Help with that rising trot

[Jubato]

Hi all!

Have a question regarding the timing/rhythm for rising trot. :confused: Right now, I feel like I'm going (approximately of course) up-down(small bounce)-bounce-up-down(small bounce)-bounce. So essentially, I feel like i'm only able to rise every other beat? Am I missing a beat? That extra bounce before I get up again, is that what double-bounce means?

I've watched other people doing the rising trot and I feel like they're not updownupdownupdownupdown that fast at all so I'm thinking maybe I'm not that far off. Not to mention, I don't think i can cut it physically rising that fast! :eek:

All your help much much appreciated as usual! ;) Thanks! :p

[vimto92]

Just make sure...that you are letting the horse bounce/bump you up. And then you control your landing...slowly or quickly depending on the pace. BUT don't worry it will come. Maybe ask your instructer, they will be able to see the mistakes you are making.

Don't worry.......all will be fine!:p

[~*sugarlump*~]

the horse should adjust his/her pace according to you rising
I'm not really sure what you mean about the rising (sorry!) but i you do a bit of sitting trot and 'listen' to the horses rythm you should soon begin to work with the horse :)

[Purple Hugs]

also remember you don't need to rise far out of your saddle. Might be worth checking if your stirrups are long enough and test rising whilst standing.. should only be a tiny rise really. :cool:

My instructor had me practising rising in walk too, as it helps your balance and stops you using the reins as a balancing aid. :p

It does just suddenly click into place so don't fret too much. ;)

[Rob26]

I know exactly what you mean by the 'double bounce' I had it bad at first. It's improved a lot now... it's just a matter of practice and relaxing and letting the horse move you into the rising.

It's funny how different cue's work for different people... i've found 'trying to see what the least amount of effort is required to rise' has helped loads..

[Wally]

Allow the horse to throw you up and forward, not up and down, As you rise allow your shoulders to come a tiny bit forwards. If you are on a big moving horse you will end up upright at the height of each rise, if you are on a horse with little elevation in his stride you might not ever come completely upright with your shoulders over your hips, it is perfectly okay to lean a tiny bit forwards in rising trot.

Don't rise like a jack-in-the-box, up and down, tip an tiny, tiny bit forwards and allow your hips to swing up and forwards. Then control the sit phase and almost feel for the saddle with your bum as you go down again.

[Vicki&Milo]

If you are really struggling to get it by being 'thrown' up by the horse maybe try some sitting trot (even better without stirrups) and concentrate on the beat. Ask your instructor to count the beats ("1, 2, 1, 2") so you can feel them as your horse moves. Then have a go yourself! :D
If you can crack that then you know when you should be rising, up on 1, down on 2 :D
Good luck
Vicki xx

[SupaTania]

Rising trot is possible the hardest thing you will learn in terms of riding the gaits. (I find greater difficulty in the sitting trot!) I understand the double bounce, it just means you are rising slower then your horse, and therefore losing a beat in the midst of it. In a sense, your double bounce is as if you are changing your diagnol! CONGRATULATIONS on mastering diagnols! lol haha

See there is a positive side to everything. And don't fret, rising trot will come soon enough.

[wanabe]

I agree with SuperTania. What you've described is what I do to change diagonals (and you may not be familiar with the concept of diagonals yet :( ).

It does mean you're behind the tempo of the horse. Another way of saying it is that you're staying down too long. You need to rise again sooner.

[kedwards]

You probably aren't sitting an extra beat, but falling back into the saddle a split second before you should, so that you get that double-bounce effect.

This could be due to an error in your sense of timing, but more likely it's a balance issue. If your center of gravity gets too far back as you rise, then your body comes down too quickly and behind the motion of the horse. The advice given above by Wally and others can help you to correct this problem.

[sweuzo]

its more of a thrust forward than up down up down, thats where lots of people go wrong, also let the horses movement throw you forward into the 'rise' and then you go back for the 'sit' and then it will throw you out again for another 'rise' and so on... its like standing up to a hip thrust.. kinda

[Jubato]

Cheers guys! I guess I am still a beat behind or just dumping my behind into the saddle too early. Lesson again on Wednesday so will give it a real shot with your tips.

Right now, I think I'm probably trying to haul myself up too much instead of using the bop of the horse because I'm out of breath after a couple of rounds. And I can barely walk the next day! :eek:

[Peace]

You probably aren't sitting an extra beat, but falling back into the saddle a split second before you should, so that you get that double-bounce effect.

As someone who remembers the double-bounce all too well, I agree.:) It just takes time to get the rhythmn, kind of like dancing. I used to count "one-*and*-two-*and*" (silently:p ) to stop myself falling back too early.

As others have said, it's also helpful to realize the motion is forward and up, rather than just up. Think of a pendulum - let your hips be the bob and your shoulders the fixed point.

[EquestrianRider]

Maybe you're rising on the wrong diagonal? Have you been taught diagonals yet? Just a refresher if you've forgotten... This phrase should help you remember "Rise and fall with the leg on the wall." When the horse's outside leg (closest to the fence of the arena) extends forward, you post up, out of the saddle. When the outside leg goes back, and the inside leg goes forward, you are in the saddle. To check your diagonal, always look to the outside leg.

Hope this helps!

[Wally]

Let the horse do the work, even if you only move out of the saddle half an inch.