Strides for Success

Tag: trotting

  • Rising Trot – Learning How to Post a ‘Better’ Way

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    There is always a look of pure satisfaction on a rider’s face when they finally ‘get’ the rising trot! You know, they stop bouncing about and can actually work with the horse, in rhythm. And that is an important stepping stone for all riders. More than likely, when you were first learning how to ride the trot, your instructor taught you to do the “up downs.”

    And at the time, ‘up down’ was the easiest way to both explain and help you ‘get’ the rising trot. The rhythm, the basic movement… Those first few trots when you managed to stay in sync with your horse felt like a win.

    But here’s the truth; that early version of the rising trot, the up downs, was just the beginning.  And if you’re still posting to the trot the same way… That could well be what has caused you to hit a wall where progress and improvement are concerned.  It could also be the reason your horse’s training has stalled as well.

    Because the fact is that while ‘up down’ works initially, it is essential that your rising trot gets lots of upgrades along the way to becoming a better rider. 

    In this episode of the Daily Strides Podcast, you will learn to begin evolving and refining your rising trot so that you can unlock a whole new level of riding, connection, and communication with your horse.

    “Up Downs” Are Just a First Step

    When you were learning to ride, you probably heard your coach calling out “up, down, up, down!” like a metronome. It’s how most of us were taught to post.  It’s what I say to beginner riders even now in the arena. Why? Because it’s simple, easy to understand. And if I can use another ride to demonstrate, the ‘new’ rider can easily follow the words, up down, and match it to what the rider they are looking at is doing in the saddle.

    But here’s the catch:  “Up downs” are mechanical. They focus on your body’s movement. Not your horses.. They teach rhythm and balance, yes – but they rarely encourage (and often block) true feel or connection.

    Eventually, if you don’t move beyond that, they become a ceiling.  You think that because you’ve stopped being bounced about, you’re moving with your horse. And, yes, when you are riding ‘up downs’ you are at least going in the same rhythm as your horse. But, up downs alone won’t allow you to really work ‘with’ your horse.

    Rising Trot is Team Work

    The rising trot isn’t about going straight up and straight down.  In fact doing this, often leads to a lot more problems! So instead of ‘up down’, a better way to think about this is forward and back. It’s a diagonally upward forward, using your belly button as the part of your body that leads the way.

    A practiced and balanced moment of suspension, not a forced push or pull (depending on your body and what feels easier for you to do).

    Riders who stay stuck in “up downs” often:

        • Stand too vertically out of the saddle (6 to 8 inches of daylight between their bum and the saddle)
        • Brace against the stirrups (lower leg shoots forward towards the horses shoulder or elbow)
        • Collapse back into the saddle (they use the horses energy, not their own body, to move them)
        • Fall behind or ahead of the rhythm (and become very unbalanced if the horse’s rhythm changes)

    All of these habits interrupt the natural flow of the horse’s movement and create excessive tension through the horse. Sometimes it can even be physically uncomfortable for the horse. Whic his why working on refining your rising trot is so important.

    Lack of Refinement = No Independence of Aids

    As riders we all want ‘independent aids’. Meaning that each of your aids can work effectively without inadvertently negatively influencing the other aids. And yes, obviously they all do influence each other, but when your aids are ‘independent’, you can create more positive influence. Rather than just allowing negative influence to happen.

    Your seat, legs, weight aids, and hands can all become more independent of each other, allowing for greater control when used together.  But if you’re bouncing or bracing through each post, each ‘up’, your body becomes a single unit.

    There’s no clear separation or intention between one aid and the next.  And there’s also no control over your aids. You are at the mercy of your horse’s rhythm and energy. The ‘up downs’. 

    This means:

          • Your legs can’t give subtle instructions
          • Your seat can’t follow or influence movement
          • Your hands can’t maintain a steady, consistent contact

    Instead, everything is reactive and clunky. Your horse may feel confused, frustrated, or even dull to your aids.

    How Rising Trot Promotes Energy & Connection

    A good well-balanced and supported rising trot allows the energy from the hindquarters to flow through and connect to the front end of the horse. This is how, eventually, true contact is created. It allows your horses back to ‘connect’ and engage the flow of energy.

    A poor rising trot – or just ‘up downs’, unfortunately, often does the opposite.

          • It interrupts the energy mid-back, causing hollowness rather than engagement
          • It blocks the swing through the ribcage, causing stiffness and ‘front wheel drive’
          • It prevents true contact and throughness from developing

    Your horse can’t move well if you’re banging up and down on his back. And so often, riders are using the horse’s energy to get them ‘up’ – and allowing gravity to get them back ‘down’! No and no! 

