Trotting....the right way

Johnny999

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My instructor is now deconstructing my riding to take me the next step so I can school properly rather than just exercise.
I'm struggling with the new trotting concept......kicking as you rise. I think I just about understand the why. My body is struggling with the how! Any tips?
 
I've always taught that on a horse that needs more impulsion or riding forwards then you give a squeeze with your legs as you sit, then you are also using your seat to send the horse forwards,and when working in the school this means that you are sitting as the inside hindleg is on the ground so encouraging the horse to step under himself. Not sure of the benefits of using the leg when you rise, but be interested to learn.
 
Yes you use your legs when you need them, but using them with the horse's stride can help to improve the rhythm and the riders effectiveness,

"We discussed the feel of following the horse's motion at each gait in previous articles. The application of driving leg pressures that ask the horse to go forward also varies from gait to gait. At the walk, leg pressures alternate from side to side in motion with the swing of the horse's hips. At the rising trot, both legs squeeze simultaneously in the sitting phase and release on the rising phase (if you reverse this, you will be out of rhythm). When rising, you can only drive with your leg aids every other stride. The sitting trot becomes more aerobic because you can now drive at every stride with the swing of your hips matching the swing of the horse's hips. This rhythmic pulsing becomes a 'keeping' leg for the horse's forward momentum."

From http://www.ultimatehorsesite.com/articles/wesolek_legaids.html
 
I was always taught to leg on when rising when I learnt 30 years ago, perhaps its different now, l was always taught to keep knees on saddle and had to keep a coin trapped wwith my knees when learning, now I believe its knees off !
 
I was always taught to leg on when rising when I learnt 30 years ago, perhaps its different now, l was always taught to keep knees on saddle and had to keep a coin trapped wwith my knees when learning, now I believe its knees off !

So nowadays, it's knees off and kick as you rise? that sounds worse than 'pat your head and rub your tummy' to me! In fact it sounds like a recipe for disaster.
I wouldn't kick anyway, I prefer to squeeze. But then I was taught to ride even before you, alma, lol.
 
Jeez if I kicked my forward going cob on the raise he'd be off!!! :confused: Seems slightly odd to me but I haven't had schooling lessons for years so guess things change?
 
As with any rising trot problem, the best way to try and resolve it is by rising without irons. If you do this you will automaticaly put the lower leg on when rising. My old RI used to insist on ten minutes of rising without irons every now and again, it helps to establish a still lower leg and encourage a more independant seat, particularly if your reins are taken away as well.
 
Change your instructor! It is totally incorrect to use your legs when rising apart from being quite hard to use your legs as you rise it will cause your legs to swing around all over the place.

You use your legs when you sit as your position is then more stable and you will also be able to ask the horse to bring the inside hind leg further under him.
 
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Hmmmm. My instructor says that we use our legs when we want extra impulsion e.g. when walking and wishing to trot, or in working trot and wanting medium trot. If I am in working trot and she slows down I tickle with the schooling whip and keep my legs quiet in order to avoid her becoming dead to the leg. I have been told to avoid nagging on every stride when especially she is already doing what I have asked.
 
OP, I agree with your instructor, I think he/she is giving you a general guide, rather than a refined instruction. Its not about kicking or nagging with every stride, if the horse is going forwards with energy, the leg remains quiet, when asking for more implusion, you lightly squeeze at the moment of rising when your weight is off the horses back and has the freedom to lift under you.
 
OP, I agree with your instructor, I think he/she is giving you a general guide, rather than a refined instruction. Its not about kicking or nagging with every stride, if the horse is going forwards with energy, the leg remains quiet, when asking for more implusion, you lightly squeeze at the moment of rising when your weight is off the horses back and has the freedom to lift under you.

But if sitting correctly the seat shouldn't hinder the horse from using its back.
 
But if sitting correctly the seat shouldn't hinder the horse from using its back.

While this is true, but as the inside hind leg leaves the ground, the momentum pushes the riders seat off its back which frees it momentarily and the driving aid is given as this leg is pushing off the ground.
 
Now I keep thinking about it, Ill have to go and do it on board. When you automatically do something once you try to analyse it it makes you doubt(if that makes sense)
 
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