Sitting trot

Hi.. greetings from Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina..
I have some problems about sitting trot so if anyone have some sugestions please let me know..

Luis

It might help if you add some more details to your question. What exactly is your issue? Do you bump around to much? Or?

If you feel you can't sit with the movement of the horses gait and that your bumping around too much. Then, consider trying to sit deeper. Relax - if you don't relax, you'll grip at your knees and this will cause your entire body to tense and therefore bounce.

So, try and think about being tall through your entire body, like your lengthening your legs aswell. Deepen your seat - try to sit your seat bones deeper in the saddle. Hope I could help!
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Thank you.. that's exactly my problem.. bouncing.. I will try it soon and will let you know

Does your horse have a pony's trot or a horse's trot?
If your horse trots with a fast short pony's action then your 'uneducated' body will find it difficult to absorb the shocks of the horse's action coming up from the ground.

So slow the horse down by shortening the reins and taking up contact and sit in deep ie lose all tension in the legs and 'plop' your weight down into the saddle.

Ask a friend, experienced in lunging a horse, to lunge you in a training arena.
Let her/him control the speed of the horse's pace whilst you concentrate on sitting in by sitting deep and opening your legs.

Fix a leather shoelace across the pommel of the saddle, slip your thumbs under the
Lace and close your eyes. 'Feel' the rythym of the horse and relax.

If the horse speeds up, then rise to the trot until the horse slows down again.

Sitting trot is a knack which your brain has to absorb. It takes time but persist.
A saddle made with a soft padded seat helps.

It is easier to sit to the trotting action of a horse which 'jogs' naturally.

I ride a few horses.. lipizzan, thoroughbred, holstein, zangersheide.. and I can feel that moment only on thoroughbred and sometimes on holstein.. on zangersheide I steel never feel that before and on a lipizzan is a difficult because she is a lil' bit nervous and she constantly change the rhythm..
I think my problem is because I steel didn't managed to relax my back muscles..

If you feel your lower back muscles are failing you, then do some exercises - see if you can find a Pilates instructor. If you are new to riding then it will take time to acquire centre core muscles.

Watch the horse in trot - slow the film down - understand the way the force is generated and how it can be absorbed.

Note, your spine cannot absorb force - it is your toes, your ankles, knees lower thighs and hips which absorb the stresses created by a trotting horse with a little help from the flesh of your butt. But your brain has to learn how to retain balance whilst absorbing the thrusts. It takes time.

Find a nice broad backed cob with a naturally slow but rythmic pace to practice on.

Thanks for advices, it's realy helpful, and I promise I will try..
I riding a five years and I overcome most of riding technique but for now it's my main problem to continue with practice..
Thanks a lot

Luis - try to find a professional instructor.

After 5 years of riding you should be able to sit to the trot. My worry is that if you practice on your own, then you might be practising incorrectly in which case you will learn to react incorrectly.

The most important issue for an newcomer is to learn to sit in the saddle correctly. You must sit upright, weight even on both sides, with the legs falling down either side of the horse's belly, with the feet pointing forwards and parallel, toes up, heels down.
The hands must hold the reins in two hands, with a light contact on the bit, elbow to hand to mouth in a straight line. The hands must follow the movement of the horse's neck.
You must use your leg aids in conjunction with your hands.

Find a good book on riding And persist.

B G

Well I recently have been having this problem and its been bothering me for months!! I just couldnt figure out how to sit the trot well. But in the past 2 weeks something has clicked and I was wondering now why it was so hard for me. Heres what I do.
1. Sit back on your pockets kinda like your tucking ur butt up under you (un arch your back.
2. Let your bottom half be completely loose and just let it go with the motion of your horse. (I just keep telling myself to be loose like spagetti)
3. Make sure your not pushing on your stirrups too much because it will make you stiff and bounce.
4.Count in your head 1,2, 1,2 1,2 and just get the rythm of your horse.
5. If you feel yourself getting more bouncy post the trot for awhile and then go back to sitting it, when your horse feels you bouncing alot he will stiffin and it will get even bouncier.
6. Don't get frustrated it will take awhile to click and when it does youll wonder why you ever thought it was so hard. Youll get it don't worry

Luis,

Just wanted to say welcome to the Forum! Many years ago (before the war) I was in Sarajevo. Such a lovely city! It would be wonderful for you to show us some pictures of your horses.
Good luck,

Caroline