Success !! sort of

[Muzza]

I have recently started riding and have recently been introduced to the sitting trot. Nightmare :mad: bouncing all over this poor old horse !

But last night I actualy managed not to bounce, and any time I locked up and started to I went into the rising trot. Fantastic :D
I wont say I got it as Heather discribes in her book, but I was pritty close.

Got a little canter out of her ( Lady - a very old horse) and that was SO smooth...quite a lot of fun.

I'm planning to book a lunge lesson to get the trot sorted once and for all - well a bit anyway ;)

Just thought I'd share that

[mikka]

Feels good, huh? Well done. Good luck with your next go round.
Do you know what you did differently to sit to trot well?

[Muzza]

Ooh..I wouldn't say "well".....better would be more apt as my shoulders move a fair amount as well as my back.

I sort of know..the few times I have tried before - realy few, I get tense, grip, tighten up....everything realy. This time I tried to loosen up, and flex my back. About the longest I managed was about 3/4 way around the school, and then lost it and went to rising trot and brought her back to a walk. More often it was more like 4 or 6 , but at least I wasn't pounding on the saddle.

Hate to say it...but I was counting 1,2,1,2 quietly to myself as well to help me think about the motion of the horses back :rolleyes: ...helped though.

[Shiny McShine]

I think you're doing well just to realise where you're going right and wrong. A lot of riders just go on bouncing around without giving it much thought. Being able to change to rising trot when you're not going so well is also a skill to be proud of.

I'm sure it won't take you long to master it, you sound keen to and that means you're already half-way there. I hope your rides continue to go as well!

[Karenr]

Well done you!!!! It's great when this go well isn't it?

[kedwards]

Great job Muzza. It's a wonderful feeling when you first get that sense of sitting deep to a big trot and really going with the horse. Even if you can't keep that feeling for more than a few strides, those moments are precious and really give you that "aha" feeling.

[Laetitia]

I agree with you Muzza, sitting trot can be really difficult. I suddenly think yipes I'm falling off, but am actually not really. The secret is to relax and go with the movement of the horse. Stop trying so hard to get position, shoulders, legs etc in the right place, if you relax consciously aahhh.. everything is then where it should be and bingo you're sitting the trot to the manner born. A quiet 1-2 1-2 is ideal to help you breathe and relax.I also have found a finger in under the pommel of the saddle helps, and stops me hanging on to the reins. Good luck, you'll get it . L