    Rising Trot is a Tool – Not a Habit

    So, yes, let ‘up down’ get you going on your journey in trot. But then remember, as you progress, your rising trot should become something more. A way to positively influence your horse to develop and work in a better way.
    When you truly learn how to post or rise to the trot, you can then help your horse. You can support, ask for adjustments, and help your horse to balance. Especially when the rhythm or tempo goes a little off track! It can even help improve your horse’s straightness and engagement.  But only if you ride it with intention, feel, and refinement.

    You must learn to accept responsibility for your own movement in the saddle (not just rely on your horse’s energy) and then consider the basics as you are doing it – position, posture, self carriage, etc. 

    Rethinking Your Rising Trot

    If you’re serious about progressing as a rider and helping your horse develop correctly, taking an honest look at what you are doing while trotting is a great place to begin. “Up downs,” got you going initially in the trot. They made you feel more comfortable and built your confidence. But, they are also one of the ‘basics’ that need attention and refinement. Especially if you’ve felt stuck at the same level for some time in your riding.

    Start by taking the movement out of the trot completely. Yes – begin at halt. This allows you to really focus on what you’re doing, without your horse’s movement getting in the way.

    The movement should come from your core and your seat, not your shoulders or arms. Think about lifting your belly button diagonally forward and up, not just straight up. Almost like someone in front of you is gently tugging your belt buckle forward with a string. And when you come back down? Do it like a feather. No flopping. No collapsing. Imagine you’re in an aerobics class – you control the up, and you control the down. Both directions count.

    Posting to the Trot

    Once you’ve got that ‘feel’ sorted at halt, move into walk and try the same thing. Begin rising in rhythm with the walk stride, always focusing on that diagonal lift. And your lower leg? It stays under you. The ‘Click Your Fingers Rule’ is a good one to apply here… If at any point, you could make your horse vanish, would you land on your feet?

    Keep your posture aligned, your aids quiet, and stay intentional. When you’re able to rise and come back down without relying on your horse’s energy (or gravity!), then you can start experimenting in trot again.  Bring all of that body awareness and control with you.

    Over time, you will have to think about this more refined way of working with your horse in trot less and less. You will have to revisit it every now and then, to make sure no unhelpful habits have crept in. Or to perhaps refine even more as your riding develops.

    But by taking responsibility for your own movement and actions I the trot, you create the space for. your horse to work ‘with’ you. Not against each other.

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

    More on This Topic

    Online Training to Help Your Riding

    Connect with Lorna online:-

  • 3 Steps to Better Canter Transitions

    3 Steps to Better Canter Transitions

    3 Steps to Better Canter Transitions
    Have you ever felt that feeling?  The feeling you get when you’re trotting and you ask for the canter.  Rather than your horse simply striking cleanly from the trot to the canter, you experience this extremely uncomfortable and unbalanced trot.  A trot that gets faster and faster until finally you almost fall into a canter. Not a great feeling, eh?!
    Or perhaps, your experience of getting into canter is a little different.  Maybe you feel like you are getting thrown forward every time your horse transitions to canter?  Different, but equally as unpleasant!
    [smart_track_player url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/dailystridespodcast/1135-3-Steps-to-Better-Canter-Transitions.mp3″ title=”3 Steps to Better Canter Transitions” social_linkedin=”true” social_pinterest=”true” social_email=”true” tweet_text=”Yep; better canter transitions are just 3 simple steps away for you and your horse ” hashtag=”equestrian #podcast” twitter_username=”strides_success” ]
    In this episode of the Daily Strides Podcast, I want to cover a topic that I feel so many riders struggle with.  Successful canter transitions.  I’m going to give you 3 simple yet effective actions that you can implement today, which I guarantee you will improve your canter transitions.
    And, the good news is that, I believe that you can improve this very quickly; you just need to know what to do…

    1 . Plan, Plan, and Plan again!

    Planning is so important. Now I know you may be thinking “Really, Lorna? I knew that”.  If so, great.  Are you implementing it every time you ride?  When we are talking about all things canter transitions related, planning is important for both horse and rider.  It allows you to set your horse up for the upcoming transition.  It also gives you time to get clear on sorting your body out and making sure your body is where it needs to be.
    Remember, one of your jobs, as team captain, is to set things up as well as you possibly can.  Then simply allow your horse to the job you have asked him to do.
    Start by choosing an exact place where you begin to sort yourself out, both physically and mentally.  You then need to make sure you have your horse’s attention using your half-halt.  Your half-halt basically serves to tell your horse: “Excuse me, something is going to happen soon and I need you to pay attention to me.”
    It’s also important to make sure that you have established a good quality trot.  An easy way to assess this is to ask the question, ‘could I jump a jump from this current trot?’.  If the answer is yes, you’re golden!  If not, you have a little work to do before you can ask for the canter transition.

