Help with forward seat

[Sue]

Could anyone give me some advice on balancing properly in the forward seat at trot. I'm fine (most of the time) in canter and can keep my balance but when I try to adopt the light seat in trot I find I cannot keep it. I don't know if I'm trying to sit too far forward or not low enough or what. My back is not good at keeping bent for any length of time due to my old injury but as I said before it's fine when I canter.

Also does anyone find it actually of any use when trotting anyway? I can see the sense when cantering over rough ground and maybe when approaching jumps at the canter but do we really need to use it at the trot? Any ideas or opinions please?

[intouch]

Hi Sue - sounds like you might be leaning too far forward, you have to stay over the point of balance, so you will have to stick the bum out the back a bit to compensate for advancing the shoulders. Make sure your knees & ankles are relaxed and acting as shock absorbers, keep your back flat, bend from the hip joint. Chin up and find a comfortable, balanced position at the standstill. It takes a while for the muscle memory to kick in, so don't try it for long periods, trot is good as it gives you time to find your balance. With a bit of practice you will be galloping round Badminton next year - or the next....

[floppy]

another good thign about being able to 'lean froward' when trotting is when you ride on silly tracks liek i did the other day that had low hanging branches and twigs etc ...its always useful to be able to 'duck' under things at any speed!:D
plus also if you do some caveltti in trot you usually lean forwards...