Oh, to sit & not bounce

[Stella2]

I came across a thread with lots of advice on sitting well to the trot. I did not have time to read it at the time and when I went back it had gone!

I really need advice on this issue. I'm bouncing all over the place and feel very dishearted. I do work without stirrups and that has certainly helps, but how should I sit with them. Should I maybe not try to control the bounce and just let it happen, would that = 'going with the horse', would it settle down naturally if I did that?

Any advice gratefully received.

Thanks Ann

[lizzy]

somebody please reply - I need to know too!

Lizzy:rolleyes:

[Elfin]

Hi! That was my thread, and I have racked my brains and tried to think of some things I can remember.......

*Don't think about trying to sit to the trot, you'll bounce even more!
*Someone said try thinking of having a dollar bill between ya bum (oo er) and squeeze, so it doesn't fall. (hmmmmm)
*Try to ya, like you said 'go with the movement' I think that should help.

Oh gawd, I can't think of anything else at the mo. sorry! Hopefully someone else will reply!:)

[lleeaannee]

Try sort of rocking back and forwards in time with the trot on your seat bones. When you would rise you rock forwards and then roll back to stit. Hey funny - rock and roll!

[Dressage_Luvr]

hi,

im not sure about the dollar, if you squeeze (lol) that will make you tense up.

try to think that your bottom is like a bwol of jello (well, not like flopping all around!) but then best thing is to RELAX, if you tense up, it makes you bounce more.

wel, thats all i can think of

[Elfin]

ya thats what I though! But maybe it works for some people!:)

[Joy Esau]

To absorb the movement of the horse you need to let your seat bones follow the movement on either side of your horse (ie don't tense) and flex the lower back in time to the one two rhythm ~ It also helps if you don't tense your neck ~ all easier said than done!:rolleyes:

Joy

[intouch]

Try reading Heather's suggestions on Kinder Way.

[Stella2]

I don't really understand the term 'flex your back'! Although I've come across it many times.

Ann

[ros]

OK, sit on a chair. Put one hand behind you flat on the small of your back. Sit up straight; now sag; sit up straight again. You can feel your back hollowing then straightening? That's "flexing" your spine. Try it when you're walking along too - the movement is much less pronounced but it's still there. Try walking with a completely stiff spine - not easy, is it?

When you sit on a horse imagine your seatbones glued to the saddle (just for the purpose of this exercise). If you want to keep them in place, you have to allow your lower back and your hips to relax, otherwise the whole of your upper body will be stiff and you can't do anything BUT bounce!

So all you're really doing is feeling how the horse moves under you, and allowing your seatbones to swing along with him. Feel how they rise and fall on each side, and how they're pushed gently backwards and forwards. Don't try too hard to follow - just allow it. Walk is a great pace to start thinking about what's going on underneath you, because there's plenty of movement but no tension, no bouncing and no worry!

The principle in sitting trot is just the same. I found it really helped to feel the side to side movement as well as the backwards and forwards movement - it's a combination of the two.

[lamprellsarah]

certainly try not to try to hard, also do exercise off the horse, to try and loosen your muscles and become more flexible!!
urmmmm other that that!! oh also try and different horse maybe if you ride the same one all the time it can actually be harder, maybe get a horse, with a longer stride, some horses/ponies have weird stride and can be very hard to learn to rise too!!

[jUmPingIsLifE]

be getting tense before you trot, thinking o no i am gonna bounce all over the place, am i hurting the horse........ext.... try to relax into the saddle. try to push your heels down, sit straight (but relax) and breath. if you get really bouncing i know some people tend to hold their breath and that makes you bounce more. if you think thats happnin to you sing when your trot. don't laugh it works when i am jumping gymnastics. my instructer has all of us sing anything we want so she knows we are breathing! keep your shoulders back and try not to hunch foward i saw one girl who was riding bareback troting she got foward and bounced of the shoulder after hunching foward so try to stay back and tall...most of all RELAX and have fun, try not to think about the bounce

[Stella2]

Thanks everyone,
I will try all suggestions. I've thought about singing, but would you believe I can never think of the right tune. I think we need one to work with the timing of trot and one for canter.

Ann

[intouch]

Ba ba blacksheep does pretty good for trot! If you know any who can remember the tune for "A four-legged friend" (old Roy Rogers song) it works well for canter.

[Horseluver1220]

I think it is somewhat about the horse you ride because if they have a bouncy trot you will most likely bonce all over. If you can/want to you can try posting the trot(I like sitting better). I try to just relax and sit deep and firmly in the saddle. :)

[Emma111]

I used to have exactly the same problem as you. I rode a 13hh chestnut gelding and he was quite a thin shape. He was lovely to ride but when it came to sitting trot, I just couldn't stop bouncing!
You know, what really helps is to ride quite a chubby horse or pony! Yes, honestly! It is much easier to wrap your legs around him, rather than dangle and bounce, so try riding a bit of a chubbier horse or if yours is already chubby, ride a friends chubby horse. Then, when you are ready, ride your usual mount and you will feel you have a more secure seat and it should be easier.
Trust me, it worked for me!
From horse mad Emma from Surrey, England aged 13.

[ilovebacara]

so thats y i find it so easy to do sitting trot on bacara!! :D

[lleeaannee]

Aw don't call Bacara tubby!! Bacara = lovely

[ilovebacara]

she is FAT if you poke her you loose your finger in flab!!! but i spose that i wud prefer to have her fat that scrawny! :D

[lleeaannee]

Mind you Dougal is a bit of a fatty too!! Wouldn't have him any other way. And although he's chunky he's fit!! 3 of us went out and did a 3 hour ride today and we all got so excited that we had a race. It was fantastic!! Not had a good gallop in ages!!

Weeeeeee

[ilovebacara]

he he!! all bacara did today was jog or gallop! it was windy so she was mental!!!! we went in a field and i was with my freind and it was like bacara and fli (freinds horse) looked at each other and said ready steady go!! and suddenly they just both galloped flat out down the field!! it was sooo fun!! we didnt do anything they just went!! :D FUN FUN FUN

[Elfin]

I went on a hack yesterday on a fat cob! sitting trot is so easy on him, you don't move!:D

[ilovebacara]

he he!!!