Common Mistakes in Sitting Trot
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- čas přidán 10. 07. 2024
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Common Mistakes In Sitting Trot:
Sitting trot is one of the most difficult things to do well in riding. The sitting trot requires that the rider moves with and absorbs the motion of the horses’ back with their body. This requires strength, flexibility, and timing from the rider.
The MOST COMMON mistakes that riders make in the sitting trot are:
1. Sitting Still - even though it looks like the rider is sitting perfectly still on the horse, they are actually moving A LOT. The rider has to move in perfect harmony and absorb all of the motion of the horses’ back with their spine and body. In sitting trot, the rider is moving their pelvis, hips, lower back, elbows, and even their ankles to absorb the motion of the horse!
2. Gripping with the leg - often riders use the lower leg and their heel to keep themselves on the horse. This can cause the rider to loose their stirrup, the horse to speed up, and the rider to bounce more as they raise their center of gravity up and away from the horse. It is important in the sitting trot to keep the leg long and think of dropping the heel down to the ground with every step. The upper leg and the correct movement in the spine and hip will keep the rider in the saddle without needing to grip with the leg.
3. The bobble head - Have you ever seen someone in sitting trot that bobbles their head around? This is incorrect and comes from a tightness in the lower back. The head and neck of the rider should not bounce with the trot. This will cause neck problems and likely give the rider a headache. Instead think about sitting the trot below the waist and keeping the head and neck out of it!
4. Slowing the trot down - many of us, without realizing we are doing it, actually slow the horse down and make the horse trot less so that we can more easily sit their trot. The beauty of dressage is training the horses to move with expression and volume in their stride so taking this away from the horse in order to sit the trot is not a good thing. Instead, work on the quality of sitting trot rather than the quantity. Work on sitting the big forward trot for just a half of a circle and then go back to the rising trot instead of slowing the horse down and making them trot less.
Here are a few more tips to consider for the sitting trot:
- Make sure the horse is on the bit and the back is up before sitting the trot
- “Quality over quantity” - the horses’ do not like riders bouncing on their sensitive backs and it will make them uncomfortable and sore
-It is easiest to work on the sitting trot from the walk (ie. Walk to sitting trot back to walk)
Add exercises to your workout routine when not riding to improve core strength, flexibility, and stamina
Happy Riding!
Keep up the good work! - Krátké a kreslené filmy
Me in the sitting trot/no stirrups: ↖️⬆️⬅️↙️⬆️⬇️⬆️↗️↗️⬆️↘️↕️↙️↙️⬅️↖️↙️⬆️
😂😂😂😂
Oh my gosh meeeeeeee😂😂😂
And there’s me when I try to do the sitting trot
⬇️
⬇️
⬇️
⬇️
⬇️
⏸
The Pony Rider im like ⬆️↗️⬅️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬆️↖️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬆️⬆️⬇️⬇️
for real 😂
This is all fine and well and good until you ride a warmblood with a huge trot, and then all bets are off. That's really hard! I've ridden an Andalusian and could ride him bareback with ease. Big Warmblood at a sitting trot is a whole nother animal.
That's so true 😃 I have a spanish horse and have ridden a lot of them the last year's. I sit on my PRE like a king, but on my hanovarians like a beginner sometimes 😃 I have to do a lot of sport, to hold myself fit enough for the big trot of the big horses.
I understand this 100%
I have a 15.1hh thoroughbred Cross mare with the smoothest trot ever for a horse her size and I can do sitting trot and no stirrups fairly easily on her (apart from when she does this frenzy throwing herself into a speed trot when she's being too lazy to canter)
And my friends horse is a 17.2hh cross bred also with insanely smooth strides
Then I get on my 16 hand thoroughbred gelding and his trot is⬆️⬇️⬆️⬇️⬆️⬇️⬆️⬇️⬆️⬇️⬆️⬇️⬆️⬇️ And I go ⬆️⬇️↗️⤵️ and often fall off no stirrups and if we're doing sitting trot it's hell 🤣😂
Yes same!!! (Except I haven’t ridden an Andalusian before)
MrFelix2002 I think it runs in the Hanoverian blood 😂 (I have a Hanoverian)
I'm ridding draft stallions... 😂
When I sit in trot by accident I stay seated in the saddle but as soon as I want to do a sitting trot I’m everywhere 😂
Jasmine Palmer same
Oh, my god, SAME! When i first started working on posting trot I sat it accidentally a few times no problem- now that we are actually working on it I can't sit it to save my life! So it kinda HAS to be mental, haha!
I can do sitting trot if going uphill!
same! It was like I was glued to the seat but when I wanted to do a sitting trot I'm going all over the place.
