How do you post/rise to the trot without stirrups or bareback?

Question

I have tried it but I always clench too much with my legs and it confuses the horse I ride because she thinks I'm asking her to speed up. Help?

Answer 1

My trainer is always having me do no stirrup exercises to help build muscle for these kinds of things. If you slowly build up your leg strength and not use your lower leg (as others have said) it will become easier.  

Answer 2

I don't think your supposed to rise to the trot when you dont have stirrups or bareback. You should be doing a sitting trot, I cant really explain it but your butt shouldn't leave the saddle. its much more comfy for the horse too.

Answer 3

hold with your knees.. and use your thighs to pick yourself up.. if the horse is trotting faster its actually easier to do a posting trot without stirrups..

Answer 4

I am answering another question almost identical to yours and will copy the answer and post (no pun intended) it here too.   You are right on the money realizing what is happening and wanting to correct it. I will post ASAP.  

NOTE: Once you do take the time and effort, you and your horse will both be soooo happy and see a major diff in not just how fast you will progress but how much more fun and easier everything will  

Answer 5

This takes time, muscle, and a determined will to do properly. When you have well developed inner thigh muscle it is not too difficult to rise off of your knee with the lower part of your leg loose.

The answer, as usual, is practice, practice.......and............ muscle strengthening. A good exercise to develop grip strength in your upper leg is to take a child's play ball, put it between your knees while seated and grip it and release with your knees, start with a few, and increase as days go by. Keep trying to rise off your knee at the post, with your lower leg relaxed, pretty soon you'll get it right... yup, that is for sure... way to go!

Answer 6

Don't squeeze with your lower legs. Squeeze with your knees and thighs. It takes a lot of muscle and you may need to hold onto something at first, but you'll catch on. Good Luck =]

Answer 7

The reason your horse is speeding up is 'cause you're using your legs.  You have to use your lower thigh muscles when posting without irons.  Try putting your self up in 2 point position using just your lower thighs and do so at a WALK for a couple of laps.  Do this for a week to strengthen your lower thighs, then try posting again.

Answer 8

You need to have strong legs to do this.

Chances are, you are gripping too much with your calf. Some people grip too much with their knee (their legs then slip back to a dangerous degree).

You need to learn to distribute your grip evenly throughout your leg. Practice this at the walk, and sitting trot. Don't start posting until you're ready.

Answer 9

You need to use your legs and your horses momentum to help you post naturally.  Grip with your upper leg and knee, use your lower leg to steady yourself and drive the horse, keep your upper body straight, your shoulders back and your heels down to maintain good balance,  then simply let your horse "bump" you up with each stride.  When you rise from your seat on the desired diagnal, you don't want to stand up neccesarily but just tuck your hips up under you and away from the horses back.  You'll be sore for a bit but lot's of practice riding at a walk, trot and canter and practicing transitions without irons will help you develop incredible riding skills and a good solid form.  Have fun:)

Answer 10

Well I've been taught to ride sitting/working trot when riding without stirrups or bareback. It's easier and as long as you have good balance then you'd be fine.

Charlotte x

P.S You have to sit deep otherwise you'll fall.

Answer 11

Squeeze with your thighs and knees and pull your self up with your upper body. that's the way i do it. good luck

also if you cant do that then it means that your not posting correctly in the saddle. so you might want to take some english lessons to learn how to post correctly

Answer 12

You have to use your thighs as opposed to gripping with your calves and pushing yourself up...its really hard, but you will get it...try it with the saddle first, and then when you get good at that try bareback..the saddle will keep you in the correct spot on your horse so you dont have to worry about your position on the horses back..as you have to when bareback...

Answer 13

use your knees not your whole leg.

Answer 14

Its hard at first, but you'll get used to it!

You need to grip your saddle with your knees and thighs- as some of the others have said, don't use your lower leg to grip. Use your thighs and bring yourself up.

Same goes for riding bareback, you just need to find balance.

Good luck=]

Answer 15

i have the same problem and it sucks! lol im sorry i cant help you though.

Answer 16

wrap your legs around her and pull your self up

Answer 17

This is how I learned (it wasn't pretty at first haha but you will get the hang of it if you try) for one thing try not to touch your calves to the horse at all, just your knees up. Its REALLY quite hard at first but once you do your legs will get used to it and basically just dangle but you'll stay on and thats the goal :)! And instead of the up and down motion you do in the stirrups (post/rise as you said) try moving more side to side like the horse is doing like if you watch a horses back you will see its moving more side to side that up and down. Always try to move with the horse! If you need any help bareback pads help keep you on better and I always used to grab the mane to keep balance at first. Hope I could help at all!!

Answer 18

i remember when i was trying to learn... not fun until i got it... ask the horse for an extended trot. sit for a few seconds to get the feel of it, then grip with your knees (not your calves or thighs) and use the momentum of the stride to bring yourself up using your thigh muscles. before you ask for the trot, though, bend your knees more than usual and rest them on the horse's shoulder. this will give you a better point to grip without cueing the horse to speed up. this worked for me, but i cant guarantee this will work for you; you have to just kind of flounder around for a little while until you find the rhythm that works for you. hope i've been of some help! =]