transition from rising to sitting trot - tips please

N

narkymare

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 July 2010
Messages
1,019
Visit site
I am learning to ride and am finally ready to canter (accordong to my instructor) after mastering rising trot to the diagonal.

But as soon as i go from rising trot to sitting my horse goes into walk!

This is i think my fault, since Ive had him i have been scared of speed so whenever he went faster than i liked i would stop rising and sit, squeeze with my legs and he would go into walk.

He doesnt do this with other riders (my friend hacks him out etc whilst i am learnign)

I really believe he knows I dont (or didnt ) like speed and is thinking "oops mums sat down, shes not liking this"

I have 2 weeks before my next lesson to work on this - any tips would be brilliant.

sorry ive rambled - basically ive taught him (im not proud of it) that when i stop rising he should slow down.

Any tips on how i go about getting him to continue in trot when i stop rising and go for sitting trot?
 
Rather than go from a rising to a sitting trot, I would go directly from a walk to a sitting trot. That said, do you have the seat to sit a trot correctly? The tendency for new riders is to get very tense as they try to keep themselves still - the result is their entire body stiffens up and the horse stiffens up as well which makes for a very uncomfortable trot that is nearly impossible to sit to.

At any rate, if you are ready to ride a sitting trot I would do so from the walk. That will send a clear signal to your horse that you are trotting now and he will become more comfortable with the idea that you are not posting.
 
Excellent idea baymare - i never thought of that!

Yes, ive always found sitting trot very very comfortable and easy - i have never done it on my horse but i did when i went to a riding school last year.

Thanks - Im sure that will work, will let you know!!! xxx
 
Good ideas above!

Really good exercise is to practise a few beats of sitting trot and then go rising again - your aim is to keep the tempo, impulsion and outline just the same whether you are sitting or rising. Get your rising trot going, then sit for 5 strides then rise for 5 strides and so on. Once you have that mastered which may take a while, you can try sitting for 3 strides then rising 3, or sit for 7 strides and rise for 7. You will also find it really helps you to identify which diagonal you are on!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top