Omg yess me to like before I start posting golden sitting trot I try to sit trot it’s so bad it like I am on a trampoline
When I first learned sitting trot, my school horse (a Quarter Horse) had the smooooothest trot ever. I think we only spent one lesson working on it because it went so well. Silly me, I actually thought I was really good at it- until I switched to other, bigger horses that almost bounced me right out of the saddle. 😂😂 That mare spoiled me, miss her! ❤
I was taught to lift my hips, left, right, left right, slightly, to the rise and fall of the diagonal movement of the trot.
Yes! Almost as if you are walking/trotting along with them in the saddle.
My pelvis tends to swing and tilt slightly left/right, left/right. I am not sure if that is right, but it works for us and when I do it well, I don't bounce much and maintain good contact. So confusing.
I was taught to move my legs slightly back and slightly forward with the horses steps to help absorb the motion and to help my hips move with the horse.
Like pedaling a bicycle? I have read that somewhere, too!
Same I'm still trying to figure it out tho
I did that, but it causes me to lose my balance
It’s actually opening your thighs with every “down” force, hook your seat bone, keep your spine straight like a rod and make your leg like wet noodle; Soft, long and elastic. ……
@@glennvannijevelt1133 So, there is no pressure from the legs on the stirrups?
You do the best videos! It's impressive how the horse immediately reacts to your wrong seats. Might be an explanation for some of my troubles in riding...
Yes! This guy is super sensitive to my seat and stops immediately if I am not in sync with him!
After doing no stirrups for 1-2 months my sitting trot dramatically improved.
Danielle Sablan how many days a week do you practice and for how long
@@fatmahalbishi4187 I started just by practicing a little after every ride for about 10 minutes, and as I got better I would sometimes do most of my ride without stirrups. Now, I always do my warm up with no stirrups. At first, I felt like I would always slide off when I didnt have stirrups, and now I can jump without stirrups. My entire equitation has improved, including sitting trot.
Love your idea of getting “psyched up for the sitting trot”. That’s a great mental approach that can help me to keep thinking forward forward forward. Thank you
You make it all look SO easy!
The first time I did sitting trot I was unaware I was doing it, and I had NO TROUBLE. I was even on a bouncier horse than the one I normally ride- fast forward to actually TRYING to do it, now that I have posting more or less under control, on my normal lesson horse who has a decently smooth gait, and I am bouncing like a sack of potatoes! I have two weeks until my next lesson, and I WILL figure it out, and at least manage a few good strides next time! I will be pouring over ALL of your sitting trot videos during my Christmas break, haha! I remember that first time and how smooth it felt, it was just around a corner, a few strides, but I want to figure out what I am doing differently, or NOT doing, now... That was at the very beginning of my riding, I wonder if I am so used to the posting motion now after practicing it so much that I just need to practice more at sitting! Poor Rebecca's back!
I remember my first few times trotting when I thought sitting was easy and posting was hard XD
Now I post constantly and sitting feels like a bunch of ab crunches!
It should feel like ab crunches... I will have to remember that!
I feel this comment so much! I used to ride ponies in a recreational school, where there was no concept of actual engagement of a horse's back and the fundimental taught to riders was to "grip". I used to think that sitting trot was sooo much easier than rising, but that usually comes from lack of balance and a bad riding posture your body comes up without being corrected, so something like sitting wayy back, thighs up and gripping with the insides of your thighs and calves. It's very incorrect, but it feels comfortable. At least until you try to engage your horse's back or even try to give any clear ques. I'm still struggling to do a better sitting trot, but what've helped me so far was: keeping your ankle flexible and relaxed/riding stirrupless, letting your thighs stretch back and forward to fit the horse's movement, definitely relaxing your lower back and thinking about it as it you were skiing over slopes of snow. I also recommend sitting on a brim of a chair and moving only your hips in order to move the chair under you to be standing slanted into your direction on two legs, it kinda gives you and idea on how to move in sitting trot. And practice, don't give up. Sorry for writing for so long, I just thought i should tell you a few things, hope they help.
@@friskaminomleczkojad5585 That makes so much sense, I did find it impossible to give legs cues in the beginning, so I guess I am on track, even if it feels like I am 100 steps behind, haha! Thanks for the advice, I will try to implement it next week!
have you managed to figure it out? :O im struggling really hard right now haha
This video is making me realise the language to describe to me how to sit a sitting trot was confusing, I was told relax. I wasn’t told I needed to be doing any specific movement to move with the horse I was told that would come naturally through relaxing so I sorta made my butt into a trampoline ig I don’t know how to explain it, but the way I was told to confused me. I guess it’s the same with canter. I can sit canter but only because I watched these type of videos and realised “they’re moving their hips, I should be doing that, not keeping my butt still (and it worked. I can sit canter) ” - I’ll make sure to remember what you said in this video for my next lesson!
Really good explanations of the variations of mistakes in the sitting trot.
I love this horse!!! Is so beautiful!
In your intro trot during music the trot was way more lofty, how do you achieve that kind of trot ?
