hi everyone,

I've been riding for a couple of months now after a break of about 3 years, and am getting really frustrated at a few things I used to be able to do as second nature, but now are an effort!

I can't master sitting trot. I bounce around like a sack of potatoes and actually gave up the other day because I felt sorry for the poor horse!

When rising trot, and coming down from canter to trot and trot to walk, I have to lean on the horses neck to steady myself.

When I work without stirrups I have to sometimes steady myself by holding onto the saddle.

It's so annoying! All these things were nothing at all a few years ago but now I feel like a total beginner again...gah!

Any ideas on how to really sort your balance out?
 
It honestly just take time and practice! You're muscles will not be as strong as they used to be and your balance won't be quite as good either. Give it a few more months and you'll fell it all coming together better.

For sitting trot you really need to relax down through the whole leg, you should fell all your weight going down through your bum, through your thighs and into you calfs. Remember your hips and low stomach are the shock absorbers and keep them as loose as possible. Tensing makes you bounce
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The leaning on downward transitions is probably due to lack of core muscles which will take a little time to build but you'll get there, also the horse might not be balanced? sometimes I they are working forward through transitions it can really throw you.

Work without stirrup is the same as rising trot, weight through legs and seat, relax you torso.

Hope that help a little
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and well done on getting back on after 3 years! Was it a bit scarey? I've never taken a break and sometime wonder if I did then I might not get back on realising quite how dangerous a sport it is!
 
Those equisimulator links are interesting!

Re core stability - there are some good videos on the Horse Hero site which show some exercises you can do on a gym ball. I can *nearly* do them all - struggle a bit with the last part but I can feel the difference that it has made to my riding. I sit up much straighter and don't get back ache any more since starting these.

http://www.horsehero.com/1174/feeding-and-fitness/3482
 
I second suggestions to improve core stability.
What would really help would be a few lunge lessons on a really good, comfortable lunge horse with an experienced instructor. Shop around - many RS are excessively health and safety conscious these days, but on the right horse some work without reins and stirrups would really help.

are you at a riding school or is this your own horse?
 
When learning to master the sitting trot, you need to make sure the speed of the trot is right for you to cope with, so first of all slow things down to a nice gentle jog almost. Keep is short and sweet, so lots of walk and trot transitions, this way you learning to adapt your body to the his when the horse changes pace.

Leg your legs hang heavy and totally relax them, along with your seat, if you tense up or grip up even slightly with your legs, you'll alter your hole position and weight baring surface of your bottom, which will tip you forwards and then you will start bumping around more.
Don't worry about the rest of your position, arms, hands etc, because this will just give you something else to think about and will act as a distraction to what you are trying to achieve.

Lengthen your stirrups, you can't learn sitting trot very well unless you have longer leathers because your aim is to be at one with the horses movement, which you should be able to do with out stirrups, so only try to use them as a backup in case you feel yourself slipping over to one side, the part of the foot should feel light in the stirrup with your heals down but not pressing down, imagine you have heavy balls (if you pardon the expression....but let me finish) so you have heavy balls one each heal, and one each it buttock, and one in each elbow and use your stomach and pelvis to absorb the weight.

Make sure you are not looking down for starters and remember to breath properly so you relax yourself, get someone to bob you on the lunge rein and bob one hand on your thigh, other with you reins in, and practice that way, until you pick up the rhythm and feel and feel safe, then once you have that sorted, then take both reins and ride as normal, this will be better for your horse in the long run too because you won't be effecting your horses mouth when your getting unbalanced etc.

Lots of practice and you'll get there.
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