In today’s video we are going to talk about the sitting trot. You watch someone sitting the trot and oh, it just looks so easy and so effortless. But the reality of it is that sitting the trot requires a lot of strength, muscle control, and flexibility. So, I’m going to talk about a little about how to sit the trot.
What muscles do I use?
I’ve found that engaging my hamstrings, inner thighs, and lower abs is crucial for stability, with your hips moving with the horse.
Preparing for sitting trot
One key tip I’ve learned is to ensure my horse is in a good frame and trot before attempting the sitting trot. Rushing into it can lead to frustration and discomfort for both rider and horse.
A lot of people make the mistake of trying to sit the trot too soon on a young horse or on a horse that’s not round or not supple enough in its back, so I always warm up in the rising trot until my horse is really warmed up and feeling good.
How should it feel?
When I start in a rising trot, each time I sit in the I have a little feeling of a split second of sitting trot at that moment. So I am moving my hips and really stabilizing through my leg at those moments when I’m in the saddle.
I’m landing a little softer, and even though I’m posting, I have the feeling of sitting trot. When he feels good, then I’m going to sit and I’m going to try not to disturb him.
In the sitting trot, I feel a little pressure at my knees. I’m not gripping with my knees, but I’m not just letting my knees flop around. Also a little pressure at my inner thigh, and my hamstring. You can really see how exaggerated my hips are moving with his trot. Your horse’s trot shouldn’t change when you sit.
Quality over quantity
I’ve also realized the importance of quality over quantity when practicing. Short bursts of sitting trot and then a few steps of riding trot have helped me improve without exhausting myself or my horse.
Most importantly nothing changes in your horse, the tempo stays the same, the frame stays the same. You don’t want your horse to try less just because you’re sitting. And you want to time this just perfectly so that when you go from posting to sitting, you don’t bounce the extra in the saddle.
Happy Riding!
Amelia