Good eye for noticing that! That is his "fancy trot" where I am working on developing cadence in the trot! And yes, will have to do a video for this too!!
I believe until one's horse is strong & engaging their top line muscles, one shouldn't sit trot to avoid that extra pressure on the back. My horse is super bouncey is her way of going!! She is very on the forehand, rushes out & I have to constantly circle to slow her & try to engage her hind end. Is this correct - about strengthening the back before sitting trot? Helpful videos thankyou Amelia. You're so admirable as rider & teacher. 🐎🐎🐎❤️ ps OK toward the end you talk about correct contact & correct muscles for the horse, being imperative as a prerequisite. Xx
You’re really putting out some good quality information with your videos. Thank you for that.
I like to think of the rider’s seat bones as the horse’s hind legs and it’s the seat bones comes under and forward bringing the horse’s hind legs under and forward under their body. This especially helps with lateral movements and collecting the gaits and really using your seat bones and your lower back to help your horse with collection. I hope that makes sense. I do see a lot of riders that are holding tension in areas of their leg Joints and especially the back, end up absorbing the movement of the sitting trot and even the sit when the rider is changing their rising track diagonal, Through their mid and or upper back. When you slow down a video of a rider that absorbs the sitting movement In the incorrect area of the spine, you can really see how the riders made and more upper back area bulges or hunches out as they absorb in the incorrect area of the spine and seat, you can really see how the riders made and more upper back area bulges or hunches out as they try to absorb the movement of the sitting trot through their body. It still amazes me how many trainers and riders out there know very little about the common incorrectness areas of the rider’s body and position that end up creating bad habits and poor riding that just create a vicious cycle of interfering with the horses natural ability and the harmony between horse and rider.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful insight!!
You said that the rider's seat bones should be like the horse's hind legs and that they should come forward. But when looking at the slo mo of the rider's sitting trot, her seat bones (or her bottom, either way you look at it) are pushing back in the saddle during the downbeat. That's the problem of women arching their backs and being willowy (unfortunately it is natural for us), we slosh all over the horse's back and end up pushing backwards. Imagine if you are giving someone a piggy-back ride and every time your leg steps forward they drop their hip on that side instead of holding themselves. It is like that for horses when you move your hips from side to side in the sitting trot, even if the weight ratio is not the same, their backs are (or should be) a 'sensory organ' (in which they are sensitive to your seat aids). Another way to see an incorrectness in sitting trot is the vertical dynamic of the gait. A trot is a vertical gait (which is why we post) and the canter & walk are a horizontal gait (we don't usually post those). In the sitting trot if your spine and hips are moving forward and back in the saddle, that is horizontal movement and more like riding the canter when you are actually trotting. Sitting vertically straight in your spine and pelvis, holding your core, and pushing your seat bones forward will influence the horse's trot such as staying longer on the ground on the downbeat (impulsion) and also helping to develop passage. In my personal opinion (FYI i am being trained by a guy to ride like a guy), I feel that when I ride like a female would (arched back, crotch in the saddle, etc.) then I lose a connection from my seat bones to the horses back. When I ride normally (like a guy) my seat bones feel like actual points and I can convey my aids to my horse better with as less interference as possible. I do agree that most trainers know very little about correct training and biomechanics in general.
I do you understand what you are saying and I am happy for you if you feel comfortable trying to ride as if you have male pelvis And whatever else works for you works for you. I went very little into detail because I did not have the time to read a long comment on the subject at the moment. I have had many instructors when I was younger that had taught very old-school incorrect Waz and whatever else works for you works for you. I went very little into detail because I did not have the time to read a long comment on the subject at the moment. I have had many instructors when I was younger that had taught very old-school incorrect ways and as I went to college and trained with some of the best in the industry, I learned how little I was taught when I was a teenager. I found myself being very interested in rider bio mechanics and have very much changed my writing and teaching due to how important it is to understand the human body and how it Has to be used differently when riding the horse. I didn’t go into depth with the use of the sea bones and the pelvis and the horses hind legs and all of that stuff because there is so much to say. I myself cannot ride like a mail because I do not have a male pelvis so I choose to use rider biomechanics that work for myself and my physical disabilities and depending on what Horse I may be riding or what student and a horse I maybe working. And I very much appreciate your input and your comment as well. I do understand that as you look at some riders and the way their seat looks when it comes down or up or forward and back, that what you see in interpret maybe different than what someone else sees and interprets than what is actually happening.
This is so good! I am a dressage instructor and this is going to be super helpful for (at least) one of my students :) Thank you so much for your great explanations :)
Great!! Thank you for sharing also with your students!!!
Thanks for this. I am a complete newbie to horse riding third lesson this morning and was doing sit trotting….kept losing arm position too! This is very helpful…practice practice practice
Thank you so much for this! Your instructions are so clear and easy to understand, I can’t wait to to try these out next time I ride. I always tend to be way too tight and bouncy.
