Being More Effective in Rising Trot and Another Question

[CanadianRider]

Wow two threads for me in one day, a new record.

Anyway on to the important stuff. I always think of things to ask my instructor once I get home and never during my lesson, this is why I love newrider. :)

I feel as though I am not as effective in rising trot as I am while I am sitting, I think it is because I am able to influence the mare I ride with my seat more (although I am not 100% sure what I am doing:p ) while sitting. I also have a hunch, that when rising and going round corners/doing circles etc. the horse I ride likes to shift my weight to the outside to make it easier for her to counterflex etc. so when I sit it is harder for her to throw me off balance. Any tips or ideas or thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Also lately the mare and I have been improving greatly. Now when we get a nice working trot, and I can manage to sort myself out and stay balanced, she is starting to drop her nose down and round her back up, coming into an outline typey thing. Anyway we had a good 10 minutes tonight when we were working together and I think looked pretty nice (it felt good anyway). We were doing 3 loop serpentines down the length of the arena, anyway we were aiming for us to come out of the turn and for a few trot strides across centerline come straight and then bend the other way and continue, whenever we went straight over the center line she was doing this funny little head shake thing, she was still in her outline type thing but it seemed to me like she was waving her nose back and forth. It wasn't disrupting me and I'm not sure if my instructor noticed but I could definatly feel it through the reins. Again any ideas or thoughts??

Thanks

[equestrian3241]

You will often find that horses can get some very strange habits. Her head shaking could be
1) she was shaking her forlock out of her eyes because often coming out of a turn it can move around and tickle the horse (kinda like running pretty fast around a track with your hair down, it can getin the way!) if this is the case, you can try braiding up her forlock, this should keep it out of the way)
2) it could also be that she was just playing with her bit or getting it better adjusted in her mouth, nothing to worry about, she'll get over it.

About your other question, The rising trot is going to feel a little less in controll than the sitting trot, it takes a little more skill to get a good quality rising trot. Try to sit up tall (just think like a tree, your feet are the roots, pushed down in the stirrups and your back is the power house of balance, like a truck.) and move your shoulders with your horse around corners, good luck! :D PS really focus of keeping your heels down, that is what is going to keep you in the saddle.