Sitting Trot

I am finding it really hard to stay in contact and keep still in the seat during sitting trot. Any tips?

I personally find it 100 times more difficult to sit the trot when the horse is hollowed out or stressed. The first thing you should do is get your horse supple and using it's hind end. Then the horses trot will be more balanced and easier to sit.
Now if you are still having troubles try to sit up tall, relax your lower back, look up, and relax your legs. Try to absorb the horses strides with your back.

I hope this helps!

Thats (^) is definitely a very important part in it. I have ridden many horses but my personal horse that I show in the Equitation is extremely bouncy at the trot and the sitting trot is very difficult for me. Almost every time I ride I work without stirrups. I spend alot of time at the sitting trot.

But, if you have the time and another willing person try to work without stirrups, without reins, and without eyes on a lunge. Obviously if your horse is bad on a lunge then don't do it. However, this made a huge difference in my sitting trot. You have to shut your eyes and fall into motion with the horse, try putting your arms out to the side or behind your back.

Also - if you have time outside of riding try doing some ab exercises. A strong core is key to the sitting trot. I know that when I was seriously competing and getting ready for Finals I had the strongest core of my entire life! I actually started to see some definition!

I would recommend some lunge lessons too. This way you will be able to concentrate fully on your seat rather than on where your horse is going too.
You really need to feel your horse's movement.

Remember to keep your heels down. Try to put as much weight into your heels as possible. You also need to relax and try to distribute your weight evenly. Don't lean back and think tall. You need to sit straight, not slouched and also imagine sinking into the saddle all the while remaining tall and proud.

The more relaxed you are the more your pelvis and seat bones will be able to follow the horse's movement. If you tense, then he will tense and hollow his back, making sitting to the trot very uncomfortable for both of you.

If you are not confident to try riding without your stirrups, then try to keep them long and don't grip with your knees

Hope that helps!

Thanks I will try it :)

I disagree with the abs workout. I have 3 kids and my abs - well, they're flabby. However. I sit better than post. And bareback, I sit very well. I think it depends on the horse, your legs and your seat.

I'm not discounting that an ab workout may HELP but it's NOT NECESSARY.

Core strength is a huge factor. Chele, some people can just naturally sit well and have the pelvis motion to follow the trot. Others find it harder, and in these cases core strength is hugely beneficial. It's not the outer abdominal muscles that would be used doing say, sit ups, but the inner core muscles which help to keep you upright.
Core strength also plays an enormous role in the rider's ability to control the seat aids. If the core strength is lacking, the rider will not be as effective.

Hmmmm. Perhaps I could use some strengthening then bc my posture is pissy and I've been told (by my OB/GYN) that it's bc of my lack of muscle tone in my abs. She said good muscle tone in the abdomen assists with proper posture. I'm not as bad off as I was when I saw her last (oh gosh, 3 yrs ago now-diff doc!) but I could def use some posture assistance.

Think Jelly Belly.
It works somehow.

After over ten years of doing sitting trot down to horse guards parade you soon learn to relax your stomach muscles and keep the hand as soft as poss.
Or you soon get like this