I will try this on my next training! I wanna be a dressage rider in the future but they didn't teached me yet how to do the best sit trotting so I hope this video will help😊!
Great video! Well explained, I see this too very often.
Thank you for a great video. Such a beautiful horse and you’re a great rider.
I wish everyone who’s reading this the best. Take care and be safe.
Be kind to each other and our animals!
Love from Sweden!!
Awe! Thank you!!
This is great. It's a piece I have been trying to get better at. My tight thoroughbred is very choppy in the beginning and it hard to get her into a good rhythm until she relaxes and frees up, then she gets smooth. My Morgan is tons of fun. She trots right out and she is the smoothest horse I have ever been on. How well this works out can be greatly influenced by the conformation and mental place of the horses. My Morgan makes me look like a professional and my thoroughbred reminds me I have a lot to learn to be a good rider. Thank you for the great video.
Dan W I’ve a warmblood and a calabrese which is a sort of thoroughbred and they are very different when riding one is easy and less spooked when riding and I sit well with her but the other is pully and lazy. So the contrast rly helps me understand how to trot better for example, the muscles I relax and contract the pace of the rhythm when I constantly say 1, 2, 1, 2 1, 2...
So I understand where ur coming from!
@@Tyler-tz7oy some things are hard for me to get. This is one of those things. My tb I don't consider lazy, but sticky meaning her feet don't go. She gets tight and can ice up if I am not careful. I'm not sure what was done with her that got that started but whatever it was sure wasn't fitting. When she starts to relax she starts to get smooth and will do the posting for me. She can really haul the mail too and that is a real blast.
This is so true! Thanks for sharing!!
I've always been told, the number one prerequisite to sitting the trot is to make sure the horse's back is UP. Then, remove your stirrups to let your legs be long as possible, and allow your body lo lean back a tiny bit to free up the pelvis and low back. If you try to sit too vertical, the movement will drive the spine/pelvis straight down into the saddle and the horse's back.
I am so glad that I found this channel. My riding lesson is today and I hope that I will do a lot better in the sitting trot.
There aren’t enough videos on CZcams that help with the sitting trot, so I appreciate that you made this video! Very helpful!
❤️❤️❤️
Thank you for this. We are working on this bit by bit (no pun intended :) I am guilty of the slowing down to sit the trot, bouncing due to lower leg gripping, and also the head bobbing at times. It’s interesting to find out that I might be unintentionally and unconsciously absorbing the impact with my neck vs in my usually tight hips. Not good! That is why I came away with a twinge in my neck recently after a lesson. I love that these videos break down and address each of the problems, then follow with steps to correct.
Haha! Bit by bit 😂😂
Thank you for your helpful tips and clear explanations!
I’m so thankful for your videos and all your help Amelia!!!👏👏🥰🥰👍🏻💖👍🏻💖
I'm pretty surprised so many doesn't know what a PRE-horse is. I thought they were quite well-known. Well, for future watchers, I'll say it's a breed. PRE is short for "Pura Raza Española," they are also related to the Andalusian horse.
You make it look easy. Very good instructional video, thank you x
Excellent vid, Amelia. Thank you. And what a gorgeous beast Mercurio is !!!
Watching this again, I enjoyed it more than the first time 3 yrs ago. What I see often riders doing now is what I call 'water skiing' at sitting trot. They lean back against the cantle, arms are now extended forward. So one can actually visualize them holding a water ski rope and being pulled along as they brace against it boat's power. They are very much sitting on their tail bones like they are lounging on their couch in their designer dressage saddles. Those saddles are comfy, I've got one, I know. Thanks for this video, I'm sure it has helped or refreshed many.
Thank you 🙏🏻 you touched on everything! I think that all the things you so meticulously explained are so very important. I feel like when one rides, after awhile they get a feel for all those adjustments for a more comfortable ride for horse and rider (if u r riding on ur own without an instructor) yet with videos such as yours u don’t question urself-now you know-Tysm I so appreciate your videos. Sooo helpful. You look fantastic and beautiful horse! Appreciate
Thank you so much for these videos. I very much enjoy learning from you.
I’m trying to learn how to sit my trot but I’m so distracted by how beautiful and talented the horse is! 😍
The only thing is it is hard to look that good when your horse doesn’t have a fancy trot 😂 (I am not saying it is easier but u look more professional) ps. I think u are a professional weather ur horse is fancy or not
Very very very helpful! FUN to see you riding an IBERIAN!❤️🐴😘
wowww that you can sit the trot for so long! Im impressed!
This was actually really helpful for me and my pony because the sitting trot is something I struggle with. Thanks!
Super! And yes, the sitting trot is so tricky! Keep up the good work!!
I love this. Really like to sit the trot. Now I can fine tune to make my trot more comfortable for the horse ans more sure for me. Core, core, core. Thanks.
