Whether you're a beginner or an experienced rider, trotting is an essential skill.Proper form will leave you and your horse sore, so begin by working on your posture.For many riders, posting the trot or rising out of the saddle is easier to master.Sitting the trot involves subtler and more coordinated muscle movements.Focus on the muscles in the horse's back and have patience.
Step 1: Stand tall and straight with your head, hips, and ankle joints aligned.
If you are riding English or Western style, your posture should be tall, straight, and balanced.Allow your legs to hang naturally on either side of the horse by keeping your arms relaxed and against your sides.If you are well-balanced, you should be sitting on your feet.Your head, hips, and ankles form a straight line.If you were not on the horse, you would be able to stand in this position.
Step 2: If you want to move in a certain direction, keep your eyes open.
Keeping your eyes locked on a focal point will help you keep your posture straight and balanced.The more balanced your horse is, the better you keep your balance.The direction you see through the horse's ears is the direction that you will go.Lowering your eyes is a bad habit since it's hard to break and can lead to slumping.If you can't keep your eyes up, try focusing on trees or a building's roofline.
Step 3: Relax and absorb the horse's movement.
Don't hold your thighs, knees, or calves tightly.As you balance yourself with your seat, they should rest against your horse's sides.To absorb the movement of the trot, keep your knees, hips, and ankles springy.When you ride, always do your best to relax.The rider is tense.
Step 4: If you are using your feet, place the balls in the stirrups.
If you are riding with stirrups, keep the balls of your feet in them.Your heels are closer to the ground than the balls of your feet.Pressure the stirrups at all times to keep your balance.Don't push yourself forward or use the stirrups to bounce up and down when the horse is moving.
Step 5: If you are riding Western style, grasp the reins with your left hand.
The raised part of the saddle is visible when you hold the reins with your left hand.Keep your elbow against your sides while resting your right hand on your thigh.If you are riding English style, grasp the reins with both hands.Hold your hands close to the saddle and keep your elbow bent.Elbows should be aligned with your head as you sit up straight.
Step 6: The horse will trot if you squeeze your legs or kick it.
Start with a balanced walk.If you feel relaxed and balanced on the horse, shorten your reins by 1 to 2 in and give it brisk squeezes with your legs until it begins trotting.Say "Trot!" or give your horse a gentle kick with your foot.Start with a walk to get the horse used to you.The horse seems calm and willing when you feel secure.A dropped head is a sign that your horse is relaxed.If it raises its head, feels rigid, or tries to bite at your feet, slow your breathing and heartbeat, and say "It's okay" in a soft, calm voice.Check with the horse's trainer or riding instructor if you prefer not to use kick commands.
Step 7: At a 30-degree angle, post forward.
Keeping your spine straight, chest out, and shoulders back is important.Lean forward about 30 degrees as you post.Remember to think of your core, hips, and legs as an extension of the muscles in the horse's back as you allow it to direct your post.Do not push yourself with your feet or legs.You should only rise about 2 inches out of the saddle.Bouncing hard or propelling yourself with your feet can hurt your horse.
Step 8: The horse has a gait.
You can count "1-2-1-2" or "clip-clop" as your horse trots.As your horse's outside shoulder moves forward, you should rise up.The horse moves its legs in a straight line.The first thing it does is send its left foreleg and right hind leg forward.
Step 9: Return to the saddle slowly.
If you descend from the post, try not to hit the horse on the back.The saddle will help distribute your body weight, but bouncing hard is still uncomfortable for the horse.You can avoid bouncing hard on your horse's back by rising forward 30 degrees.
Step 10: Put your calves firmly in the horse's barrel.
Don't use your legs to keep your balance or squeeze the horse tightly.Make sure your calves stay in contact with the horse's barrel.This will make it easier to avoid leg movements.You could accidentally kick your horse if you don't maintain control over your legs.
Step 11: If you are using your stirrups, keep their pressure steady.
As you sit, the pressure on your stirrups should stay the same.If you want to move with springy, supple ankles, instead of bracing them, move gently up and down.If you don't have stirrups, use your seat to balance and extend your legs.A tight grip on the horse can be caused by flexing up your legs.
Step 12: Place your seat in the deepest part of the saddle.
Bring your rear end as far back into the saddle as you can when you sit up tall and straight.If you want to follow the horse's movements, you need to keep your core, hips, and thighs loose.It is hard to swing your hips in sync with the horse when you sit forward.
Step 13: To trot your horse, squeeze your legs or kick it.
At a lively walk, allow your horse to get used to you.To signal it to trot, shorten the reins by 1 to 2 in and squeeze your legs.Give it a light to kick it forward or say "Trot!"Once you feel secure on your horse, take the trot.It should be calm and willing.Its head will bob up and down, but should be in a dropped position.Try to soothe the horse by speaking to it in a soft, low, calm voice, and if it seems stressed, try to ease your own nerves.Ask the riding instructor or the trainer how to cue your horse since some equestrians don't like using kick commands.
Step 14: Keep your shoulders and spine straight.
Keep your head, shoulders, and hips straight.Don't tense your body, but keep your torso straight and tall.To keep your balance, square your shoulders.You should keep your core and legs relaxed to follow the horse.
Step 15: The horse's muscles allow you to swing your hips.
Follow the movements of the horse with your hips.The muscles in the horse's back help you swing.Keep your calves braced against the horse's barrel so that you don't kick it.
Step 16: If you're using them, don't push off the stirrups.
Don't bounce off of the stirrups or drive into them.Keeping your feet supple will allow you to stay in sync with the horse's movements.You can sit the trot without stirrups.Proper leg alignment can be achieved with this exercise.