Learning To Trot

Whyner

I wasn't going to post this as I've read so much on the web and know that it will come shortly but would like advise regardless.

I started riding 2 weeks ago, i.e 2 1hr sessions under my belt so far. Not a lot but I'm enjoying it and looking forward to improving.

I know how to trot but when I'm on the horse it all seems to go so fast.

Is it easy to look down and see what diagonal you should be on? I had a quick look last time but wasn't really sure...hopefully I'll be able to "feel" this in time.

Don't really have a question but maybe you could describe how you learned to trot, e.g any tips.........how long it took you........

I got it for a while last time and wow, feels so smooth compared to bumping up and down.......

Another lesson tonight.....
Whyner

fits

Is it the rising trot you are talking about? Hmm I'll see if I can dig out a good description for you.
Everyone has a problem with this at the start, but you'll get it, so dont worry too much about it.

One thing I'll say, is try not to *rise*, rather you should let the horses natural movement lift you slightly out of the saddle. And think of it more as a forwards and backwards motion than up and down.
Also do not rely too much on the stirrups for the rise. The movement should come from your whole body rather than just the feet in the stirrups. (which is why you'll be doing rising trot without stirrups in a few weeks )

Whyner

fits wrote: »

Is it the rising trot you are talking about?

Yip, the rising trot..........not worried at all at all......loving it in fact so sore in certain places so the sooner the better

Thanks...

fits

Hope this helps

The most important thing to remember, is to keep that toe under your knee. Holding onto the strap on the front of the saddle, if you have one, bring your upper body slightly forward from your hips (not your waist which would make you collapse your lower back and sit like a sack of potatoes), and as you rise, let your hips swing slightly forward towards the pommel (the front arch of the saddle), then return as lightly to the saddle as possible, keeping your hipbones slightly forward as you land in the saddle, so that you are ready to receive the forward and upward thrust from the horse's back.

Don't land with your pelvis upright, as it will again, make you come behind the movement, and land much more heavily in the saddle. Think of allowing your pelvis to swing forward and back, as if making an arc shape, never up and down. In this way, the horse's movement will take you, instead of you having to make an effort to heave yourself up out of the saddle, against the horse's movement, making it so much more effort for you both.

vpg

wait till you start learning sitting trot...thats worse :eek:

Bendihorse

I wouldn't be worried about diagonal you are on at this early stage, i didn't learn about them till i was riding for nearly a year!

Take your time with the trotting and it will come, dont over think it because the more you try the harder it seems. Try to relax into the movement of the horse. Like fitz said, let the movement propell you from the saddle rather than trying to stand up and sit down. It is also more of a forward and back movement from the lower leg... Keep your heels down too.

If the horse is rushing on in trot its harder to get the rythm. Ask to be put on a horse that isn't as speedy as the one your on, you WILL have to do more work to keep him moving, but the slower pace will help you to find the rythm quicker.

Bendihorse

vpg wrote: »

wait till you start learning sitting trot...thats worse :eek:

I love sitting trot, i find it MUCH easier to get the horse to bend and move forward on the bit in sitting than rising, think its because my leg is more stable and i can use my big arse to get him moving forward instead of bringing my heel up (bad habit) to get impulsion!

I love the rocky feeling of sitting on a horse with comfy sitting trot, you really feel like your a part of the movement!

Whyner

fits wrote: »

Hope this helps

Thanks fits...

So from what I understand I thrust forward when the outside fore leg is going forward. I should be posting and inclining my back as the horse's back is rising, correct?

Now here's where my mind is confused, does the whole of the horses's back rise on one beat and lower on the other beat?

I think I'll work on this before asking questions on switching diagonals

fits

Bendihorse wrote: »

I love sitting trot, i find it MUCH easier to get the horse to bend and move forward on the bit in sitting than rising, think its because my leg is more stable and i can use my big arse to get him moving forward instead of bringing my heel up (bad habit) to get impulsion!

I love the rocky feeling of sitting on a horse with comfy sitting trot, you really feel like your a part of the movement!

Me too, I love it. Its much better for schooling. It does take a while to get the hang of it though. Never easy at the start. A lot depends on the horse's natural movement as well.

fits

Whyner wrote: »

Thanks fits...

So from what I understand I thrust forward when the outside fore leg is going forward. I should be posting and inclining my back as the horse's back is rising, correct?

Now here's where my mind is confused, does the whole of the horses's back rise on one beat and lower on the other beat?

I think I'll work on this before asking questions on switching diagonals

Honestly, if I were you, Id forget about the diagonals, and what the legs are doing for the moment, until you've got the hang of the movement. you are making it *way* too complicated for yourself.

Does your instructor really expect you to get the diagonals before the actual rising?

Whyner

Bendihorse wrote: »

Take your time with the trotting and it will come, dont over think it because the more you try the harder it seems. Try to relax into the movement of the horse.

I'll be heeding this!

Bendihorse wrote: »

If the horse is rushing on in trot its harder to get the rythm. Ask to be put on a horse that isn't as speedy as the one your on, you WILL have to do more work to keep him moving, but the slower pace will help you to find the rythm quicker.

