Sitting Trot - Tips

Mahoganybay

Mahoganybay

Well-Known Member
Joined
9 February 2009
Messages
1,535
Visit site
My mare and I are coming on a treat with our lessons but have yet to really master the sitting trot. I am finding that i tense up and bounce, i know the theory behind it (my instructor is fab) and my mare wears a neck strap for me to hold onto, but i am still bouncing.

Anybody got any methods which have worked (strange as they may seem i will try anything).
 
I used to be rubbish at sitting trot for the same reason as you! My old instructor said to try feel and each side of the horse rising and falling as they trotted, and try to let your hips swing to that rhythm, if that makes sense? Just remember to breath out, especially, and let your legs pull you down into the saddle and then allow your hips to go with the movement, it's easier on some horses than others though!

Good luck
smile.gif
 
Get rid of the saddle-you'l soon get the hang of it! It worked for me, or if you'd rather keep the saddle loose the stirrups. It may not be the best way to get to grips with it and your instructor may think i'm mad but it did work for me. Good luck!x
 
On the lunge without stirrups is how I learnt, and according to all the books I've read it's the best way to learn. I spent ages trying to get the hang of it on my own, then one lunge lesson without stirrups and it suddenly clicked.
laugh.gif
My main problem was (still is) gripping upwards with my legs, which pushes me up out of the saddle. I have to keep reminding myself to let my legs hang loose and not grip with them - when I get that right, I find it much easier to sit deep in the saddle and not bounce.
 
I agree about losing the stirrups. Still much better at sitting trot without stirrups than with. Not having anything to brace against helps me not get too tense...
 
I think a balance strap (a short strap attached to the Ds at the front of your saddle) is better than a neck strap.

When you start boucing take your legs away from the side of the horse as it is gripping esp. with the knee/upper thigh that causes the bounce.

Some horses are definitely harder to set to than others.
 
Take away the stirrups and if you can get a lunge lesson,close your eyes.
if you cant get a lunge lesson/want to practise outside of lessons,choose a poe/song on concentrate on remembering the words.
You get so focased on the words you forget about the trot and relax
smile.gif
 
Take your stirrups away and do rising trot - this is the feeling you are aiming for in the sitting - there is a reasonable amount of movement involved!

My trainer also shouts 'bounce the trot' at me - feel like you are lifting the horse's back with your inner thighs rather like on a spacehopper!
 
Make sure your not trotting to fast, slow it all down, you'll never learn if horse is trotting too fast for you to try and master it.

Whip the stirrups away, cross them over at the front.

Don't hold on to anything (neck strap/pommel) as this will not teach you sit correctly and will interfere with your seat and balance thus making it twice as hard.

Do plenty of walk to sitting trot transitions, so even if the trot only lasts 5 strides, then back to walk.

Look up, soon as you tilt your head you'll send yourself off balance.

Relax your shoulders, this will then work down your body and relax your bottom into the seat, relax your legs but still making sure your heals are down.

Don't try too hard, let your hips and tummy go with the motion of the horses movement, let your tummy relax
 
[ QUOTE ]
Take your stirrups away and do rising trot - this is the feeling you are aiming for in the sitting - there is a reasonable amount of movement involved!

My trainer also shouts 'bounce the trot' at me - feel like you are lifting the horse's back with your inner thighs rather like on a spacehopper!

[/ QUOTE ]

Fantastic advice, i always thought sitting trot meant you must sit perfectly still but in doing this you automatically tense your body so you explanation really makes sense.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Take your stirrups away and do rising trot - this is the feeling you are aiming for in the sitting - there is a reasonable amount of movement involved!

My trainer also shouts 'bounce the trot' at me - feel like you are lifting the horse's back with your inner thighs rather like on a spacehopper!

[/ QUOTE ]

Fantastic advice, i always thought sitting trot meant you must sit perfectly still but in doing this you automatically tense your body so you explanation really makes sense.

[/ QUOTE ]

The last year has been a revelation for me - I was lucky enough to spend 3 months with someone in the USA who told me I was 'far too still and British' (!) about riding - and it turns out that all my issues were due to me being too still. She ripped my riding apart and rebuilt it, and I have gone from being a passenger who kept the horse between me and the ground, all be it doing ok at Novice BE, to someone who can actually ride and influence the horse. I have managed to find someone here in the UK who is carrying on her good work, but I owe her an enormous debt as without her input I would never, ever have realised where I was going wrong. I knew something wasn't right but no-one here ever managed to crack it, from 4* riders downwards.
smile.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top