Relaxing into Sitting Trot

[CanadianRider]

I am currently riding a very big moving thoroughbred gelding, I've had 6 or 7 lessons on him so far. Previous to this guy I had only ever ridden very "normal" in the movement department nothing spectacular, then I switch to this guy and he rockets me out of the saddle every stride.

I am having problems sitting his trot when coming from a rising trot. When I go to a sitting trot from walk, I can do it. I think it is because in my walk trot transition I concentrate on sitting tall and straight with "long legs" (the image that helps me stabilize my core and find my seat).

When coming from a rising trot I have different things on my mind. In trot I concentrate on keeping my legs stable and my shoulders back and down, I guess this doesn't translate into a nice sitting trot feeling. When I go to sit (for more than changing my rising diagonal) I can feel myself grip up with my knees and thighs in an attempt to stay in the saddle, then I start to bounce :rolleyes:. I can't seem to keep the sit tall, long legs feeling I've got when coming from walk. I have tried I sit and think *long legs long legs long legs* but it doesn't happen. Another thing I thought of is, during the walk trot transition the horse doesn't have the super moonblaster rocket horse momentum thing going on so it's a bit easier to sit, I don't know a combination of both perhaps.

I my lessons I do mostly rising trot and only sit for a few steps at a time (go rising when it all goes down the drain). Thankfully he's very forgiving and puts up with me.

Anything else I could try? or is this just one of those things that I'll have to plug away at until it gets better.

Thanks

[horse_converted]

I know how you feal. i am having lessons at the moment. I have found if i do well at my rising trot my sitting trot goes out the window lol. i have to lessons a week. the one on wednesday is great everything goes well. on friday it isn't as good lol. guess i am tired! i think it is just somehting that will come with practice. MY RI says that every lesson i am getting better.. i find i end up thinking of doing part of it right then my arms and rists go tense then it goes wrong lol. I wish u the best with it. :D

[Bay Mare]

Have you read the Kinder Way section of this website? There's some good info on absorbing the movement on there. Another site to look at (library articles) is Enlightened Equitation. If you can get hold of the Enlightened Equitation book it looks at it in more detail.

[CanadianRider]

Have you read the Kinder Way section of this website? There's some good info on absorbing the movement on there. Another site to look at (library articles) is Enlightened Equitation. If you can get hold of the Enlightened Equitation book it looks at it in more detail.

Yep, have read it (in my copy of the book) many times, actually read it again last night after my lesson. I understand it and am able to apply the theories on smaller moving horses/ponies and when sitting the trot when coming from walk.

Just can't seem to get it after rising trot.

Thanks for the suggestions.

[Bay Mare]

Maybe pop over to the EE forums and ask on there? Heather's often about and is usually quite good at answering questions.

[Elvengirl]

I've been taught something that's helped me sit to the bigger moving horses I've been on. I'm not really sure HOW to articulate it, buuut, I'll try!

When going into sitting trot from rising trot, instead of making an immediate abrupt change, try and make your posts smaller and smaller with each stride until you are barely coming out of the saddle but still shifting your hip slightly forward and back with the rhythm. I found that this techinique helps me to keep my leg relaxed and pushing down into the heel just as it does when posting and it also helps to be thinking of keeping a post rhythm instead of thinking about the bounciness and getting tense. Does that make any sense at all? :o :o

[Skib]

The best way to learn is on the lunge, so all you need to think about is relaxing and sensing the movement under you.

However, I learned from a teacher who teaches sitting trot before rising. So yes, I do have some suggestions. And yes, I find sitting trot easy because it was so central to everything. You need to build up the time you spend doing it. Lengthen those five steps to six etc.
(I agree with the EE recommendations, but in your place I'd look at Sally Swift, Centred Riding)
Forget about pressing your legs down. It is true you need to hold yourself verticle on the horse with your legs hanging down either side. But gravity should be enough, If you press them down or force your heels down you raise your seat slightly out of the saddle.
That is why it is easier to ride sitting trot with no stirrups than with stirrups.

But to sit in any gait your weight should be on your two seat bones. Try it in walk first (that is a golden rule for everything).
As your horse walks you should find that your seat bones dip down, first one side and then the other.
Breathe deep and slow and just count the movement of the walk, 1,2,3,4.
Your right seat bone dips when the horses right hind leg is off the ground and coming forward under him.
Your left seat bone dips when the horse's left hind leg is off the ground and coming forward under him.

get used to the feel in walk.
You dont need to DO anything with your seat, you just need to allow the horse to walk easily.
One you have the feel in walk, the good neews is that it is the same in trot.
In walk the horse uses its four legs separately. In trot the diagonal pairs move together. So the count changes for 4 beat to 2 beat.
In trot, the back legs move on a count of two, so faster, but the side to side movement under you is the same. So you should be able to manage the transition by just envisaging a change of beat. You have been in four beat and now you are going to ask the horse for two beat?
Forget about your legs and concentrate on the feel under your seat.

I hope this is some help. It is far easier than rising trot.