Sitting Trot

I have trouble sitting the trot. So I was wondering if any of you could give me tips on how to smoothly sit a trot in a hunter equitation class. Thank you

I don't know if this is an option for you, but whenever I have trouble or feel I am holding myself wrong I always take the stirrups off my saddle. It might sound silly, but it really helps me to find the correct positioning / posture to sit the trot. Then again, my problem was stiffness in my knees, so I don't know. But, I find it much easier to ride without stirrups for a few and then put them back on & everything seems to fall into it's respective place.

Riding bareback has done wonders for my sitting trot.

I used to have issues sitting the trot as well. My instructor made me put my reins in one hand, and grap the pommel of my saddle with the other hand. Really grap under the pommel and "pull" yourself down. It helped me sit deep and really get a feel for the trot, now it's natural for me and I'm able to sit relaxed at the trot.

Lots of no stirrup work when you're ready. That's how I learned to *really* sit.

Thank you all. But the problem is that I do drop my stirrups and im perfect but when I put the stirrups back on I lose my seat

Three keys to sitting the trot:
1.) Long legs which do NOT grip - if you grip or don't follow with your hips you'll bouce out of the saddle like its a trampoline
2.) Opened up hips allowing you to sit deeper (do some exercises to open your hips up before getting on the horse.
3.) VERY Upright posture - have someone help you find the correct posture - it may feel upright but if you're bouncing you may be leaning forward just a little bit yet enough to make you bounce.

What does opening up your hips mean? How do you do it?

I've had the same problem where I can't sit the trot with my stirrups but I sit it perfectly without. What really helps me sit the trot (with and without stirrups) is to work from my core (your abs), to do this sit up tall, work on sinking deep into the saddle and absorb the movement with your core muscles. Most importantly don't tense up. Keep yourself relaxed and you will find it easier to sit the trot. The moment you become rigid and tense it will be harder to sit.

I'm a hunter/jumper but I learned this from taking two lessons from a dressage trainer. It actually helps a lot. I suggest finding a reputable dressage trainer, explaining you situation and they can help with your seat.

Hope that helps!

Opening your hips basically means to sit tall with your upper body and don't let yourself lean forward. Think of yourself sitting in a chair or on the edge of a bed. Lean forward, you're closing the angle of your upper body and bringing your shoulders closer to your knees, right? That's closing your hips. Now sit up tall again and begin to lean back. You're opening up the angle through your hips. Now, you don't want to lean back on a horse, you want to maintain the straight line from your shoulders down to your heels, but that is your hips being "open". It will help you maintain your balance and will encourage the horse to travel with more self carriage and a forward stride.