Sitting trot

C

chaps89

Well-Known Member
Joined
8 July 2009
Messages
9,010
Location
Lincolnshire
Visit site
Share horses paces are probably best described as workmanlike, he isn't (in the nicest way it can ever be said) a flash mover.
His trot is without a doubt the most uncomfortable thing in the world to sit to, very choppy, he hollows and drops behind your leg.
I'm fairly fit, can do sitting trot all day long (figuratively speaking!) on my own horse but this one I bounce around and it's just horrible.
I do have lessons but this is still a sore point.
I try very hard to relax and move with him, but often end up tense and then bounce more. It's never a pretty picture. I've also tried trotting without my stirrups and that was no different really.
Can anyone help with videos to watch or explanations or visual images I can think of that might help, please?
 
If he is hollowing, it will be incredibly difficult to sit to the trot. Is he maybe not strong enough to cope with sitting trot at the moment? Work on developing the strength in the trot so that he can work better from behind. Once he is truly work through the back, sitting trot will become much easier.
 
Abbeygale said:
If he is hollowing, it will be incredibly difficult to sit to the trot. Is he maybe not strong enough to cope with sitting trot at the moment? Work on developing the strength in the trot so that he can work better from behind. Once he is truly work through the back, sitting trot will become much easier.
Click to expand...
Took words right out of my mouth. Sitting trot is something you can do once the horse is strong enough to cope with it. Whether or not the trot is flashy, the back should be lifting and the horse should be stretching his back and neck into the contact. Before that, though, you need to get the horse reaching into the contact CONSISTENTLY and being allowed to go forward down and out to help engage those abs to help with the back. Might take a year or maybe two to get the back strong enough to take a sitting trot by the sounds of this chap. Until that back is swinging through and you feel the back lift up throughout your lesson/ride then it's unfair imho to try to sit. Is he comfortable in his saddle and mouth?
 
I'd add that if he's behind your leg then that also makes it harder. I think I'd stick to rising trot while you work on his way of going :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top