My legs flop all over when i do the sitting trot
Anyone have any suggestions to make it easier
would be much appretiated
Answers:
yes, i agree. sitting trot is quite hard. heres some tips. ok, remember heels down and toes up, thats the first step. pretend that ur heels are anchors. sit up straight and keep your eyes looking ahead. also push your pelvis out that also helps you to sit deep in the saddle. dont stiffen up because the more stiff you are the more bounce you will get so its kind of like a canter: pretend you are a sack of potatoes bit still sit straight.
hope this helps and good luck!!
It sounds like the weight of your body is in your seat, and it should be in your heels. To fix this, stand in your stirrups and let your heels sink towards the ground, then lower your bum to the saddle while keeping your heels down and the weight in your feet.
Also, to strengthen your legs (which will help them stay solid when you ride) ride without stirrups as much as possible.
u post as the horse trots. it makes it SOOO much easier, trust me. but be careful, if u do it at the wrong time it can hurt. u have to get in the groove of the horse first, then start posting.
I had the same problem when I started riding. Try keeping your heals down in the stirrups.
the first one hit it right on the spot- put your weight in your heels, and loosen up your back/hips. Clench your abs a bit and make sure your shoulders are back. Do not expect to get it your first time. It may take several rides (or more) to get the right feel for it and have it actually be comfortable.
Riding without stirrups on a lunge line REALLY helped me with my seat and legs...you can really focus on what your body is doing because you don't have to worry about guiding the horse. My instructor even had me close my eyes a couple of times...that was a little scary! I tended to rely on the *stirrups* for balance instead of learning how to *sit* the horse and move with his body's motion...so I bounced.
There are a few things you can do to make this easier on yourself. First, as one answerer suggested, no-stirrup work will help strengthen the muscles in your legs. It also helps you find your natural balance on your horse. It will help you stretch your heel down as low as you can, and when that occurs, your weight will sink deeper into the seat of the saddle. Sit up tall and straight, with your shoulders back, not rolled forward. Focus on keeping your knees stationary against the saddle flaps. There should be no daylight between your leg and the saddle, only contact that will prevent you from flopping all over. It's easiest to practice no-stirrup work on the lunge until you're more comfortable with it. Hopefully your trainer or a knowledgeable friend will be able to help you out with holding the line.
It's also easiest to sit the trot when it's collected a bit. Most shows ask for sitting the collected trot anyway; sitting the working trot requires a bit more balance and is usually saved for more advanced tests. When you're riding the trot, focus on driving your horse forward with your seat and legs, but half-halt gently to prevent your horse from changing his pace. He should drop his head and round through his body as he accepts the bit and your contact. When a horse is collected and in a frame, it becomes much easier to sit the trot, as the action of his legs is smoother and less jarring. But it still won't look pretty if you can't sit up straight with your weight grounded in your heels.
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