Sitting The Trot

[1 morejump]

Okie-dokie, its been a while since my last post and this is going to be long winded so bear with me here.  
So I finally got around to buying a Pelham, boy is it hard to find a 4.5 inch Pelham!  I ended up spending $10 more than I wanted to but thats the way it goes.  Anyways,  So I am on my 3rd time through Heather's book and am still a little confused on the sitting trot.  

Lets say I'm going to the right, when I flex my back and tip forward on my left hip, is my hip going forward in time with the back left leg?

And in the canter it says to flex the spine and then out again on a count of three.  Do you hold the flex for two counts or only one?  And when which hind leg is down do you release the flex in your back?    

Sorry about all the questions but Lance is very green and I want to start him out right.  Maybe I am reading too much into this or I missed something in the British to American translation but any help with starting a baby would be greatly appreciated!  
Heather, how do I get a copy of your video that will play in a VCR over here?

[ros]

I think you may be trying too hard  

Just sit in the saddle and let the horse's back move you first, then look down and check what the horse's legs are doing to give you the different feelings.

I find it easiest to think of the hind legs.  You'll find that as one hind leg is lifted under and brought forward, the horse's hip on that side drops and his belly swings inwards; your hip on that side will drop a little in time to the movement and if you keep your leg close to his side you'll feel it move in under him slightly.  It's easiest to feel in walk because you've got most time to think  :P  but it's just the same feeling when you move up into trot.

All you really have to do to absorb the movement is allow yourself to go with it - and the reason you need to understand what's happening to both you and the horse is that when you realise what *should* be happening, you aren't busy trying to force yourself to do something else  :P  At least, that's what I think  

And once you understand how it all fits together, then when you *do* do something else it will be because you're consciously giving the horse a signal - to  collect himself. slow down or whatever - and not because you're getting stiff and bouncy and being left behind.    

[Heather]

Yep I agree Ros!! You are trying to make it all too complicated 1morejump!

Do it in walk first- allow your pelvis to rise and fall with the horse's back- do not try to make the movements, or you will be doing more than your horse. The same in sitting trot- the back needs to flex only as much as the horse is moving forwards- for instance in piaffe, the riders back will need to flex hardly at all as there is no forward movement- likewise in passage and collected trot, the forward movement is much less, so the back will need to flex far less than in extended trot for instance.

But the seatbones need to be allowed to rise and fall independently with the rise and fall of the horse's back. As the left side of the horse lowers under your seat, your seatbone lowers with it, and is pushed up and forwards again, as the back rises and pushes up under it. Until you can sit the movement of the trot, dont try to think about which leg is doing what under you- do this only in walk when you have time to think. The upper body must remain tall and supported upwards- this is why core strength/stablity is so important to be able to perfect a quiet sitting trot and canter.

In canter, I have to admit that since the book was written, I have another Equisimulator which has made me rethink my teaching of the canter in still more detail. But even then, the quality of the horse's canter very much dictates the rider's ability to sit to it. If it is badly on the forehand, the hind end of thehorse will rise more than the front end, effectively flipping the rider out of the saddle. On a canter like this, it is darn nigh impossible to sit it elegantly, and the rider may have to resort to slipping the seat on the saddle or 'polishing' it as is often recommended.

If the canter is schooled and balanced, the rider will feel as if being carried on the crest of a wave. The movement actually creates a backward circle of the hipbones- sit on a chair or stool and feel this- put your hand on your say, your left hipbone ( if on the left lead it will slightly draw your left hip forwards towards the leading leg) and make the hipbone draw a backwards circle, always without collapsing your ribcage.Count one, two three as you do this and on the one, tighten your seat muscles to lift your seatbones, but which still leaves your butt muscles on the chair. This would also be the moment that you close your legs to maintain forward impulsion.

It has the action of sort of sucking up the horse's back into your seat, but leaving room for it to come up as  it will lighten your seat in the process. This will help create jump and expression in the canter.


Hope this helps!!

Heather

[shoveltrash]

wow - great posts Heather & Ros!
i don't have anything to contribute 1morejump.....except to say 'thanks' for posting this question