How long did it take you to nail the sitting trot?

[NineChickens]

I recently started taking horse lessons(finally!) And I'm learning western. My instructor says I'm doing pretty good with the sitting trot but I still feel a little bumpy. I dont know if that's how it's supposed to be or if I am doing something wrong. Ive watched a couple videos and im doing my best to do what they do but it's a little hard to collar when I'm only riding once a week.

Anyway, how long did it take for you guys to get the sitting trot down? Any tips?

 

[TwoCrows]

Congrats on the riding lessons! I found there are a few tricks to mastering the sitting trot. First, the horse can't be trotting too fast when you are first learning. So slow your horse down to his slowest trot possible. Slow trots are usually gentle enough to learn the rhythm. As you get better at sitting, speed him up ad you learn. Second, use your knees as shock absorbers and keep your heels down. Most importantly, let your waist and hips do the work. They should be doing all the swiveling and moving as your upper body remains upright and steady. You will get the hang of it eventually!

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

I’ve never ridden western (always ridden English) but my top tip is relax and go with the flow of the horse. Make yourself as loose & supple as possible.

Over here to help with sitting trot we were always made to ride with no stirrups or reins. This way you have no choice but to sit on your backside and relax! It sure did make us all have a better seat with heals down & eyes up.

 

[TwoCrows]

X2! Great suggestion @Yorkshire Coop ...riding bareback or feet out of the stirrups really does help you learn to go with the flow and relax. Don't squeeze the horse, just sit loosely with a slow trot and yes, this will help you learn to sit trots easier.

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Yes we did a lot of bare back riding when we were kids! With just a head collar on most of the ponies. When I think about some of the things we got up to when we were little it’s scary! You wouldn’t dream of it nowadays!

Did it make us better riders? I think so as everything was natural and relaxed. A lot of things I still put in to practice today.

 

[TwoCrows]

Yes we did a lot of bare back riding when we were kids! With just a head collar on most of the ponies. When I think about some of the things we got up to when we were little it’s scary! You wouldn’t dream of it nowadays!

Did it make us better riders? I think so as everything was natural and relaxed. A lot of things I still put in to practice today.

I rode strictly bareback as a kid, never even got INTO a saddle until I was in my teens and wanted to enter the horse shows. I was always better out of the saddle than in it. Riding bareback really does help you become a better rider. A saddle puts a separation betwen the two of you. However you become an even better rider when you can master this separation in the saddle.