How do you post your trot without srirrups?

Question

I can canter without stirrups fine but posting without them is a problem my leg some times slips back making me fall on my horses neck...I do not know what to do...NOTE:I CAN SIT THE TROT AND CANTER WITHOUT STIRRUPS...

Answer 1

You should be posting from your knees, not your feet.  Your weight should be carried at the knees and they are in contact with your horse.  The knotch just below your knee where it joins the rest of your leg is the spot where the pressure that holds your weight will be.  Now I am assuming your posting in and english saddle.  Posting in a Western saddle is done the same way but to me is a little ruffer on the knees.  the English saddle has the pads where your knee actually rest.

Answer 2

It's not really your knees so much as it is your inner thigh.  You don't want to pinch with your knees, but you can't use your stirrups to push yourself up either.  When you're posting with stirrups, try not to use your toes... when you go up, your heels should go down, not your toes.  If you start posting like that, you'll be using your legs more than your toes and posting without stirrups will be easier.

When posting without stirrups, don't try too hard.  That was my problem for a long time.  Just let the horse bounce you up... you don't need to do a whole lot to go up for your post.  And you don't need to stay up for too long.  And don't try to go too high.  Just let the horse bounce you up, hold yourself there for a second using your inner thigh then let yourself fall back down.  You'll want to sit a little more forward for your posting trot without stirrups than you will for your sitting trot without stirrups.

For your falling forward problem, just make sure that your leg stays forward.  Since your leg is slipping back on you, I think you probably are trying too hard to post.  Consciously try to push your legs forward every time you post.  And when you go up, don't use your legs so much.  When I was learning, I tried to use my legs too much so everytime I went up, my legs streched out straight underneath me instead of staying in position with a bend in my knee.  I think that's the same problem that you're having now.  Just remember to keep your legs forward and allow yourself to bounce with the horse.

Answer 3

It requires ALOT of leg muscle. Drop your stirrups and wrap your legs around your horse. With you leg muscles, not your feet.., go up and down. Make sure you are on your correct posting diagonal or it will be alot harder and alot more uncomfortable. Also, try holding the pommel of your saddle with your inside hand to keep your balance.