I watched this video when I started posting, and it was absolute Greek to me- yesterday I sat a few maybe five strides of decent sitting trot, and now it all makes perfect sense! IF I can DEVELOP the feeling and refine it, of course. But at least I didn't start gripping, and I understand what you mean about the motions involved now! I can't wait for my next lesson, a good ride is the most encouraging thing ever, haha! Thanks for your great videos, I really enjoy them and learn a lot, I am loving your emails, too! One day I will save up and do one of your courses!
Thank you!
Yay!! I’m glad to hear the videos are helpful!!
Great video and tips as always! Was just working on this with the young boys! Definitely can only do about 1/2 20 meter circle before i lose the swing! Esoecially when we go to the next gear for the big boy trot! Definitely can not have any extra tension in hips or low back or it just doesnt happen!
Thanks as always for breaking it down to the basics! Happy Holidays! 😊
Helpful and good quality video as always, and your horse is stunning
Merry Christmas to you and Joseph across the miles from South Africa's sunny shores. Have an amazing day. All the best for 2020.
Thankyou so much for such a beautiful video!! Really helped me
That makes me so happy to hear!
Thanks alot... it is so helpful for me ..and your PRE is sooo beautiful
This is a really excellent, short video. Amelia gives specifics tips that I was able to implement immediately to fine-tune my sitting trot!
Anne thanks so much for the lovely feedback! And thanks for watching and subscribing!
Anne, you probably already know this but if you’d like me to send more dressage tips into your email inbox every Wednesday, you can sign up to my mailing list
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Ok that’s the lot I promise. Have an awesome day! 🐴
Looking to compete in some low level shows with my paint pony. Your videos are so helpful for troubleshooting outside of lessons. Thank you!
Yay! Good luck in the year ahead! I LOVE Paint horses... grew up riding them!!
Coming from a Regional Champion, i can totally agree that the sitting trot is difficult! I rode a 16.2 hand Arabian names Torino. Big gray. I may only be 13, but I have a LOT of experience in showing both huntseat and western. I also do reining and gaming. Horses have been a part of my life ever since i was born! I started in a huntseat saddle, went to Regionals at 7yo, and then tried gaming, which turned out to be my preferred activity when it comes to horses. I have two POA’s, an arab, a 1/2 arab 1/2 saddlebred, and a little pinto pony, so i get all kinds of trots. Thank you so much for the tips!
wow! You have a lot of experience with many different kinds of horses and disciplines. How cool!!
You are very blessed !❤
Excellent and helpful video! Even though my horse has a fairly smooth trot, after suffering a fractured lower back some years ago I have little flexibility in the lower back. Sitting my guy's collected trot is not an issue but I have a lot of difficulty sitting his working trot given the increase in motion. And soon as I start bouncing or "losing connection through my seat" he hollows and comes out of frame. I am going to use your video to help - working through walk/trot transitions. Thank you!!
Thanks so much for sharing this! I tend to round my shoulders during the sitting trot, will try to maintain a good position! This video reminds me of all the factors involved in something that seems so simple 😂
lovely video, thank you
Thank you for the videos you post! They are very helpful!
Happy to help!
Hi Amelia! Very good video! I too struggle a lot with the sitting trot. My instructor told me recently to relax my upper legs and lean back a little, because I tilt forward in the saddle. It immediately went better! With your tips and the help of my instructors I hope to better my riding and seat even more! Keep up the amazing work! Regards from the Netherlands! 💜
Love this so much! Practice helps so much with sitting trot in particular! Happy riding!
When I was a real newbie Sally O’Connor suggested I do a slight left-right movement to help me stay in the saddle, in rhythm with the hips. It helped at the time, but I can see that now I no longer need this as much.
my trainer taught us to sit the trot before posting. i actually prefer sitting. its fun bareback too!
Very good video, this really helpful. thanks dear Amelia. 🎩
VERY HELPFUL INFORMATION
The hardest part for me is ankle flexibility and mobility. I tend to brace my foot and ankle.
Yes! This is hard for a lot of riders and is often the cause of heels up!
To add onto the ankle: I have an old injured ankle. On top of favouring this old injured side, it does not flex well. Does anyone have tips or exercises perhaps to help improve ankle strength, flexibility, riding movement, etc.
Ps. Your shoulder exercises helped me so much. Lying in the floor, rolling on the foam log.
I too injured my ankle. A good physiotherapist may give some guidance. Started a course in lower limb strength through the Precisionmovement Eric Wong as an added support. Eric has u tube exampkes as a e coach. Hip strength and spine health can play a part.👍
@@loribradley5498 try goggling resistance band or theraband ankle and feet exercises - improve strength/stability and flexibility.
Catherine Hastings many Thanks!! I appreciate your time to write this suggestion.