Hmm, not sure if my horse is speedy or whether my movement is slow.....

Whyner

fits wrote: »

Does your instructor really expect you to get the diagonals before the actual rising?

Well she was telling me that I was on the wrong diagonal last week.

What did she mean by this? I'll be chatting to her tonight anyway.

togster

OK whyner. No harm in knowing what the correct diagonal is. But don't worry about being on the correct one for now.

The Correct Diagonal. Ill make it simple

Lets say we are trotting on the left rein. You guage what diaganol you are on by looking at the horses "outside" shoulder, in this case the horses right shoulder. When the horses shoulder is coming back and down you should be sitting in the saddle.

So on the right rein, you watch the left shoulder and should be sitting in the saddle as the horses shoulder is coming back and down.

But please don't try and do this right now, you have alot to think about, like staying on for now!! Don't over think it. Just try and get to feel the horse take a stride under neath you. The rest will fall into place

Whyner

Thanks togster - so when she said I was on the wrong diagonal she means I'm sitting when I should be posting and vice versa?

fits

Whyner wrote: »

Thanks togster - so when she said I was on the wrong diagonal she means I'm sitting when I should be posting and vice versa?

yes. You should be sitting when the outside foreleg is on the ground. This is to aid the horses balance when cornering. Its not serious if you're on the wrong one, especially at this early stage.

Whyner

fits wrote: »

yes. You should be sitting when the outside foreleg is on the ground. This is to aid the horses balance when cornering. Its not serious if you're on the wrong one, especially at this early stage.

I feel like I'm missing something. How can I post correctly if I'm on the wrong diagonal, it sounds like the two go together...

Maybe she just expects too much too soon. She did have me trotting on the lunge rope with no hands half way through my first ever lesson.

fits

Whyner wrote: »

I feel like I'm missing something. How can I post correctly if I'm on the wrong diagonal, it sounds like the two go together...

Ok, its a symmetrical two-time gait. If you think about it, the diagonal legs move together. So you can either rise with one diagonal pair, or with the other. If you are riding in a straight line, it makes no difference to the horse which diagonal you rise on, but if you are riding on a circle, the horse will have better balance if you are sitting when the outside foreleg is on the ground (but the horse is not going to fall over either, so really, stop worrying about it)

Maybe she just expects too much too soon. She did have me trotting on the lunge rope with no hands half way through my first ever lesson.

I disagree. That sounds like good practice to me. Your hands are under no condition to be used as a balancing aid, and should be independent from the rest of your body. That is why she asked you to do this.

togster

Whyner wrote: »

I feel like I'm missing something. How can I post correctly if I'm on the wrong diagonal, it sounds like the two go together...

Maybe she just expects too much too soon. She did have me trotting on the lunge rope with no hands half way through my first ever lesson.

Yeah it sounds too soon but maybe she thinks your capable!!

Anyway being on the right diaganol doesn't have an influence if you are rising at the correct time. The two are not linked. Being on the right diaganol is a mechanism for helping to balance the horse.

Like someone said. It'll come to you. Don't over think it. I couls post things about legs etc and make it more complicated than it needs to be but just focus on what the horse does underneath you.

Bendihorse

The trot is a two time gait, 1-2 1-2 1-2 1-2 its the same beat no matter which leg is forward, rising trot runs to the same rythm 1-2 1-2 1-2 1-2 1-2 (One being down and two being up) Whether your on the correct or incorrect diagonal it doesn't make one iota of difference to this rythm and does not effect how well you are able to rise to the beat !

So take one step back and forget about diagonals, not knowing your diagonals is not affecting your ability to do rising trot so dont even think about it any further for now, trust me.

Concentrate on finding the rythm, then diagonals will become obvious to you without even having to 'learn' them. IMO the instructor was asking you to put the cart before the horse when she tried to teach you about diagonals before you were competent at rising trot!

OP, i promise you'll be on here after two more lessons telling us how easy it all was once it had clicked with you! Its like walking after the click but you have to wait for it. It doesn't take long

Whyner

Thanks fits/togster........

That cleared up something for me. I won't over think it, I've enough to do with managing "heels down", "shoulders back", "hands down" etc.....

One least question - I hope I don't wear your patience out!

She told me to sit for 2 beats, this is because I was rising with the inside fore rather than the outside fore, correct? So I would also sit for 2 beats if changing direction?

No more questions your honour!

Sorry but I'm very eager to learn this however I do understand that it's not something that can be rushed.

fits

Whyner wrote: »

She told me to sit for 2 beats, this is because I was rising with the inside fore rather than the outside fore, correct? So I would also sit for 2 beats if changing direction?

Simply put, thats how you change diagonal.

I really cant believe she expects that of you at this stage.

Whyner

Bendihorse wrote: »

The trot is a two time gait, 1-2 1-2 1-2 1-2 its the same beat no matter which leg is forward, rising trot runs to the same rythm 1-2 1-2 1-2 1-2 1-2 (One being down and two being up) Whether your on the correct or incorrect diagonal it doesn't make one iota of difference to this rythm and does not effect how well you are able to rise to the beat !

So take one step back and forget about diagonals, not knowing your diagonals is not affecting your ability to do rising trot so dont even think about it any further for now, trust me.

