'Kinder Way' Sitting Trot Method

[equinekrazed]

Hi Heather,

I read the 'Kinder Way' to the Sitting Trot. I tried it on a stool, and caught on quite quickly. Unfortunately, when I tried it on a horse for the first time I was quite lost with the rhythm, and almost fell off of my horse. Could it be my horse's trot, or my incompetence? My horse's trot isn't very bouncy...when he's going at an extremely slow or moderate trot. My horse's trot is more side-to-side than bouncy sometimes, if you know what I mean. Sometimes it's so side-to-side that if feels as if my legs are flopping about while trying to post to his trot. I don't know if I'm just inexperienced, or if I read something wrong in the article...If you have any advice or tips, please tell me! Thanks! :)

[galadriel]

Just practice :) It will get easier. You are trying to stay on a moving object (stools don't trot!) as well as put into use something you have experienced only on a still object. Just relax and go with the motions, move with the horse--As you practice, it will come to you.

[equinekrazed]

Alrighty, I'll practice it whenever I get a chance.:)

[nix]

It might also help to practice your sitting trot for just for a few strides at a time to start with, returning to rising afterwards. This should help with your balance, you'll soon be able to comfortably increase the number of strides that you can easily sit to if you do it gradually. Let us know how you get on! :)

[Monty]

This is definitely true. Rebel had a very bouncy, almost uncomfortable, sitting trot, and I found it awful to start with. So I did about four strides at a time, then six, then eight......and it went really well. You will get better, just be patient and stick with it.

[Wally]

..as said, a few srides at a time, don't try circuit after circuit,

It takes time to build up the muscle tone needed to do a good, balanced sitting trot for any length of time.

[vjwuk]

I found it helped to ride a few different horses, I clicked straight away on one horse and it gave me the chance to feel it in action so I could then try to get it right on my regular ride.

[devon_venture]

I have seen the fluidity video by Linda Parelli who has a little more information and interesting ideas about the trot (and all paces)- this may be worth a look?

[Heather]

HI, as Nikki said, doing a few strides only is what I always advocate- literally only six or eight back to walk for a couple up to trot again. The frequent transitions keep the quality of the trot, making it easier to sit to, and also the transitions prevent the horse from going on it's forehand, so are doubly beneficial!!

Gradually build up a few strides at a time, until you can cope with sitting trot for as long as you need to.

Heather