Another great video. You explain and demonstrate well, very easy to understand. Thankyou, will be working on this tomorrow, great motivation.👏
Glad it was helpful! Let me know how it goes!
Wow this was very helpful! I didn’t even know I was sitting it wrong
I love ur instruction. Ur horse is beautiful!
fantastic love your videos, find them so useful, thank you x x
Gorgeous horse 😍! Great video.
Very helpful video!
Thank you :)
Im currently training my first horse and have trouble sitting the trot into the canter transition, i think this will be very helpful! My horse has a horrible trot to canter transition and me bouncing around doesn't help her so this will not only affect me as a rider but her as well! (In a good way, of course!) You've earned a new subscriber!
@@AmeliaNewcombDressage Thats actually my birthday so just in time haha! Ill see what i can do :D Would love to be there
Hi. I am a newbie in the world of dressage and I find your videos a great help, thank you ! Could you possibly make a video about the horse’s gaits? Like what is a good walk, trot and canter? And basically what to look for in a young horse if you have ambitions to compete at a higher level in the future? 🐎
generally the advice would be to ensure you can ride well enough to feel 'good' gaits before getting a young horse. Young = green, and its a lot easier to ruin a horse than to fix it. Get a 'professor' or 'school' horse before you go for young.
As for gaits, the walk should be with the hind legs stepping over the front legs (ie if you look at the ground after walking the hind hoof prints should be on or ahead of the front hoof prints), trot has 3 tempos, slow, working and extended, canter should be round and smooth (no bounce, no jumping up with the front or dragging the back) the horses legs should be 'underneath' it. when looking for a new horse you need to look at soundness (any medical history? lameness? potential fractures etc) and at the gaits themselves. Are they airy and floating or are they heavy and stomping? are the transitions smooth? does the horse jump up into the canter? is the trot 'upwards' (ie front legs working more than the back), is the canter up or down? Temperament is a must also, is it spooky? is it relaxed? does it stress easily?etc. breeding is a nice bonus but not necessary, my instructor rode up to 2* CIC cross country on a 'noname' horse she rescued.
Thank you so much!!! 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
I don't get to ride often and I used to take lessons, but when I moved to the city, I couldn't anymore. Sometimes, though, when I have the time, I'll go riding at a nearby facility and the sitting trot is such a struggle. XD I usually just go right into a post instead of trying the sitting trot lol.
This is a great video! Thank you for posting it! I have a mare that has the trot of a warmblood. Super bouncy! She’s ACTUALLY a pacing bred Standardbred though. She never raced and I’ve never seen her pace in the 8 yrs I’ve had her. In those 8 yrs, I’ve only been able to sit her trot twice. Both times because she slowed down and became smooth. (I’ve had several very experienced riders and trainers rider her and only a small number of those people could sit her trot as well. 😳 I have spinal stenosis in my low back and I’m constantly working on strengthening my core and working on my back flexibility. I’m still a work in progress but I am still having a horrible time trying to sit her trot! One lady at my barn can sit her trot so beautifully and I dream of being able to do that! If you have any videos on sitting the trot on an extra bouncy horse, could you point me in the direction of that video? Or could you make a follow up video to this one while riding a bouncy horse? I know that I for one would REALLY appreciate the help!!! Thank you in advance and Happy Holiday! 🐴🎄🥰 @amelianewcombdressage
Yes! Good idea! I have originally planned to do this video on a very bouncy horse and he had horrible hives the day I was planning to film so I had to ride the PRE instead!
i was facing the issue of loosing the stirups.... thanks for the learn
Great video. Just wondering if your seat goes with the movement by following with alternating hips? I can do it that way but struggle to just relax and sit there. Thanks.
HI Angie, so long as you're staying in balance it should be ok but in general it's best to keep the hips laterally uniformand move them together. But if it works for you and your horse is staying in balance then that's fine!
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Ok that’s the lot I promise. Have an awesome day! 🐴
Ok this is legit soooo helpful! My horse is an Arabian welsh cross and it’s not super hard to sit the trot under he gets into the extended trot and I like fly everywhere😂
great video.
It is extremely hard to talk about the sitting trot, because you can't see or feel it by yourself... in my case, I couldn't really feel how I should move my hips and pelvis. When I've heard "the angle between your leg and hip should open and close", it was nothing I could relate to ;) Finally what helped me was to feel opening and closing during 2-point seat in the trot. Than I could finally transfer that feeling into the sitting trot and than I finally started moving my pelvis and allowing this movement, because earlier I stopped it (it felt like too much movement).
Yeah, I don't find that to be particularly useful advice. We don't use that angle much in daily life in any conscious way, so asking you to be super aware of it while also doing everything else you have to do while riding doesn't seem like the easiest way to describe it. I think the trot is too fast for most people to really think about adjusting that angle with every stride if they're just learning. My trainer talks about tilting your pelvis like you're aiming your belly button through the horse's ears, and then really trying to relax through that hip angle. The opening and closing motion should sort of happen on its own if the related muscles are relaxed.
