stability in sitting trot v canter

[Kathy C]

I had a riding lesson recently after a break of a few months and it felt really good to be riding again. I have read Heather's pages on the sitting trot and the canter and was trying hard to follow the advice she has given. The canter was fine and I could actually feel my back flexing in the way Heather describes and it felt very comfortable and stable. The sitting trot was a different matter. Although I know the theory I was totally incapable of putting it into practice and my back seemed determined to stay rigid and unbendable. Why should I find such a difference between the two paces? Is it that the movement is greater in the trot or because the movement is faster or a combination of both? Heather, if you are there, I seem to remember in a previous post a while ago you said there is a lady in Sussex who has an equisimulator, does she give lessons and if so would you be able to supply contact details?

Kathy C

[Heather]

Hi Kathy,
There is someone in Surrey who hopes to buy a simulator, but not as yet. I have just taught two students from Sussex on a workshop the last two days, and will probably be coming down again in April or May of next year, but not sooner, I'm afraid. Sitting trot is often more difficult to do than canter, particularly if you are on a bouncy horse. Try the way that i have explained it on the KWTR pages on New Ridert, sitting on a chair or stool. Then, when riding, do lots of transitions up and down from walk to sitting trot, do no more than six to eight strides at a slow tempo. In this way you will not lose the quality in the trot, which if you do will make it harder to sit to. In a few days you should be able to cope with maybe ten to twelve strides and so on. Build up gradually as you will not have the musculature and poise to maintain it for longer. Rome wasn't built in a day!


Heather

[cynthia]

don't despair... i couldn't for the *life* of me get the rhythm of the bending motion the first 6 or 7 times i tried it. i was horribly frustrated. but then, i took an unsupervised ride one sunday afternoon, and rode a sweet, wonderful Morab mare. i tried the sitting trot, and after just a few strides, it suddenly "clicked"! i couldn't believe it! we were trotting happily around the ring, and i was able to bend and flex with Bri, and just magically sit to the trot without my behind leaving the saddle. woo! dropping my irons for long stretches also helped *tremendously*. i highly recommend it. ;)

so yeah. it may seem completely impossible at first, but have faith. you'll get it. :)

-cyn

[Kathy C]

Thanks for your words of encouragement. I'll keep trying and maybe one day I'll get the hang of it!

Kathy C