    2 . Get Out of the Way

    The next part is simply to get out of your horse’s way.  Remember, your job is to set it up and ask your horse to canter.  That’s it!  Your horse must actually transition into the canter, not you.  I have seen so many riders who set it all up and then when it comes time to canter, they look like they are physically trying to canter for their horse!  Often they end up leaning forward, lying on the horse’s neck or leaning over the inside shoulder, or all of the above.
    Changing this starts with your basic position.  Your shoulders should be above your hips.  Maintaining that as you move into and through the transition is often enough to get out of your horses way. 
    Keeping your shoulders above your hips and not throw yourself forward or leaning to one side will make a huge difference to your canter transitions.  In fact, if you can maintain a correct position, you’re already halfway to creating better canter transitions.  However, I also know that often this is one of those ‘easier said than done’ things!
    A simple way to keeping this fresh in your mind when you ride is to imagine a large egg.  The egg is sitting on the pommel of the saddle.  It is large enough that it comes all the way up to your chest.  Your goal, as you prepare to and then transition into canter is not to break that egg.  This will help you to maintain your position throughout your canter transitions.

    1. Allow Your Horse to Canter

    The third step to better canter transitions is to actually allow your horse to canter.  If you are leaning forward or to one side, you aren’t really allowing your horse.  You’re hindering them as they make the transition from the trot into the canter and beyond.
    Your horse’s shoulders have to go somewhere when you are asking for a canter.  If you’re sitting on their shoulder, you’re actually shutting down the shoulder.  What I see happening with so many riders is that they plan, they set it all up and then they ask for the canter.
    Unfortunately, when the horse begins to canter, it looks like they suddenly change their minds!   
    This can be pulling on the reins.  Often the rider becomes heavy in the saddle; they hunker down.  In fact, sometimes it seems that the rider is doing everything physically possible to stop that horse going forward into canter!  It’s almost as if they’re thinking: “Whoa, this isn’t what I asked for!”, Even though it was.
    Now believe that, most times, this is caused by something the rider is thinking or feeling, playing out physically in the transition.  Whatever the cause, can you imagine how confusing it is for their horse?  He has obliged his rider by doing what was asked of him and is now frantically receiving signals to stop.  Would you blame the horse if over time, he decides simply not to canter at all when his rider asks?
    Allowing your horse to do what it is you have asked him to do is vitally important to his training and development.  It is also important for your nerves!

    Imagining Successful Canter Transitions

    I want you to imagine this now.  You’re trotting down the long side of the arena, and you’re going to ask for a canter in the corner.  You know that the first thing you need to think about is planning.  So you begin half halting. This allows you to also consider whether or not it’s a good quality trot.
    The half-halt is also a great place to make sure that you are in the best position to ask and then allow your horse to canter.  Take the opportunity to straighten your body, through your shoulders and back.  Also, straighten vertically by checking that your shoulders over your hips.
    Now, choose the exact place that you want our horse to canter, and quickly think about what you need to do to communicate this to your horse.   
    Maybe change in sitting trot.  Definitely ask for a little bit of flexion to the inside.  Use your inside leg and imagine that you are filling up the outside rein.  All while your inside hand is asking for that little flexion.  Then move your attention to your outside leg. Imagine using it to ‘tag’ your horses outside back leg, indicating to him to ‘strike’ with that leg.

    Moving with the Canter Transitions

    As your horse begins to actually perform the transition, your job now becomes maintaining your own body and moving with him into the canter.  Are your shoulders above your hips? What about your imaginary egg?  Is it safe in front of you and are you keeping out of its space?! Consider are you carrying yourself?   And carrying your hands?
    Finally, as your horse takes that first, balanced step into the canter, imagine how it feels when you allow with your seat and follow him into it.  Doesn’t that feel great?! Your horse is finally able to canter!
    These 3 things that we’ve spoken about today are things you can continue to refine and refine.  They will require you to revisit them regularly in your riding.  Plan, get out of the way, and actually let the horse canter!  The three steps to better canter transitions.
    Happy Riding,
    Lorna

    Other Resources to Help with This Topic:-

  • Working Together on Your Trot – Audio Training

    Working Together on Your Trot

    Are you open to having a little fun together today in your riding?  If so, I have created this episode of the Daily Strides Podcast for you to listen to as you ride your horse.   If you are subscribed to the podcast already, you will find this episode on the date it was originally published; the 20th of January 2020.