@@CDN_Bookmouse it's funny because I couldn't move my pelvis that fast. But when I felt opening and closing in a 2-point, I immediately started to move to the right tempo in a sitting :D everybody's learning in a different way, interesting :)
How would you get extremely fluid with the movement instead of slight bounces? This seems helpful!
That is really interesting! I will have to try this with some of my students. Thanks for sharing!
@@Tyler-tz7oy You could try changing the way you think about the trot. When you feel like you're bouncing all around, of course you're going to focus on that. But if instead of focusing on the moments where you're pushed up, you focus on the phase where you move DOWN, you can start to think about every stride actually pulling you deeper into the saddle. Check common areas for tension, such as in your shoulders or knee. Think about your leg growing or sinking down towards the ground. The more you soften, the less you'll bounce upward and you can really feel secure in the saddle. Hope that helps!
Your videos are always helpful. Would it be possible to get a slow motion video of how exactly to move your hips and stomach during the sitting trot? I was told it is helpful to image back pedaling a bike - up-back-forward, but I would love to see a slow motion so it would be easier to copy. Thank you!
thankyou! this helped alot:)
I'm so glad!
Amelia, your rider tips and comments on how to sit to trot are very helpful. How much are you engaging your core muscles while you are following the sitting trot through the middle of your body?
Isnt he beautiful. Thanks for the demo x
He is a pleaser. What a lovely horse.
If I let my ankles move like that against my horse he would throw a fit. Legs are to be still not tapping them with spurs every step
Lacey Weaver that depends on the horse in my opinion because our horses are side sensitive so you don’t do what she was doing with her feet but some horses have to have that so they keep moving right.
Don’t wear spurs then
You can do this without even touching the horse it’s belly
She's not ripping into the horse's sides with the spurs. Some horses just don't care if your heels are always tapping against their sides and others need that extra tap as a reminder to keep up the pace.
Aside from the Spurs her feet were going everywhere. If I did that with my 12 year old mustang he would bolt on me and then throw me into the wall.
Great advices. I will try the sitting trot from walk solution. As every horse has its own trot, I feel like I have to learn it new from the beginning with a new horse. How do you handle that? I think you ride more different Horses than me per day ;-) Regards, Tanja
Ah yes, very true. Every horse is different!
I have quite a large chest so I get a lot of back pains and tend to slump forward with the sitting trot. How would I be able to make it more comfortable for me.?
I do wear a high impact sports bra to keep everything still.
If you are old enough, you should consider getting a breast reduction. My coach said she used to ride like that until she got a reduction and she rode much better afterwords. From what I have heard from those who have gotten the surgery, they wish they had done it sooner.
Ignore the person who replied. You don't need surgery o_O. I would suggest checking the fit of the bra; a well-fitting one is more important than having it labelled high-impact. Most of your support comes from the band, and I found that tightening the band and not necessarily the shoulder straps made a big difference. Things are never going to be as still as you want, that's just how having breasts works lol Really focus on relaxing through your back and shoulders. Things are going to bounce around so trying to hold more still to counteract it just isn't going to work. If you're self-conscious, you could wear like an open vest or something to kind of camouflage all that movement. Relaxing your back, hips, shoulders, and knees should help with the back pain. Unfortunately you just have to forget about what your chest is doing and ride however is most effective, not what tries to keep things still. Even in a sports bra if your cup size is big enough, there's going to be movement. I'm an F cup and I have a good sitting trot, if that helps give you any hope for yourself.
I ride in a comfortable underwire or support bra and the add another comfortable sports bra on top to lock the girls in place. I have severe back issues as well. I have a bad case of lordosis (extra curvature of the lower spine) and had 5 herniated discs with torn cartilage and arthritis and stenosis of the spine and I have nerve damage in my left leg. I had spine surgery 19”0 hrs ago and am still dealing with a ton. I did in a back brace that is he y duty elastic and wrap it tightly. I like the ones that go down over the lower back and up to the rib cage area. I aspire have one with hard plastic ribs for more support and so it doesn’t roll or move. I have even used tight midsection or torso shape wear to help keep everything in place and I feel so supported and it helps with posture as well. You have be careful not to have too much bulk so you do not distort you natural movement and flexibility. Even as a teen and dealing with the lordosis aches and pains, I always used an elastic and Velcro back brace just for firmness and support. I have always been able to still maintain a neutral spine and pelvis and be fully mobile everywhere to move completely with the motion of the horse in all the gaits. Hope that helps.
Same. My coach suggested surgery but I don’t think I want that as of right now. I tried all kinds of bras and spent A LOT of money on expensive "special high impact horse riding" bras. It was the same as a good support sports bra. What I ended up doing was wearing 2-3 bras at the same time to actually keep it all together. 1 underwire and then 1 or 2 sports bras on top depending on the support they each gave. It makes my chest flatter, but I have corrected my posture.
