It can be hard to master the sitting trot, even if you have a lot of riding experience.Developing balance, core strength, and proper form are the keys to riding a great sitting trot, so all you need to do is practice.We'll show you everything you need to know to perfect your technique and lead you through some simple training exercises that will make you sit the trot in no time.
Step 1: Sit in the saddle and mount your horse.
You should get into your horse's saddle, but keep him still.Take a moment to relax in the saddle and align your body before riding a horse.Young horses may not be strong enough to support a sitting trot.Practice on a horse.
Step 2: Lift your spine in a neutral, upright position with your core.
Lift your chin, roll your shoulders back, and make sure your spine is straight.If you are leaning forward or backward in the saddle, you need to tighten your core muscles.Try to picture a straight line from your ear down through your body.It can help to imagine that your horse is gone.Would you land on your feet or on the floor?Core exercises can help strengthen this area.
Step 3: Your weight should be distributed evenly between the two sides of your body.
If your weight is sitting over both seat bones and the back of your pubic bone, then you need to adjust your bottom.If your lower back is flat, make sure your seat bones are pointing straight down at the ground.If you are having a hard time with balance, don't get discouraged.Even the pros struggle with this!You can nail it if you keep practicing.
Step 4: Rest your feet on the stirrups and relax.
Your legs should hang naturally around the horse's body if you loosen up your hip muscles.Place your feet in the stirrups to keep them relaxed.If you want your feet to stay level, keep your toes lifted.Lower leg gripping is a problem for all riders.As you ride, it helps to remind yourself to loosen up your leg and hip muscles.Trainers suggest imagining everything from your waist down and reaching toward the ground, and from the waist up stretching upward towards the sky.
Step 5: As you grab the reins, lower your shoulders and forward a bit.
As usual, grab the reins with both hands.Take a moment to lower your shoulders and move slightly forward.It is possible to imagine that you are pushing your hands towards the horse.This helps keep your chest and shoulders open.After you're in position, take a few deep breaths and sit quietly.
Step 6: As you bounce, keep your hips loose and back flat.
As your horse moves into a trot, it is natural to want to hollow or curve your back.It's important to keep your back flat.Your back shouldn't move.Allow your hip joints to bounce and move with your horse if you loosen your hips.Keep your back flat with the help of your core muscles.Don't let your head nod or bounce around.This happens if you try to absorb the shock with your head and neck.Allow your hips to do that.
Step 7: Rather than bracing against the movements, relax your body.
Allow your body to relax and move with the horse.Don't try to fight the movement with your knees, hips, or back.You can bounce in your horse's trot.Bouncing and moving with your horse can be scary, but as long as you keep your core engaged, back flat, and legs loose, you won't lose your balance.Don't drive your heels down and keep them loose.The shock of your body should be absorbed by your ankle.You should check in with yourself every now and then to make sure you're gripping your horse with your knees.Make sure to loosen up your legs if you are.
Step 8: Don't use stirrups to strengthen your form and core strength.
Remove your horse's stirrups if you can't stop tensing your legs and gripping with your knees.It can help you break the habit of bracing yourself against the stirrups.Your legs and thighs are stretched around your horse's body.Light ankle weights can be attached to your ankle and you can walk your horse slowly on the lunge line.This shows you how your legs should hang down.
Step 9: If you want to get used to moving with the horse, try a hip angle exercise.
If you have trouble keeping your hips loose, try this.Lean your upper body back as you start sitting.You can feel the horse's movements through your hips if you open your hip angle.Slowly return to the proper vertical position after a few strides.Once you are vertical again, try to keep your hips open.Give your horse a walking break when you repeat this exercise 3-4 times.
Step 10: The alternate seat bones should be dropped every 3-4 strides.
You would start the trot the same way.On the first stride, place your right seat bone on the saddle.Drop your left seat bone after your horse takes 3 more strides.Continue alternating seat bones every 3-4 strides, keeping your core engaged and your shoulders level so you don't lean when you drop.When you drop a seat bone, you have to relax the muscles on that side of your body.You can develop muscle independence with this.If you sit heavier on a seat bone, notice.If you catch yourself favoring one seat over the other, learn to not do it.
Step 11: Aim for quality rather than quantity when walking.
Take a moment to center yourself and start your horse in a walk.Push your horse into several strides.If you want to move naturally with your horse, focus on your form.Slow the horse down to a walk for a while and then repeat the pattern a few more times.It is not good for your horse's back to sit for long periods.Work your way up to longer intervals by focusing on short intervals.You can improve your balance and build muscles with this exercise.
Step 12: To practice curves and changes in direction, sit the trot in a large circle.
If you want to ride your horse in a large circle, walk for half of it and then sit for the other half.Make sure your horse doesn't slow down as you transition, and you're maintaining proper form each time.During the walking sections, remember to relax and center your body before moving on to the next sitting trot.If you want to improve your sitting trot, do this for a few laps each training session.