sitting trot help!

[cazzarotti]

I really want to be able to canter and my instructor told me that I'd need to be able to do sitting trot to learn canter. The problem is that I find sitting trot really hard! I bounce around everywhere and it's so uncomfortable! And I also find it really hard to keep my heels down. I feel like such a rubbish rider because I can't even do sitting trot :(
Has anyone got any tips to help me?
Thanks

[*toHorse&Away*]

Well I guess we need a bit more info like how long you hae been riding, how you are being taught at present etc.
I expect you are failry new to riding and that does not make iyou a rubbish rider, it just makes you new and you have to give yourself time to learn. Its not overnight magic ;)
Having returned myself recently after a loooong break I kindof expected to get on and do all the things I used to. I couldn't so it was back to basics.
You are uncomfortable in sitting trot becuase you have not yet developed your seat and balance enough, or your riding muscles ;) . This is normal when you are new. The leg is the same, beleive me my heels were so far up they were nearly touching my butt!!! :eek: But it comes with time and patience. You may be inadvertantly gripping with your knees which will push you further out of the saddle and the whole thing just becomes a vicious circle. Major bumping!!!
Course you want to canter - its great fun and you will love it, but spend some time on the basics. Maybe get a lunge lesson or two and just take it steady.

Not sure if you are in group or private lesson, but have a chat to your instructor about how to apprach where you want to be and set small goals for each lesson.

You will be cantering round before you know it! :D

Best of luck!!

[horseygal90]

Relax when you do it, and think about pushing your heels onto the floor. Get the horse to go realllyyy slowww... Nearly walking but just trotting and it'll help at the start. ;)

[Merlinz gal]

dont worry sitting trot s actually harder than it looks and goes against most of the normal principles of riding.
just relax and let your hips follow the movement of the horse, if you thibk it will help ask your instructor to put you on the lunge so you can concentrate on yourself.

just keep trying and youll soon get the hang of it :)

[Crunchie]

I'd been having lessons for a long time (and couldn't do a nice sitting trot without bumping before I cantered) but it finally clicked when riding a pony up to the field bare back. We trotted up and I was sitting, not bumping!! Not sure how it happened, but it just did. Perhaps because I was totally relaxed and worring about it being a lesson and needing to get it right!

It also depends on the horse. Some are easier to sit to than others.

You will get it eventully, and I say good on your instructor for making sure you are good at the pace below before letting you try the next one up!

[Just.Jump]

I ride bareback western and use a saddle in my jumping lessons (english of course..) and I find it easiest to sit the trot at all times, bareback or saddles, bony withers or not. I can't get good leg pressure in an english saddle unless I'm sitting and bareback I can post trot, but my mare doesn't really like the feel of that. Try it bareback and you'll realize you need to be totally in the same moment with your horse. It's like pairs skating or something, all of the movements have to flow together. In this case, MOVE YOUR HIPS! :D At a canter you'll really come to realize that your hips and seat offer a huge amount of communication, and that moving with the horse works much better than just sitting there.

[galadriel]

I reccommend reading the "Kinder Way" section on this site (it's in the group of links on the upper right of your screen). Particularly, the sitting trot page may be helpful to you:
http://www.newrider.com/Kinder_Way/The_Paces/sitting_trot.html

[Keket]

If you can find a horse that's been trained to a Western jog instead of an English trot, I'd advise you to try it. I just started a bit of English work after a year and a half of Western, and sitting trot is a breeze for me, because I'm used to jogging (which is a like a slower trot). If you can, I urge you to give it a try.

[ponylover88]

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[ponylover88]

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[ExtendedTrot]

Try dropping your stirrups to learn the feel of the trot, let your body absorb the movement as opposed to trying to ride against it. Lunge lessons will help you out too.