    [smart_track_player url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/dailystridespodcast/1132-Lets_Work_Together_A_Little_on_Your_Trot.mp3″ title=”Let’s Work Together on Your Trot” social_linkedin=”true” social_pinterest=”true” social_email=”true” tweet_text=”Going riding later today? Give this a listen while in the saddle…” hashtag=”equestrian #horselover” twitter_username=”strides_success” ]

    If you are not already subscribed to the Daily Strides Podcast – why not?!  You can find all the detail and subscribe using your favorite app HERE.

    Okay, so assuming that you have now gone ahead and found the episode on your phone, I suggest giving it a listen now and then again when you are actually riding your horse.

    The goal is to increase your awareness around what you are doing while in the trot in order to more positively influence the trot itself.

    Other Episodes to Help with Trot:-

    There are a few more episodes of the podcast I wanted to bring your attention to that also deal with this topic or support some principles mentioned in this episode.

    Remember, start somewhere, and then build from there…

    Working Towards a Consistently Better Quality Trot

    When was the last time you went out riding with the sole intention of improving your trot?  Trotting is a gait we spend a lot of time when in the saddle.  Yet, for many riders, it is an afterthought in their schooling plan…

    I think the reason for this is due to most riders feeling like they have ‘mastered’ the trot when they can manage a few ‘up-downs’ without being bounced out of the saddle!  It tends to get put on auto-pilot after that point, and promptly forgotten about it!

    If this has been the case for you and your horse, today is the day we take the trusty trot off of auto-pilot and begin consciously working on establishing and maintaining a better-quality gait.  Read More…

    Conscious Transitions Between Walk and Trot

    So there you are, walking along and at some point or another, you find yourself having to ask for trot.  You might walk a little faster, perhaps include a little jig jog or two until, 4 or 5 seconds later, you are finally trotting.

    This is not ideal at all!  But what is it about transitions between walk and trot, and not just walk to trot, but also trot to walk, that has a lot of us think they are not so important?

    Is it because it is the first real transition up the gears that we usually get to grips with when learning to ride? Most riders will have experienced going from walk to trot within the first lesson or three.  Or is it because we become so used to the trot being a wee bit bouncy, to begin with, that we are less than careful about trying to create a smooth transition into it?

    Whatever the reason, the transitions between walk and trot are some of the most overlooked by riders and it’s a pity because it is a transition that when given the attention it deserves, it can really and truly change your whole experience in the saddle and help you create that seamless communication between rider and horse. READ MORE…

    Finding the Correct Diagonal in Trot

    There you are, happily trotting around the arena, delighted at the fact that you can ‘post’ correctly; until someone goes and bursts your bubble by pointing out that you are on the wrong diagonal…  “Sit for two” they shout your way…  And you’re thinking ‘Come again?’!

    Being on the correct diagonal is to do with rising or posting to the trot.  We know that when our horse trots, his legs move in diagonal pairs, the front inside with the back outside and the front outside with the back inside.

    Your horse’s way of traveling, in diagonal pairs, is what creates the two-time beat that we experience in trot.  The 1,2,1,2,1,2…  or, when we rise or post to the trot, the up, down, up, down, up, down.  READ MORE…

    Rising or Posting to the Trot

    Have you ever sat down (no pun intended) and thought about how correct your rising or posting in trot actually is?

    Rising or posting in trot is one of the first aspects we learn when starting out riding a horse… We happily spend hours trotting around the arena or along the trail, up-down, up-down, up-down, without ever stopping to consider if the movement we are performing is helping or hindering our horse, or our own performance as a rider.

    The trot is a two-time beat, 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2. This 1 2 is caused when the pairs of diagonal legs move together underneath you; off-fore with near hind (creating the 1) and then near fore with off hind (creating the 2).

    Understanding and Refining Your Halt Halt

    Riding horses is all about balance.  It’s a balance between your aids, it’s actual balance sitting on your horse.  However, one of the most essential, yet difficult balancing acts is the half halt.  There is an ever-shifting balance between the aids, the rider and the horse.  In this episode, I want to dig a little deeper into the half halt with some practical advice you can use immediately to get results.

    What is the half-halt?

    The half-halt is a communication aid between you and your horse.  It is your way of bringing your horse’s attention back to you, in order for you to then give directions about what you want him to do.  READ MORE…

    Increasing Your Horses General Responsiveness

    Are your horse’s response times a little dismal?  Do find yourself asking… and then waiting… followed by maybe asking again…  then maybe, just maybe, on the fourth or fifth request, you are lucky enough to get a response?!  Responsiveness is the factor that can make all the difference with you and your horse when working together.

