I can’t let go of the pommel

[Youdontneedtoknowwhoiam]

I’ve been riding for around 3 years, I’m a western rider and have trouble letting go of the pommel/horn. I hold on to it for everything, trotting, cantering/loping, everything except walking. It’s a habit I need to break so if you can tell me some ways to let go of it that would be great!

 

[carthorse]

Try holding on with just one hand to begin with, then just resting a hand on it instead of holding. Then let go for just a few strides.

As it's almost certainly a confidence issue you'd probably find some lessons useful, if that includes working on your seat so you're more secure that will also help.

 

[Skib]

So you are not holding onto the pommel in walk? That is good.
When your horse is walking, can you feel how your hips move? First one of your hips should drop a little and then the other, alternately.
When your left hip drops, that means your horse has lifted it left hind leg off the ground.
Some people feel that doesnt make sense. A horse lifts its leg and your hip drops?
But think of the horse as an oblong table with a leg at each corner. If you remove one leg from the table, that corner of the table will no longer be supported , so that corner will drop. And as far as rider feel goes, that is what happens when a horse walks.
Breathe deep and relax and you should feel this side to side motion.

If you grasp the pommel too hard you may not feel your hips move. So loosen your hands jst a little and let the horse move your body. First left hip fall and then right hip.

Now the good news is that when the horse trots, the movement of its hind legs, first one side and then the other, is the same as in walk, just a bit faster and bumpier. So when you have the side to side movement OK in walk, try trotting, allowng your hips to rise and fall, just as you did in walk.

If you are on a trail ride, following another horse, it isnt always easy to slow down the trot. But to learn to sit the trot, it is a good idea to start the trot slowly, possibly in a private lesson. Western horses can usually do a very slow gentle jog trot which is even easier to sit and I was lucky to have a lesson like that in Texas,.

There are some horses (I ride one) on which it is not easy to sit the trot. They have quite a bumpy movement. So if you go on having problems, even with what I have explained, and have a teacher, it is worth asking them about the horse you are riding.

 

[newforest]

Welcome to the forum I love your username.
I would introduce a balance strap. Hold that with your reins, then you can gradually drop it.

Exercises in the saddle is great to get us letting go of things while the horse is standing.

You could introduce holding the pommel lifting both arms up, out, twisting backwards and forwards and back to just above the pommel. Then start off just above it.

I would get some lessons to work on things.

 

[Mary Poppins]

I guess it all depends on why you are holding onto the pommel? Is this because you are nervous, unbalanced, scared of falling off? Or is it simply because that is where your hands automatically rest? Where would you like your hands to be?

 

[Trewsers]

I used to hold the frontof the saddle during my first lessons in trot and the lovely riding teacher just said to me to stroke his mane and of course I obliged and it meant I had to take a hand off and then gradually the other and then both. I was an adult too, so a bit more scared lol that your average kid.

 

[Youdontneedtoknowwhoiam]

I’ve been riding for around 3 years, I’m a western rider and have trouble letting go of the pommel/horn. I hold on to it for everything, trotting, cantering/loping, everything except walking. It’s a habit I need to break so if you can tell me some ways to let go of it that would be great!

Here is an update on how that’s going. When I wrote this I was on my way to ride, I didn’t have time to look at all your responses so I didn’t. But that same day I quit hold on to the pommel so here’s how I did that. I started at a walk, then when I got to the trot (when I trot I don’t automatically hold on to the pommel) so I just focused on not holding the pommel, then when I did get to the canter/lope I just let go. Once I figured out my balance I didn’t hold on to it again. I do it when I feel like I’m falling, but it’s not a consistent thing now. Thank you everyone for you help!

 

[Youdontneedtoknowwhoiam]

I’ve been riding for around 3 years, I’m a western rider and have trouble letting go of the pommel/horn. I hold on to it for everything, trotting, cantering/loping, everything except walking. It’s a habit I need to break so if you can tell me some ways to let go of it that would be great!

So I finally don’t need to hold the pommel anymore so yay, but here is the way I did let go, cause no one’s methods really worked for me. For trotting I sat on my hand and continued to do that till I no longer needed the pommel while trotting. For cantering/loping I just let go. I went slow at first to learn my balance. But I finally did it and I thank you all for your suggestions!

 

[Skib]

So glad that is worked. Well done you.
However, it is very rude to not have taken time to read the responses. People on NR with busy lives took the time to try and help you and the least you could do was take time to read their suggestions.