Concentrate on finding the rythm, then diagonals will become obvious to you without even having to 'learn' them. IMO the instructor was asking you to put the cart before the horse when she tried to teach you about diagonals before you were competent at rising trot!

OP, i promise you'll be on here after two more lessons telling us how easy it all was once it had clicked with you! Its like walking after the click but you have to wait for it. It doesn't take long

Nice one Bendihorse - perfect answer. I just had this idea of being on the wrong diagonal meant I was rising instead of sitting. Thanks for the clarification.

I'm going to ask her to work on my posting and forget diagonals for the next few lessons.

Bendihorse

I could see your confusion in an earlier post! Diagonals explanation when you dont understand the trot rythm and rising to the beat can leave you thinking you should be sitting when you should be standing and vice versa, then comes the inevitable 'how can i sit when the horses back is coming up' question!! Just to reiterate, diagonals have nothing to do with when you should be posting as i said above. You'll get the hang of it, everything your instructor is telling you is 'correct', its just a bit soon.

Oh and hey OP: dont put so much pressure on yourself to do things right that you forget to enjoy it! The first 3 months are all about finding your balance and getting to know the horses gaits and rythms. If you remember to keep your hands and heels down until you get the hang of troting you'll be flying

Then you have to start cantering and thats a whole nother ball game!! Not as easy to lean to sit to canter as it is to do rising trot, the fun is in the learning tho, relax and enjoy your few mins in the saddle!

Whyner

I was big time confused because I was probably rising at the wrong time and on the wrong d******l (not mentioning till I can post the trot).....anyway case closed!

I love it by the way!!

kerrysgold

good luck with your next lesson

trotting seems be difficult to learn, I can't really remember what I did lol, but anyway, you may not think it now but sitting trot is actually really comfy when you get the hang of it, depending on how smooth the horse trots of course. when you go without stirrups you'll probably be basically doing sitting trot but don't grip with you're knees as this tends to make you a bit stiff and easier to fall off if that makes sense. you can do rising trot without stirrups as well you just have to put more effort into the rising bit as you don't have the stirrups to hep you but it's good to learn to go without them anyway. She sounds like a tough but a good teacher, having you on the lunge line is good as I've seen soo many beginners/novices rides go pear shaped and fall off because the instructor expects them to concentrate on the riding and making sure the horse is in the right places etc which I'd say can be confusing/overwhelming for a beginner so at least when you're on the lunge line you can concentrate on your position etc and you don't have to worry about "controlling" the horse.

Good luck anyway and when you have the hang of trotting and move onto cantering, it will be great fun, it's a nice rocking pace on a smooth horse and easy to sit to, a bit bumpier and more difficult to sit to on a bumpy horse but still fairly easy. you'll have all the "right leading leg" stuff to be looking forward to now lol, even more confusing to take over from the trot diagonals! It can be confusing though so don't worry

wombles

I agree with everyone else that it is far too soon to be learning about diagonals.

There are in fact two trains of thought about which is the "correct" diagonal anyway! I think that in the USA - they actually think the opposite way to as - as they say that is the best for the horse.

The important thing (at a later stage than you are at now) is that you change the diagonal when you change direction.

I am very surprised that your instructor is teaching you about diagonals at this stage at all.

Whyner

Quick update - Lesson went really well. I was a lot smoother in the saddle so happy with the progress. A few more private lessons and she said we can join in with the group lessons.

Just did lots of trotting round the arena and in figure 8's. I then had to stay in the forward position (I think it's the position you use for jumping) and stay there for a couple of laps, makes your legs go wobbly....

Trying to keep my heel under my hip and my heels down is tricky...feels slightly unnatural..

togster

Well done Whyner!! She sounds like a good instructor tbh. Wait for the no stirrups lesson :mad:!! A good trick for keeping your leg in the correct position is try and glance down over your knee, you should be able to see the tip of your boot. there should be a perpindicular line through your shoulder, elbow hip and heel.

Whyner

Nice one togster - I like these little tips rather than just being told to keep my heels down.

skink

i used to work ina trekking centre, where we got huge amounts of beginners on a daily basis, alot of our work was on the road, and we had a little ryhme to teach the beginners the rise of the trot before we got to the beach! now you have to be on a hard surface to get this, but it goes;

clip clop clip clop, sit hop sit hop

now it sounds stupid, but put that to the 1-2 motion, and it makes sense, and with this method and a neck strap, it simplfies the rising trot, and some people can get it with about 15 minutes trotting time!

skink

i used to work ina trekking centre, where we got huge amounts of beginners on a daily basis, alot of our work was on the road, and we had a little ryhme to teach the beginners the rise of the trot before we got to the beach! now you have to be on a hard surface to get this, but it goes;

clip clop clip clop, sit hop sit hop

now it sounds stupid, but put that to the 1-2 motion, and it makes sense, and with this method and a neck strap, it simplfies the rising trot, and some people can get it with about 15 minutes trotting time!

niamh39

;)i learned the rising trot in my first lesson. some ppl find it harder than others but everyone gets the hang of it eventually. keep trying!!!:D