    Riding is a little like day-to-day life in this regard; quick response to something will often set the tone for how the relationship will proceed from that point.  Slow or non-existent response times lead to frustration, hold-ups, loss of attention and energy.  They leave an overall bad taste in your mouth.  READ MORE…

    All the Episodes Straight to Your Phone

    Remember, you can get all the above episodes and hundreds more straight to your phone when you subscribe to the Daily Strides Podcast.  There are new episodes published every Monday and are perfect for helping you to do more with your 50% of the ride.

    Happy Riding

    Lorna

    Other Resources to Help you in Your Riding:

  • Avoiding the Trampoline Effect in the Sitting Trot

    Avoiding the Trampoline Effect in the Sitting Trot

    Avoiding the Trampoline Effect in the Sitting Trot

    What this episode is all about & how it can help you:-

    • Recognise the ‘trampoline effect’ in sitting trot
    • Understand why it’s not up and down, but rather forwards and back
    • Learn what the ‘hinge line’ is
    • Get started with practicing a smoother sitting trot

    [smart_track_player url=”https://op3.dev/e/traffic.libsyn.com/dailystridespodcast/1069-Avoiding-the-Trampoline-Effect-in-the-Sitting-Trot.mp3″ title=”Avoiding the Trampoline Effect in Sitting Trot” social_linkedin=”true” social_pinterest=”true” social_email=”true” tweet_text=”Are you experiencing the ‘trampoline effect’ in the sitting trot? Daily Strides Podcast episode” hashtag=”equestrian” twitter_username=”strides_success” ]

    Have you resigned yourself to the fact that you are never going to be great at riding it?  You’ve taken on an approach of ‘what is the point of working on it when I can get by without it’?  You might have even convinced yourself that you are actually doing both yourself and your horse a favour in not working on the sitting trot; the alternative being to prolong both of your discomfort!

    If it’s the last reason, you can go ahead and give yourself a little pat on the back… I really believe that for every rider who is miserable riding the sitting trot, there is a horse feeling equally as miserable having to carry them!

    In this episode of the Daily Strides Podcast I want to firstly explain why you may be experiencing the discomfort and bouncing when riding the movement.  I also want to give you some ideas on how you can begin working on it, in a more comfortable way.

    What is the Sitting Trot?

    The sitting trot is when your horse is trotting and you are not moving your seat in and out of the saddle, as you would with rising trot or posting to the trot.  It is riding a trot with no ‘up downs’. 

    What I have found really interesting is the reactions of beginner or novice riders…  Those who have no idea that there is a rising or posting in the trot, they have far less issues with riding a sitting trot.

    They have not attached any stories in their mind around riding the sitting trot, such as it being bumpy or uncomfortable. And, amazingly, it usually is not any of those things for them!

    Many riders have an issue surrounding the sitting trot because they have been told it is the ‘bumpy trot’.  Or that they will have a black and blue backside afterwards.  But this could not be further from the truth.

    A well ridden sitting trot feels ‘expansive’ and ‘spacious’.  It flows and moves, horse and rider working together in perfect harmony.  It is also not that hard to achieve…

    Suppleness & Up Downs…

    One of the most spoken about and worked on principles when it comes to horses is suppleness.  However, I believe that suppleness is just as important for the rider as well.  A lack of suppleness in the rider will become very obvious, very quickly, when riding the sitting trot.

    The bounce in the sitting trot happens when the rider cannot move with the horse…  The rider lacks the suppleness to follow the horses movement.

    I think one of the big issues is that riders think of the trot in terms of ‘up and downs’.  Even when they are speaking about the sitting trot, it is again in terms of ‘up downs’.  That is essentially what bouncing is; an up and down movement. 

    However the sitting trot is not an up down, it is a ‘hinge like’ movement through your hips and pelvis.  A ‘forwards and back’ rather than the up and down.  

    I have a free resource here for you that contains quick stretches you can do before you mount up that will help you become more supple through your body. You can get it HERE

    What is the ‘Trampoline Effect’ in the Sitting Trot?

    When we don’t allow that hinge like movement through our body, or we can’t allow it to happen due to a lack of suppleness, the trampoline effect occurs.  This is when you and your horse fall out of sync.

    I love trampolines.  I tell you this, because I know exactly how a bouncy sitting trot and an unfortunate lack of coordination on the trampoline have the same effect on people.

    Imagine you are jumping on a trampoline with a friend.  This person is of a similar weight to you, or heavier.  They are a second or two ahead of your movement on the trampoline.  Meaning that they are touching down on the base or mat of the trampoline a second before you.

    They touch down, the mat gives way underneath them.  They both go down. Then the springs come into play and the mat begins to push them back up.

