Afraid to trot

[Katie_85]

Hi everyone. I am a new rider and I have been riding a mare. She is about 10 yrs old and a very quiet horse. The problem is, her legs aren't built right so when she trots, she pretty much punches holes in the ground. I trotted on her for a little while, but I can't seem to get a deep enough seat. Any advice? Thanks so much... Katie

[horselover]

Do you ride English or Western? When I ride a horse with an impossible-to-sit-without-breaking-my-backbone-trot :) then I usually post rather than try to sit it. If you end up bouncing around on the mare's back, it would probably be more comfortable for her if you posted, too, as well as yourself.

[Outrider]

If there is one thing I am grateful for from english riders, is learning to post a trot. I ride western, and posting is the way to go for an uncomfortable trot. If it is uncomfortable for you, I guarantee it is uncomfortable for your horse. Also, you can try and teach her to slow her trot down. My horse has about three speeds of trot. One slow trot that you could sit for miles, a medium speed of trot, that is ok but posting is still needed, and a faster, rough trot that I don't even like to think about, let alone ride! You can teach different speeds of trot best from the round pen. Good luck and Happy Trails!

[Cathy Reynolds]

Katie - if you haven't got Heather's book pull down the pages on this site about trotting. HM writes some very sensible things.

[Katie_85]

Thanks so much everyone! Outrider: I ride Western, for now. I live in Florida and there are a few good places over here. I read Heather's bit about trotting, I will have to try it. Today my lesson was cancelled due to rain. I'm going to be on a different horse tomorrow so maybe the trot will be easier. Thanks again!!