Why do we do rising trot?

[annareeves0]

Having a debate this morning about rising trot vs sitting trot - why do we all do rising trot?

For instance in western riding they tend to stay seated, and I have always presumed it evolved for comfort when doing long hours in the saddle.

I can see that a rising trot is easier to learn and initially more comfortable but once people get the knack of the trot, why dont they go back to a sitting trot the majority of the time?

Am planning to go and restart my riding training so am wondering about EVERYTHING on a why do we do that basis!

 

[horses4eva888]

I always thought that western riders stay seated because their horses jog rather than trot so it's more comfortable and easier to sit, IMO even if you had the knack of trot, rising would still be more comfortable for both horse and rider but am waiting to hear other people's opinions

 

[beating_hooves]

We rise in trot as it is a lot easier for the horse to stay balanced, which is why we have a 'Diagonal' when the horse is on a circle. There is nothing wrong with doing sitting trot, but always make sure the horse has been warmed up properly first, especially through his back, before you start doing long periods of sitting trot.

 

[~*sugarlump*~]

I always thought that rising trotting over long distances it was far kinder on the horses back as you don't have a rider thumping away in the saddle.
I will usually stick to rising trot, unless doing lateral work etc or if there's something that my horse may find scary

 

[KJW]

I prefer to use rising trot to get off the horses back until it is warmed up. Plus some of the bigger striding horses I've ridden are very difficult to sit to and I find rising much more comfortable on them. I often wonder how many people who happily bump around in sitting trot are actually moving their hands around as well and causing discomfort in the horse's mouth too - I for one didn't realise how unbalanced my hands were until I had lunge lessons without reins.

 

[BenjiandAnge]

If you can do sitting trot properley I don't think you are supposed to thump away on their backs!
I don't do it cos I'm rubbish and my pony is far too bouncy!
I've had a go at western riding, about 4 times and I find it unformfortable, but thats because I have arthristis in my knees and stretching my legs helps with the stiffness.

 

[TEmily]

If you are doing rising trot correctly you shouldn't be 'thumping' at all - you should be letting the horses movement lift you out of the saddle and then lower yourself gently back down.

I think as you move to more advanced school movements you need to be able to sit to the trot so you can apply your leg aids more accurately, but a good sitting trot is very hard to master and very hard on your horses back if you are getting bounced all over! I certainly can't do it! So I always rise

 

[Bling]

I thought rising was invented by the post boys: that's why they called it posting trot. These fellas rode on one of the big horses pulling carriages (?) and they were big, bouncy horses, so the boys would save their backsides by rising every other stride.

Oh, and Western riders certainly do rise, when their horses trot out. They sit the jog, which is a very comfortable gait, at least with most QH I've ridden.

 

[No_Angel]

Rising trot is less tiring for rider and horse, so when traveling distances, as we did when we used the horse for transport, it allows for both horse and rider to arrive fairly fresh (or less worn out!)

 

[LindaAd]

If you are doing rising trot correctly you shouldn't be 'thumping' at all - you should be letting the horses movement lift you out of the saddle and then lower yourself gently back down.

I think as you move to more advanced school movements you need to be able to sit to the trot so you can apply your leg aids more accurately, but a good sitting trot is very hard to master and very hard on your horses back if you are getting bounced all over! I certainly can't do it! So I always rise

I think a sitting trot is harder work for the horse - rising you're taking your weight off his back for half the time. That's why they allow rising or sitting in the lower levels of dressage - they don't expect sitting trot until the horse has developed enough muscle to cope.

And no, you shouldn't be 'thumping', whether rising or sitting!