I disagree. Those who learned western, usually FIRST, don't seem to have any trouble. At first I thought it was just my imagination, until my daughter was in the midst of a lesson with her trainer and her trainer mentioned a few things, then told my daughter to ask the horse to SLOW DOWN! Then I remembered she'd told me her horse was an appendix quarter horse. He'd shown western pleasure in his younger days, lightbulb moment! I'd come from the quarter horse world too..yet now, rode almost exclusively Thoroughbreds...I have ZERO problems getting a decent sit on ANY horse! But most people will tell me I'm behind the motion, yet curiously, I also have zero issues getting any hose to step right into either leg of a center on the first attempt. Which used to puzzle almost everyone who watched.its simple when thought about. My butt "pins" that outside hind leg while I ask for the inside shoulder to lift and step forward into the canter.. taught my daughter the same concept and she NEVER missed a transition with her pony. EVER. Her coach adored the concept but said she'd never heard it phrased in that fashion before(she'd trained with some of THE top names in the world before she gave up competing herself)..
Ugh! The dreaded belly flopping during a sitting trot! Hate that! Lol
I never used to be able to sit a trot until I purchased my first horse who’s now a 10 year old Quarter Horse
Amelia do you have any tips for avoiding lower back pain from sitting trot?
I have two bulging lumbar intervertebral discs since a nasty fall two years ago. I’ve only just recently been able to do sitting trot again as it was too painful. Now as my back heals and my core strengthens, I can sit the trot again. But I’m afraid to absorb all the bounce through lower back movement in case I set off pain again.
I also get very tense deep gluteals that cause pain.
How much weight should I put with my feet in the stirrups?
About 20%. Like the weight of your legs
My question do beginners learn first how to have a correct seat without collecting the head of the horse or collecting first?
Hi Jamie,
Absolutely! If you'd like you can take my free assessment quiz to see where your position is, and also take my free mini course for rider position.
Rider assessment quiz:
www.ameliasdressageacademy.com/dressage-rider-quiz/
www.ameliasdressageacademy.com/riderpositionminicourse/
Thanks for watching and happy riding.
Also, if you’d like me to send more dressage tips into your email inbox every Wednesday, you can sign up to my mailing list
www.ameliasdressageacademy.com/subscribe/
(If you’re already familiar with all this and have received this before, apology for the unnecessary message, I’m being super thorough today!)
I’m also on FB and IG
facebook.com/amelianewcombdressage & instagram.com/amelianewcombdressage/
Also, and this is super helpful too, join Amelia’s Dressage Club on Facebook, it’s a really active and engaged community of riders and no question goes unanswered!
facebook.com/groups/ameliasdressageclub/
And finally, there’s my website (for when all the social media goes down again 🤣)
www.amelianewcombdressage.com/
Ok that’s the lot I promise. Have an awesome day! 🐴
what are some good exercises to build up the muscles for sitting trot. the horse i ride is a holsteiner with quite the long back and a long stride and it makes his trot really hard to sit. what could i do to improve it?
Are you asking about exercises for you as a rider or exercises for the horse's muscles? Pilates is great for the rider and any topline exercises for the horse will help them.
@@AmeliaNewcombDressage For me. Yeah I've heard about pilates but I see so many different ones im not sure what ones do the most (also thank you for replying i don't see it very often)
What saddle do you use ?
I like Custom Saddelry
What does she mean when she says this is a PRE horse in this context? Thanks 💕
PRE is a horse breed, it is short for "Pura Raza Española", it is related to the Andalusian horse I have heard.
Hi! There is a lot of movement involved! I understood that point. But is the rider doing an active movement of their hip or is the rider simply "loosened up & in the correct position so that the movement (that is aligned with the horse of course" comes naturally? I don't know if I need to actively do something with my hip or if it will "come on it's own" with the right posture, position, loose hips etc. Hope someone will understand my question 😂
i find it much easier to ride without stirrups but once i out them on its as if i stress my horse and it messes my trot so its not like i dont know how to ride the trot but i need to be able to be balanced and relaxed and not let her rush too much nor slow down
emily❤❤❤❤❤
I was told that you sort of march the trot with your legs. Not in any noticeable way. What do you think about that?
I find it exhausts me quite quickly. I struggle to maintain for a prolonged period
Don't try to trot for too long, come back to walk for a break and try again. Like in the video.
The first time I started sitting trot, my coach gave me a GIGANTIC horse, and I was tiny she told us remove our stirrups, so I did and then we started to trot next thing I know I'm slipping off his back and on the floor lol
I actually can’t sit still on a Andalusian/ Spanish horse. I really can’t find their ritm and I don’t know why haha. A warmbloed is easier for me.