    Unfortunately this happens to be when you are touching down and instead of the mat going down with you, you meet it with an equal and opposite force.  It feels like a ‘knock’ or a ‘jolt’ underneath you.

    While your body is ready for going down, you rather find yourself being pushed up, which results in a lost balance and rhythm.  This is, unfortunately, what happens to many riders a couple of strides into the sitting trot.

    The Trampoline Effect when Riding

    In the sitting trot there is an opening and closing of the angle between the front of your upper thigh and the flat of your tummy.  Basic terms, I know, but it is a whole lot easier for you to visualise if I put it like that!

    This opening and closing, forwards and back, must synchronise with your horses movement.

    However, as the angle opens more and the movement becomes ‘bigger’ many riders are just not supple or fit enough to keep up with the rhythm which is set by the horses trot. 

    They find themselves getting left behind, which causes the trampoline effect to happen between their seat and the saddle.  They are going down, or back, as the saddle is going up or forwards.

    Feeling the ‘Hinge’ Movement

    I am going to suggest that you go right back to basics when beginning to work on your sitting trot.  All the way back to walk.  As you are walking with your horse, I want you to imagine drawing a line from hip to hip, through your belly button.

    This is your ‘hinge line’.  This is where the swing, the forwards and back movement, happens and can also be felt through your body. 

    The hinge line is just like a hinge for a door, except instead of being horizontal it will be vertical.  When you are allowing the ‘hinge line’ to work, you are essentially changing the angle between the front of your thigh and the front of your torso, or tummy.

    Riding the Sitting Trot

    Once you have identified the movement and how you are opening and closing that angle with each stride, I am going to suggest picking up a slow trot.

    This is perhaps one of the few times I will suggest you to not pay attention to the quality of your horses trot.  In fact, the slower the better is true initially as you begin working on this!

    Slowing it down will mean that you will be able to keep up with your horse and the movement that is happening underneath you.  I recommend continuing to ride in this less active version of your horses normal trot until you have truly mastered the sitting trot here.

    More Energy Means More Movement

    Once you have done this, you can begin to work on improving the quality of your horses trot as well.  The reason I suggest not doing this when starting off, is due to how much more suppleness is required as your horses trot improves.

    Your suppleness must be able to keep up with your horses expanded movements when the trot begins to increase in quality and energy. 

    As more energy is created in your horses hind quarters, and as this energy is flowing through the horses body and connecting to the front, more movement will happen.  It might not necessarily be faster, but rather a more ‘extravagant’ use of the horses body with each stride.

    Focus on allowing yourself to be led first and then later you can begin influencing your horse in the sitting trot.  Like most things, you must first learn to be led before you can lead. 

    Work on Straight Lines Initially

    The final ‘tip’ I am going to leave you with is to work on a straight line initially before attempting the sitting trot through bends, corners or circles. 

    The reason for this is due to so many riders struggling with balance when riding a bend.  Balance and the sitting trot go hand in hand together.  Build confidence in your abilities by working where you have the most balance in the arena.  This will usually be down the long sides.

    The good news is that your sitting trot can definitely be improved.  It can become more enjoyable for not only you but your horse as well.  However, it will require a lot of suppleness and good practice from you.

    Happy Riding

    Lorna

    I am hosting a free live online training on “The 6 Basics to Focus On in Your Riding” and I would love for you to join me there…  If you’re interested, you can register for your seat by CLICKING HERE

    CLICK HERE to save your seat in the free live online training

    Links mentioned in the episode:-

     

  • The Correct Diagonal In Trot

    The Correct Diagonal In Trot

    Finding the Correct Diagonal in Trot

    There you are, happily trotting around the arena, delighted at the fact that you can ‘post’ correctly; until someone goes and bursts your bubble by pointing out that you are on the wrong diagonal…  “Sit for two” they shout your way…  And you’re thinking ‘Come again?’!

    [smart_track_player url=”https://op3.dev/e/traffic.libsyn.com/dailystridespodcast/SFA486-Finding-the-Correct-Diagonal-in-Trot.mp3″ title=”Finding the Correct Diagonal in Trot” social_linkedin=”true” social_pinterest=”true” social_email=”true” tweet_text=”Struggling with your diagonal in the trot? This will help (no looking required!) ” hashtag=”trotting #horseriding #equestrian” twitter_username=”strides_success” ]

    What is the Diagonal in the Trot?

    Being on the correct diagonal is to do with rising or posting to the trot.  We know that when our horse trots, his legs move in diagonal pairs, the front inside with the back outside and the front outside with the back inside.

    Your horses way of travelling, in diagonal pairs, is what creates the two-time beat that we experience in trot.  The 1,2,1,2,1,2…  or, when we rise or post to the trot, the up, down, up, down, up, down.

