snookie
118 posts
Jun 30, 2009
1:04 PM
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I have had quite a few lessons now and although my confidence is growing, I am having trouble getting the hang of rising trot. My rhythm is alright I think, but I am having trouble landing in the saddle as lightly as I would like. Marilyn my instructor corrects my leg position and when I have my lower leg further back and closer to the knee roll as she calls it, it improves. But my foot keeps creeping forward, especially when trotting circles or in the corners of the sand school. Does anyone else have trouble with rising trot?
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ktrox
5 posts
Jun 30, 2009
3:34 PM
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Hi Snookie
It took me months to master the rising trot, partly due to the fact that when you are new to it, different horses will cause to you be moved upward at different speeds and angles. I used to double beat and my instructor would constantly be yelling at me. A couple of suggestions that helped me: 1. Do LOTS of squats off horse. You need to strengthen your quadracept muscles that run down the front of your femurs. This allows you to control your rate of descent of your buttocks. 2. Think of the posting movement as pelvic thrusts, close your eyes and try to feel the movement of the horse. 3. shorten your stirrups a notch or even two. This will give you more leg control. 4. The movement of the horse is actually controlling your posting, therefore if you make the horse "trot out" it should be easier. I have an Arab/Saddlebred with a short back. When she doesn't put energy into her trot it is more difficult for me to post correctly. 5. Keep practicing. People kept telling me this when I couldn't get it, and I didn't believe them, but they were right.
Hope this helps.
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redhedstudio
42 posts
Jul 01, 2009
8:30 AM
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Hi Snookie-
I know how you feel! It took me a very, very long time to post correctly--it is not easy, so don't be hard on yourself! The rising trot requires us to use muscle groups in ways we don't ever use them in our normal lives, so it requires a bit of body reprogramming.
A couple of tips:
1. Practice, practice, practice. 2. Check out "Centered Riding" by Sally Swift. In it she uses visualization and centering to build riding skills. She suggests visualizing (or do it in reality if you want to be silly) yourself riding in boxer shorts. The only part of you that should rise is the "boxer short" area... meaning let the thrust of the stride move your hips towards your hands. 3. As ktrox mentioned, lots of squats (I like stairs/stairmaster/steep incline work, too). 4. See if you can feel like your lower legs have weights in them and your feet are the "floor". This gives stability to the leg and allows your upper body to be light. 5. Lastly, and the most torturous of all, is to try to post without stirrups. It is a very effective way to build muscle and balance... but better to do this one correctly for a few strides than to do it for a long time incorrectly, lest it result in a big "thunk" on your horses back. 6. A big forward trot is easier to post-it gives you more thrust out of the saddle. 7. Try yoga or another centering exercise-it will help you learn to use your upper and lower bodies independently. Yoga has helped me learn to take responsibiility for my upper body, and let my horse help me with my lower.
Just a few ideas-I'm sure you will hear a lot of great advice here. Good luck, and keep practicing! You'll get it!
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snookie
119 posts
Jul 01, 2009
1:26 PM
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Aw, rising trot without stirrups! Rebecca at work used to ride and she did that. Said she ended up with thighs like an amazon. I have Centred Riding, so will make time to read the relevant chapters. I will try shortening the stirrups a bit next lesson. I usually like to ride with long stirrups, maybe they are too long.
Thank you both for your helpful advice. I will try the exercises. It is reasurring that others have difficulty at first too.
Minstrel actually has a bouncy trot. At first it was like sitting on a pogo stick, conpared to Breda the previous horse that I rode. I am getting used to it now. He also strides out well, usually, and doesn't need much encouragement. Yesterday he was very sluggish though. We are having a hot spell at the moment here and the indoor sand school was very warm. I think we both got overheated and had had enough by half way through the lesson. By the end we were boiled!
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brewbren
458 posts
Jul 01, 2009
3:12 PM
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I will second the idea of using Sally Swift's book. I love the visualization, too. For the trot, I use the one I think she calls "stubby legs". I think that's the same one redhedstudio is referring to. Good luck, posting can really wear you out. I'm too lazy for that. That's why I mostly ride gaited!
Last Edited on 1-Jul-2009 3:13 PM
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redhedstudio
43 posts
Jul 01, 2009
3:32 PM
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I have often said to my trainer that posting without stirrups is a torturous punishment for some heinous deed I must have done in a previous life. The unfortunate truth is that it does work more effectively than anything else.
Brewben, yes, the "stubby legs" and the boxer short analogy are within the same page!
Snookie, it took me about 2 years to get the real feel of the posting trot. Four years into it I am still working really hard to keep my leg solid and grounded! :)
Keep trying! and don't get overheated!
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snookie
120 posts
Jul 02, 2009
1:18 AM
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Redhed, you say Practice, Practice, Practice! I don't have my own horse and Mary-horse who I visit at the weekends isn't reliable enough for me yet! My lessons are once a fortnight. At the moment I am practising rising trot on the arm of the sofa, rising 1-2-1-2 and trying to land gently. Do you think that is a good idea?
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cckiger
161 posts
Jul 02, 2009
7:05 AM
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I consider the rising trot one of those things that is a life-long project. Sally Swift's books should help. I've been taught that the motion is more forward and back, not up and down. If you have one of those big exercise balls that can help for practising when not on a horse. Try not to be discouraged. It could take some time but it will get better and better. I have a problem with learning things that take physical coordination. At first I couldn't even get the rise at the right time and was just slamming on the horse. Back then I had no horse and took lessons once a week. Seemed like forever to get better but it did. Good luck!
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redhedstudio
44 posts
Jul 02, 2009
10:16 AM
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I think any exercise that is going to condition your body to the movement will help. Your sofa exercise may help open your hips and strengthen the muscles (I do strongly suggest pilates/yoga to both lengthen and strengthen those muscles). I have one of those exercise balls and they help a lot---they force you to move your hips back and forth while stitting on a round shape, as cckiger says.
The concept is to move your hips (and hips only) towards your hands (don't bring your hands back to your hips). Your hips should be hinges that open and close with the movement of your horse. It is such an unusual movement that I do think the best thing is to just keep plugging away whenever you can.
When I started riding, it was only once a week if I was lucky. You'll get it, I promise! And, once you do, you will never forget. :)
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snookie
121 posts
Jul 02, 2009
12:13 PM
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Your suggestions have been very helpful. Thank you for your support and understanding. I'll let you know how my next lesson goes.
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