What does it feel like when the horse trots?

Question

when i did ti for the first time, it was really bouncy and i got dizzy. is it suposed t obe like that? or am i not doing it right

Answer 1

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Answer 2

To relieve the bounciness of a horse's natural trot, we "post" to the trot. Picture yourself running. When you run, with each step there is a part of the step where your left leg is out in front of you. Then it switches and your right leg is out in front of you. A horse's trot looks a lot like this. So if you are in an arena or up against a fence while trotting, the front leg that is closest to the wall is the one to watch. When that leg is out in front of the horse, (you can either lean down and see if you are really a beginner, but as you get better you can feel what your horse is doing beneath you) you will use your leg strength to "stand" in the saddle for one beat. When the leg farthest from the wall is farther forward, you should be sitting in the saddle. So it is a process of standing for one beat, sitting for another beat. Standing for the next, sitting for the next. It sounds a lot more complicated than it is, it should come pretty naturally to you. You will feel the horses trot almost "lift" your seat out of the saddle with each step.

If you are riding western, posting is a lot less common so you can try to sit the trot. Make sure your stirrups aren't too short. Keep your hands low and relax all the muscles in your body. (if you need to, grab the saddle horn with one hand) Grip the saddle evenly through your legs and relax your stomach and butt muscles. Keep your heels pressed down and try to absorb the shock of the trot in your ankles. Hope that helped! Just stay relaxed and "go with the flow" of the trot.