Rising Trot - how long to master?

[Mistertron]

Hi,

I have just started to learn to ride. I have only ever been trekking a handful of times in my life so i am a complete beginner. I am having a 1/2 hour private lesson a week. I have just had my third lesson and i am still trying to master the rising trot. Is my progress too slow? i know people learn at different levels but i wondered about other peoples experience of rising trot. To be fair my last lesson was in the snow - on the ground and coming from the sky - so the poor horse wasnt too happy to be out in the cold and wasnt keen to trot for me so i didnt get much practice. I was just reading some other sites and also some horse magazines and it seems some people pick up rising trot on their first lesson!

Thank you.

[ajhainey]

Some people just 'get it', others take hours and hours, don't worry it will come! From my old group lessons I'd say most adults took 3-6 one hour group lessons to get to the 'mostly got it' stage so your 'lightbulb' moment is probably only a few lessons away!

aj xx

[Nazdaq]

Ditto Ajhainey, I would say probably took me about 6 lessons, but I did have a fall when rising to the trot in the 3rd lesson so I had to get my confidence back as well. I'm sure you will have a eureka moment with it very soon. :D

[horseygirl123]

Hi there

I started riding last summer and altho i 'got it' in my first lesson i would say it takes a good few weeks before you fully master it and can rise without too much thought and effort.

One thing that might help you is to practice at home, look at yourself in the mirror and try to keep your back nice and straight, when we start learning the trot we tend to tip forward.

Another thing that might help you is to think more of 'forward and back' rather than up and down like many schools teach. Think of thrusting your pelvis up and forward and then gently back and down in a kind of arch shape.

It will come dont you worry, the most important thing is to make sure you are enjoying your lessons ;)

[kiwigirl]

I thought I could do it but after a horse trek was slipping through the stirrups something wicked! I am onto my 12th lesson and still working on it. I feel very comfortable doing it and can keep the momentum going and don't feel unbalanced at all BUT apparently I have problems with my leg coming forward and my ankle locking so still working on that!

I think on my second - third lesson I was doing rising trot but had done it a few times as a child (badly) so at least had an idea of what to do.

A couple of lessons ago we did it bareback.... very interesting!

[horse_crazy]

I was riseing to the trot on my first lesson with out any trouble,but have only just perfeckted it after a year... it mighten take long to get the rising in time down pat, but all the other stuff you have to do at the same time will take a little longer

an exercise I found that helped me alot is doing riseing trot with no stearips. after i had done it for a fue lessons I really felt the difference. o and being on a lunge really helps to.

[horseygirl123]

...........an exercise I found that helped me alot is doing riseing trot with no stearips.

That really helped me too because you then cant rely on your stirrups to lift you 'up' and you learn which muscles to use. i wouldnt suggest doing it for too long tho, if you plan to walk again that day !!!

as regards your comment......apparently I have problems with my leg coming forward and my ankle locking so still working on that!

Are you putting weight into the ball of your foot when you are rising?
And are you trying too hard to keep your 'heels down' ??
Sometimes when you are focussing on keeping heels down you tend to push your heel down and forward which brings your leg forward too.

[Mistertron]

Thank you very much for all the advice and replies. I'm pleased that so many of you took the time to reply - another horse forum i go on isnt half as good as this one!

I have lesson 4 on Friday so will see how it goes.

Thanks again :)

[Mistertron]

A couple of lessons ago we did it bareback.... very interesting!

oh my word!!! i'm not sure i'd ever be able to do that! riding without stirrips sounds scary enough but i think its because what horseygirl123 said about using them to push you up - i def do that!

[Shootingstar]

I started riding when I was 10.
It took me about 3-5 three quarter of an hour lessons to get it at a reasonable standard.

[horses4eva888]

Took me 2hrs pootling about in some fields with friend's horses and 1 lesson. It wasn't a perfect rising trot but it worked. I think I just picked it up by watching others really.

[Joyscarer]

I finally 'got it' when I realised that for me I had to think about putting my pelvis up and forward rather than the conventional up down up down advice.

Putting my pelvis forward on an upward diagonal line helped me to stop overly rising and made my rising trot more economical and stable because I didn't go too far out of the saddle.

Don't forget that you will be using muscles you didn't know you had so these will take time to build. Half an hour a week won't get you far so try to practice at home (when nobody's looking ;) :D )

[horseygirl123]

oh my word!!! i'm not sure i'd ever be able to do that! riding without stirrips sounds scary enough but i think its because what horseygirl123 said about using them to push you up - i def do that!

I never used to feel 'smooth' and flowing when i used to use my stirrups to push me up, it wasnt until i had a private to focus solely on my leg position that things 'changed'

Until you actually try rising trot without stirrups you never really know 'how' to use your leg muscles and which muscles to use. After only a couple of minutes without stirrups and i thought omg 'thats how they do it !!!

Try it it really does help ;)

[eml]

I think unfortunately it is long as a piece of string!!

As an RI I have some who 'get it' from the first stride, most within the first or second lesson others who I have to apply every technique I have acquired over years of teaching. I have only failed to teach two people to do rising trot! Both men and both progressed to competence in canter and jumping without mastering rising!

[rashella]

I started riding when I was about 10 for about a year or so, but I don't think it was ever part of my lessons. Not that I remember anyway :D

I've now been riding for about a year once a week, and to be honest I sometimes get it, and others I don't! I have just bought Heather Moffett's 'Enlightended Equitation' and although I've yet to have a lesson sinse starting to read it, I feel like I've already improved! :) She explains things in a very simple way, and that actually makes sense.

Definately more of a forward, backward, arch movement than up down though. Don't 'rise' too high as well.

Still very much trying to get it myself. Good luck with it :D

x

[Gemsluvshorsesx]

Hiya,

It took me about two months to learn to rise to the trot properly :rolleyes:

i guess it differs for everyone, you can't really tell. My friend got the hang of it in just one lesson!

[horseygirl123]

How are you getting on with that trot misterton!!
You had any more lessons yet?

[Mistertron]

Hi,

I've only had one more lesson since and yes it is coming along better thank you :) the thing i'm finding more difficult now is steering whilst doing the rising trot! the RS horse tended to want to walk around corners instead of trot - lol

[Nazdaq]

Mistertron, I still haven't gotten this sussed either and I have had alot more lessons then you and have just cantered last week! I think it has something to do with supporting the horse with your legs through the turn....but how can I use my legs and rise at the same time :o :p We will both get it with time I'm sure! :D

[Mistertron]

Mistertron, I still haven't gotten this sussed either and I have had alot more lessons then you and have just cantered last week! I think it has something to do with supporting the horse with your legs through the turn....but how can I use my legs and rise at the same time :o :p We will both get it with time I'm sure! :D

That makes me feel better - thank you! :D yeah i'm sure we will get it eventually lol.