    Posting or rising on the correct diagonal in trot is when you are sitting or down when your horse’s outside shoulder (and inside hind leg) are on the ground.  This means that you are rising or posting when the same outside shoulder and inside hind leg and moving forward.

    There is a well-known ‘rhyme’ to help riders remember which diagonal pair is the correct one to post.  It goes ‘Rise and fall to the leg by the wall’.  This pertains to the front leg closest to the wall, or the outside shoulder, which when we are first being introduced to a diagonal, is the easiest way to establish if you are correct or incorrect.

    So, Why Worry About Which Diagonal You’re On?

    Remembering which diagonal is the correct one is important.  However, understanding the reason you ride on one diagonal or the other will help you move forward in your riding training.

    It actually has little to do with the outside front leg, or shoulder.  It has more to do with the inside hind leg, the other half of the diagonal pair to the outside front leg, which is creating the energy and impulsion in the trot.

    As your horses inside hind leg comes onto the ground, this is the point where he is most balanced.  

    Your being ‘down’ at this point will help to maintain this balance, particularly around turns, bends and circles.

    Using Diagonals to Help with Equal Development

    The other consideration or factor with riding the correct diagonal is that you are equally conditioning or working your horse’s back and hind end.

    As your horse trots, his hind legs are constantly pushing him forward.  If you were to always ‘sit’ or be in the ‘down’ part of your rising trot on the same hind leg, that constant one sidedness would begin to show itself over time in a lack of suppleness through your horse’s back.

    Therefore, while you are in an arena or an enclosed space and assuming you are working your horse equally on both sides, you can use the wall or fence as your ‘outside’ reference.  

    However, as soon as you leave the arena and perhaps are on the trail or the road, there is no ‘outside’ or ‘inside’.  When posting to the trot along a long straight road, it can be easy to forget about diagonals.  This can potentially be an issue for your horse.  This is because your outside and inside may not change for long periods, if ever.

    Therefore it is important that you are consistently changing your diagonal periodically throughout the ride.

    Learning to Feel which Diagonal You Are On

    Learning to feel which diagonal you are on at any given time takes consistent effort and focus on your part.  You should aim to eventually be able to literally feel which diagonal you are riding on at any given stride.  I will explain more about that later in this post.

    However, initially I recommend using  your eyes to make sure you are indeed riding on the correct diagonal.  Seeing is much easier than feeling initially. And you can use your sight to ‘train’ your feel over time. 

    I suggest beginning in walk where you can learn to distinguish, using a glance of your eyes, where your horse’s outside shoulder is at any given time.   The term glance is an important one here/  This is because if we begin to lean or even tilt our head down to see what is going on with the shoulder, it changes our weight in the saddle.  This will, in turn, unbalance our horse.

    So, while you are walking, glance down at the outside shoulder and notice it going back and forward.  Many instructors will recommend noticing the forward and coupling this with your ‘rise’ or ‘post’.

    In my experience it is far easier for you as a rider to notice the ‘back’ part of your horse’s stride.  Once you have that pinpointed, you simply couple this with the ‘down’ or ‘sit’ part of your rising trot.

    While in the walk practice your posting or rising to correlate or synchronise with your horse’s outside shoulder position in every stride.  It also helps to say it out loud; “back,    back,    back,     back” and again, match this with your ‘down’ action.

    Putting This into Practice in the Trot Itself

    From here you can begin to pick up working trot.  However, this time, before you give any notice to your horse’s shoulder, I recommend you say “back” each time you are down or sitting as you are going through the motions of your posting or rising to the trot.  Saying it out loud, will help as well.  Once you have been repeating this for a few strides, where it becomes almost like a rhythmical mantra of sorts, you can then begin to glance down and see where your horse’s shoulder is.

    The reason I suggest repeating your new ‘back, back, back” mantra out loud is that you may find it difficult to keep paying attention to what you are doing, while also figuring out where your horse’s shoulder is!  It all happens quite fast when actually working through this.

    So, while you are repeating “Back” each time you sit, you can begin to see if this does indeed align with your horse’s shoulder being back at the same time.   If it does, fantastic, you are on the correct diagonal.

    Changing Your Diagonal

    However, if you see that you are rising on the incorrect diagonal, you can simply sit for two.  This means that as you are going up, down, up, down, up, down with the trot, you will put two downs in there.  Your sequence will be up, down, up, down, down, up down, up, down.  

    By sitting for two beats, or indeed any even number (four, six, eight etc) you will swap your diagonal and when you go ‘up’ again, it will be on the opposite diagonal.

