Why is my horses trot so horribly jerky??? I've never experienced a trot like this with any other horse.HELP

Question

Why is my horses trot so horribly jerky??? I've never experienced a trot like this with any other horse.HELP

Answer 1

different horses have different trots.

The horse you rode probably had a very bouncy trot making it dificult to rise to and uncomfortable to sit to. Just try yur best, im sure your instructor will forgive you - they must know the horse has an uncomfortable trot.

Answer 2

It could just be the conformation of the horse.  Over time you should learnt to adjust to the trot and you should not even be able to tell the difference

Answer 3

There are several reasons a horse will have a choppy stride.  Injury, to legs or back or conformation faults are at the top of the list.

My 22 year old quarter horse has a very choppy, uncomfortable trot, to the point that I just don't ride him anymore.  He has a serious conformation flaw where his butt is higher than his withers.  This makes it impossible for him to gather his rear end underneath him.  He stops on his front end and running speed events like barrel racing is very uncomfortable for him (he was retired at 5 years old from barrel racing).  

When I do ride him I try get him to round his back and tuck his head vertically then his trot smothes out to a bearable level.  Trouble is I can't get him to hold this position for very long.  You might have better luck with your horse.

First determine whether the cause is conformation or injury or pain.  If it is conformation try to get him to round up (collect himself).  If it is pain then consult your veterinarian or equine chiropractor.

Answer 4

thats how the horse's trot is that i ride, and it is kinda fast. so i am showing him at the fair and i had to teach him to slow it down and be smoother. i gently tug at the reins w/ two hands holding the reins. alternate your fingers tugging, like w/ left hand then right hand. i do it in a beat like....left: 1, right: 2, left: 1, right: 2,(do the beat at a fairly fast pace) and so on but u have to do this while you are trotting and this should bring his head in causing him to slow down and smooth out the trot! well i hope that helped!  

Answer 5

A horse of mine had a terrible trot. She was very rough and choppy. I found out that her previous owners had an equine chiropractor work on her and she worked lovely afterwards. My mare was very ill-conformed, and the chiropractic work really helped her hips and back, which made her trot much better. That being said, I would see about having an equine chiropractor come out and take a look at her.

Answer 6

either the horse is trotting fast or it doesn't have the best of conformation. horses generally have smooth trots if their conformation is great. horses with bad/ not the best conformation have jackhammer trots. and then there is, of course, the oddball horse where their trot is just bouncy for no apparent reason.  

Answer 7

There are many factors which may make his trot jerky as the others have posted.  My Arab/QH was like this when he trots with his head fairly high which makes him very bumpy!  I have been working with him to bend his neck and round his back which has made huge improvements that I can now sit to his trot even bareback.  I find it comes down to training and conformation, my horse is 7 but is still learning balance and I find doing lots of circles asking for the bend with the inside rein and inside leg on with the outside rein supporting works well.  It will take time for him to re establish his rhythm when he has his body with a nice bend to him make sure you reward him by relaxing the reins so he will find comfort and eventually he will look for that spot and hold the position.  

Hope this helps

Answer 8

Some horses just have an uncomfortable trot. There is nothing you can do about it but get used to it or get a different horse. Sorry, that's life.  

Answer 9

Is the horse you are using a standardbred off the track? They happen to have a jerky trot. I have the same problem with my standardbred. You should try collection. It works well on my horse. To do collection just see saw your reins releasing pressure as your see saw. If collection doesn't work try to learn to post. It really helps. That's all i can say for now.  

Answer 10

All horses have a different trot, the key to a smooth ride is to stand up in the stirrups a bit when the horse trots and bounce with your knees to the rhythm.

Answer 11

The horse I am looking to buy has a very big, floaty trot that might seem weird if you've never felt it before. If that's not it, then you should get an experienced person to watch your horse trot and see if anything's wrong.

Answer 12

That's just the way that he trots.  I know it will be hard to get used to but you will.

Answer 13

lameness, arthritis, poor conformation...or that could just be her natural gait.  

Answer 14

Things like upright pasterns and straight shoulders can produce this kind of trot.  Also, certain conditions may contribute, like prior founder,  or arthritic changes affecting the shoulder or hock joints.  The other factor,  and one that you can improve, is the speed and collection of his movement when you trot him.  A western jog, even on a horse with a choppy trot, is still comfortable to ride.  If you ride english, and show, then the jog is not an option (at least not in the show arena).  However, the more balanced you can get him to move, the better it will be to ride.

Answer 15

You haven't mentioned things that might be a factor in your horse's uncomfortable trot.  Is he sound?  Any confirmation flaws that might lend itself to an uncomfortable trot?  A photo might help.

Answer 16

It probably has to do with his conformation and training. Some horses just have bouncy trots.

My horse has good conformation to allow for a nice trot and the training as well but it still sucks. All his gait are big and pretty but his trot is horrible. Walk and canter, no problem. One advantage to having a bouncy horse is once you learn to ride it, all other horses are easy.

Answer 17

some horses just have a bouncy trot or they aren't balanced correctly at the trot.  get a nice slow JOG and try to sit that.

Do lots of posting rythmically to try to keep your horse in a good rythm and keep him balanced.  You just need to practice sitting if you cant sit

flex your abs while trying to sit...but don't become stiff.  

you may be causing him to be jerky if you give him mixed signals to slow down or speed up....just keep your aids light and keep a steady rythm.

I sometimes ride with music to help myself keep a good rythm.

good luck!