Rising trot - query.

[Osc&T]

Hello everyone,

After taking a few lessons last year, I have recently started learning to ride properly. I've had about six, half hour lessons and I am still having problems with my rising trot.

My basic problem is that even when I am in time with the horse (who is an absolute star btw) on the downward movement I can't seem to rise quickly enough and end up bobbling (?) in the saddle. Sometimes this affects my rhythm and sometimes it does not.

Does this happen with anyone else and can anyone recommend a solution?

I realise that this may just be because I am starting to ride at the age of 33 and I haven't spent long enough riding to get it right, however it is starting to effect my concentration when I am in my lessons.

Thanks

Osc&T

[Wally]

Has any one told you that you do not need to sit totally upright for rising trot, and it is acceptable, and neccessary for your balance to bring your shoulders very slightly in front of the vertical?

Let the horse take your pelvis and swing it up and forwards, if he's a big mover you will come upright and vertical at the top of each rise, if he's a small mover you won't ever be totally upright.

Don't put more effort in than the horse does. As you sit feel for the saddle on the sit phase on the rise phase take your hips up and forwards with your shoulders very slightly in front of the vertical.

[Susara]

I've had about six, half hour lessons and I am still having problems with my rising trot.

Rest assured; it's a rare few that manage a rising trot in six half-hour lessons! Usually men :-( Have a look at the posts on NR and you'll see how many people are still struggling with the trot after years of riding. For most people it takes years to get it right, and the experts will probably say you can always improve.

So please don't feel despondent just because you can't get things right immediately. And remember that one can have fun on your horse even though you're doing things aren't perfect.

Sorry this isn't really answering your question, just thought I'd try to provide some moral support - for myself as well :-)

[Skib]

Wally - no one told me. I've just started doing it. It is easy and keeps the horse moving. So I think it is great.
But I was told it was harder to balance and that was why beginners werent told to come forward from the verticle.
On Friday my horse sneezed two or three times after we started to trot, and as she jerked her head down the first time, I was taken by surprise and felt at risk of toppling forward.
Which shows I wasnt as well balanced as usual.
Another thing. I found it nigh impossible to combine the swinging one's hips forward method with coming off the verticle. And the AI I was riding with told me it wasnt really possible both to swing your hips forward and lean slightly forward at the same time. Either your shoulders lead, or your hips.

Any miraculous instructions for combining them?

[fishiz3434]

When you rise you should do it with your hips and upperbody should follow. this means you dont stand in your stirups but just used them to keeps and bit more balanced, when you push in your stirups beginers often push themselves back throing their balance out the back door as my RI says. it's good if you start troting sitting trot and then when you feel the bouncing pushing you up follow it with your hips and just push your weight into your heels(still dosn't mean stand in stirups lol) this is easier on a bouncy horse as they really trough you up, smoother horses you have to work to rise. your shoulderswill automatically go forward for a while because your pushing your self with your upper body first but when you get the hang of it they will cum forward after you rise but this dosn't mean your allowed out the front window (RI again) good luck and keep up the good work!!

[eml]

I don't think you should lead with your hips. In a perfect world you allow the movement of the horse to push you out of the saddle or in sitting trot to push your back forward...that sounds wierd!

When people talk about the trot as moving your hips forward I suspect they are trying to avoid the up - down syndrome. A very slight incline forward will achieve the same. If you are losing balance then you are inclining forward too much.

I am sorry but I don't go along with the upright trot for beginners for security, as I have explained elsewhere being too upright brings you down further back of the saddle and therefore has a slowing down effect. Try practicing in a 'standing' position in trot. I suspect you will find that your point of balance lies in a very slightly forward position.

Back to the origional post I sometimes find that people need to practice staying up in balance to avoid the down element being more of a collapse!

[janetj235]

well let me just say i started to learn to ride, nov 05 at the young age of 45, one half hour lesson a week, and i now can rise and trot not perfect but i know that will come, maybe im a slow learner as it is july now and i am just doing cones, but let me just say that does it matter how long it takes, the way i see it, is that as long as i feel that ive done good in my lesson and felt like ive learnt something new every lesson then im happy (dont get me wrong yes o how i would love to canter and gallop but that will come) good luck with your lessons and hope you enjoy them as much as i do