I cant sit!!!!

Sasca

Sasca

New Member
Jan 11, 2007
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East yorkshire.
After riding around in my western saddle i just am finding sitting trot really hard which is ridiculous in a western saddle right?!!! what am i doing wrong? i just stiffen up and have to hold onto the pommel to balance myself. I do have a problem with sitting trot but am working on it in english with several instructors (I'm at an equine college, not rich, hehe). Hazel was getting very uncomfortable, thinking i was, so to help me she would go into a slow canter which i appreciated but didn't need, bless her (she likes to help). Any other newbie suggestions would also be appreciated. Thank you.
 
Sasca said:
After riding around in my western saddle i just am finding sitting trot really hard which is ridiculous in a western saddle right?!!! what am i doing wrong? i just stiffen up and have to hold onto the pommel to balance myself. I do have a problem with sitting trot but am working on it in english with several instructors (I'm at an equine college, not rich, hehe). Hazel was getting very uncomfortable, thinking i was, so to help me she would go into a slow canter which i appreciated but didn't need, bless her (she likes to help). Any other newbie suggestions would also be appreciated. Thank you.
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You're not meant to trot riding western (well, no, I lie... You can trot, but it's not really required). You're meant to jog. Use lots of half halts until you get her trot slowed right down. Make sure she keeps two distinct beats though, as some horses avoid jogging by jogging on the front and walking on the back (or vice versa).

Besides, this doesn't seem to be a western problem, this seems to be a trot problem. Relax your lower back, let the horse move your hips. Don't sit for too long. If you sit too long, you'll bounce, the horse will hollow it's back and make it even harder to sit. Work on getting her trot collected and it will be far easier to sit to.
 
Yup, sit the jog in western, if you really have to trot then just stand or post :D But either way staying soft and relaxed will help with sitting in general, but by learning to sit the jog frst (which is easier) you can then gradually increase the speed and eventually you will find sitting trot a breeze :D
 
Sorry if I'm bumping an outdated thread, but...

Slow is your friend. Sloooow. My first half-year or so of riding was on a very expensive, very well trained Western pattern horse. His jog was so slow it was barely faster then a walk. Then I moved on to those cowboy, barrel-racing horses and was in for a big supprise. The faster you go, the harder you bounce.

Try not to bounce up and down on the horse's back - it hurts him and you. Posting is acceptable on Western horses, if the trot is so big you can't stay on otherwise.

If you canter (or lope) and know how to move with the saddle when cantering, try the same concept with trotting - move with the saddle the best you can. Remember to RELAX. Once again: RELAX. Horses are very sensitive (that whole 'feel a fly landing' thing), and they can easily tell where you are looking, whether your toes are pointed up or down, and if you are stiff. Horses equate a stiff back with bad riding, and they may become more stiff in response - which will make you stiffer, and them stiffer, etc.

Practice as much as you can. Look into working with a Western instructor as well, which are probably more knowledgable in the sitting trot the English instructors.
 
thanks guys,

Still haven't quite got it yet but working on it. My horse has such a big boucy trot that it is probably the worst horse to learn on but i guess if i can learn oh her i can get it on anything. Its definatley me. I just cant relax on her and then i cant do it on anything else. I guess i'll get it eventually.

Thanks again, its really helped.
 
take your feet out of the stirrups its as easy as that. i have a very sensitive horse she was broke by a very professional champion trainer 12 yrs ago and then she didn't use it until she felt me not bump (so she didn't need to buck) and she wasn't walking (trail riding) and my hips were slowly moving trying to get a nice jog out of her. Eventually (i rode her the whole day) i could put my feet back in my stirrups because i knew what to do. My mare is very slow when put into her place/style. Her lope is so slow my instrutor can walk beside me wilst she is loping, her jog needs work and her walk is great. Mostly when your legs are not in the stirrups you want to make sure she is collected up so you don't get a hollow back because thats just as much the problem. I do believe western is mostly the slow jog but in western equitation they will ask for extended jog which is like a trot (sortta). it just takes patience and practice one hour with no stirrups kills the butt and stomach and thighs but its worth it to get the feeling.
 
Sorry to post on this so late, but I just can't help myself.....

If you're going to touch the horn/pommel at all, push your palm against it so you're pushing yourself DOWN towards the saddle and more towards the cantle. If you're gripping/holding it tight like you would a bottle, you're actually pushing yourself up and out of the saddle (making it harder to sit the trot).

As others have said, relax and try to slow your horse down. Breathing helps with both of these. Talk to your horse or sing a favorite song. (Slower songs work better here than really fast ones.)

I've noticed on here that most people mention sitting a trot by moving their pelvis independently up and down, which does require muscles in your back, etc. to learn how to move with the motion. I was taught to move your pelvis with the horse from side to side/left to right and vice versa. Go with whatever your instructor says, but I thought I'd mention this anyway as an option for you if the others don't work out.

Some horses do have a really bumpy trot, so if you learn this way, the first time you ride a really smooth mover, you'll smile from ear to ear since it'll be so easy! :D

 
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