sitting trot?

[Henry]

I've just started to try out cantering but sometimes my horse just refuses to break out into one. I was told that I have to be in a sitting trot or he will not canter. Just how do you get him to stay in a sitting trot and not go into a rising one instead?

[Sarah]

Sitting trot or rising trot are basically the same thing as far as the horse is concerned. The difference between the two is that in rising trot the rider raises themselves up out of the saddle in time with the outside front leg of the horse. In sitting trot, the rider remains in the saddle (see discussion under the new rider posting in this section for top tips on how to do this!). What your instructor means is that you should stop rising in the trot for about 6 strides before asking for canter.

[Medalia]

It doesn't matter if you rise or sit to canter. I rise only because it's easier, but I sit when I ask for a downward transition for a walk.

You can sit for a few steps, but then you should go into a canter.

[Tina]

If you continue to rise to the trot when asking for the canter, your horse will think you want to trot faster. This is what your body is telling them to do. You must learn to sit the trot for a few steps before asking for the canter. Sitting the trot isn't learned overnight. Lots of time in the saddle, with and without stirrups will help.. You need to learn to relax the legs and the pelvic area in order to let your body absorb the action of the trot. PRACTICE!!! If and when you get the canter from the rising trot, it will be a canter that is chased and hectic, not organized and controlled.

[Heather]

What a pity that more riding schools don't teach their horses walk to canter. So many people think that it is a very advanced movement. It isn't! it is so much easier for the rider to apply a correct aid, and he or she is not shaken around in sitting trot until the horse cannot run any faster in trot, and breaks into a rough and jolting 'on the forehand' canter.

The quality of the canter is far greater when going walk to canter, and so is much easier to sit to.

Try to find a good school that has a lunge horse that will go walk to canter, and have a private lesson.It will be money well spent.

Heather