    Developing Your ‘Feel’ For Your Diagonal

    Once you are able to tell which diagonal you are on with just a quick glance, you can begin to develop your ability to feel the correct diagonal.  Again, I am going to suggest beginning in the walk.

    First notice how your seat bones move backwards and forwards.  It can initially feel like they are moving together, but try to isolate this a little more; they are actually moving individually.

    Then begin to take notice of how they move up and down as well.  For example, as your left seat bone moves forward, it will have ‘dipped’ lower than your right seat bone. As this is happening, your right seat bone will also be on the move.  It will be moving backwards, and will be higher than your other seat bone.

    This backwards, forward, up and down feeling you are noticing is happening because your horse is moving.  His hips are moving your hips and seat bones.  What is important is to recognise that his hips are moving, because his hind legs are moving.

    Therefore, if you start to become mindful of how your seat bones are moving and where they are moving to, you will know exactly what is happening with your horses legs.

    Feeling the Movement in the Sitting Trot

    Once you can feel this movement in the walk, you can begin working in sitting trot.  Many riders think of sitting trot as being a purely up and down movement, however, this will change when you begin to focus your attention on your hips and what they are doing as you ride the sitting trot.

    You will feel that at each ‘bounce’ (beat one) of the trot stride, one of your hips will be higher than the other one.  The next bounce (beat two) will produce the same result, but on the opposite side.

    This is caused by the diagonal pairs of your horse’s legs in the trot moving underneath you.  From here, you can begin to isolate what your outside hip is doing.  When it is up, you can begin to rise at that point in the trot.  This will be the posting part of your trot.

    You rise as your horse’s inside hind leg is moving forward underneath you and as his outside shoulder is moving forward.  You will then ‘sit’ as your horse’s inside hind leg and outside shoulder are on the ground and your horse’s body is moving over them.

    The Correct Diagonal Impacts Your Horses Development

    As mentioned, when you are riding on the correct diagonal, your horse more balanced on turns and circles.  However, the correct diagonal will also affect your horses way of ‘going’.

    When on the correct diagonal, as his inside hind leg moves up and forward, you are rising along with it out of the saddle.  This literally frees up more ‘space’ for your horses inside hind leg to move into.  

    The more developed both you and your horse become, the greater the importance of this ‘space’.  As riders, we want to give our horse instructions, aids, when they will be most effective for our horse to take action on.

    How our horse engages or uses his inside hind leg is one of the biggest factors in the quality of the gaits our horse produces.  The balance, rhythm, tempo and just overall performance.  Therefore knowing where your horse’s hind legs are at any given time, regardless of the gait you are in, will help you to begin timing the application of your aids more effectively. 

    Developing Your Ability to Ride the Correct Diagonal in Trot

    Effective application of aids and timing of aids leads to clearer communication between horse and rider.  It has a direct impact on the overall quality of the conversation in the saddle.

    Therefore it makes sense to take the time to begin learning what is moving when underneath you; and then implementing that in your day-to-day riding.

    Happy riding!

    Lorna

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  • Trotting Without Running

    Trotting Without Running

     

    Do you find that when you ask your horse for a more expressive trot, he just seems to begin running onto his forehand with you, becoming heavier and heavier with each stride? You’re not alone!

    Many riders set out looking to achieve an active, working trot… But due to lots of different factors, this can end up just ‘running’ around the arena. The horse resembling an arrow of sorts!

    The front end getting lower and lower with each passing stride, while the back end is getting completely left behind!

    Unfortunately, what usually happens next is the one thing that exasperates this ‘effect’ even further and that is hauling on the reins; dropping an anchor if you will.

    The reason this just makes the whole situation worse is by doing this, you and your horse begin to engage in a ‘tug of war’ of sorts. And, quite frankly, being involved in such a game with a 600 kg animal is an exhausting endeavor!

    Trotting Without Running | Audio Horse Riding Lessons

     

    Speed Versus Impulsion

    Often, as riders, we can confuse speed with impulsion…  We think that by asking for the trot to go 100 mph around the arena, we are really working our horses… Pushing forward with each passing stride.  The truth however is that while we may be creating energy, we are letting it all ‘fall’ out the front end of our horse, never contained and put to use in any form conductive ‘good’ work.

    The first part of mastering trotting without running is imagining in your mind that your horse’s back end is coming more and more underneath him… While his front end is becoming slightly higher and more elevated, as well as light in your hand.

    This is the picture you should work towards continually as you ride.  What is important to remember with this picture, is the ‘lightness in the hand’ part.  This cannot be achieved by hauling on the reins in the eternal tug of war.

    I challenge you to not only change how you think of working trot but also what you are physically doing with your body to ask your horse to begin using himself more.

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

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