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Post by neighlass on Mar 3, 2009 20:37:06 GMT
Hello guys... Well Saturday I had my first lesson for the rising trot, needless to say I bounced a lot but managed to double bounce a few times so there is hope  Does anyone have any lil tips on how to get the hang of it - different things work for different people so am trying to find my 'thing' at the moment! Also, some advice please! I am scared of hurting majors back whilst learning the trot as I am 17st and dont want him to resent me riding him! Will I ruin him?  Thank you in advance... |
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Post by fleabitten on Mar 3, 2009 21:00:15 GMT
I think bouncing is an inevitable part of learning to ride! Still, I was reading something about someone learning to trot and they found that by concentrating on something else then the other thing will fall into place. For instance you could stand in your stirrups for 4 and then sit for 4 or whatever. Hold on to a neckstrap to prevent you thumping back into the saddle. You could also ride without stirrups to improve your seat.
As its your first lesson my advice would be to continue doing as your instructor says but making sure you try hard to control your movements and not let yourself fall into the saddle etc. Also, by getting Majors back checked regularly and by warming up in walk for at least 10 mins.
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haffyfan
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Post by haffyfan on Mar 3, 2009 21:09:35 GMT
It takes some getting but does come with time....honest. The old up, down, up, down chant seems to work for most people.
Horses are very forgiving and you'll quickly get the hang of the rhythem. Quit worrying!
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Post by neighlass on Mar 3, 2009 21:09:46 GMT
Thanks for that buddy!  I usually find that I bounce, then try really hard and usually sort of do hlf as many rises and falls to what I am meant to - have seen my kids doing this when they had lessons  I' not sure about getting rid of my stirrups but will certainly mention it to my RI to see what she thinks  |
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Post by scattymare on Mar 3, 2009 21:14:56 GMT
As Flea said, the bouncing is something we all have to go through. Once you get it though its second nature. To start with, use a neck strap or hold the front of the saddle with one hand. If your instructor can teach you on the lunge even better so you can concentrate on yourself and not worry about what Major is doing. Try to relax and fid the natural rythm - just a small movement out of the saddle is enough - don't feel you need to really lift yourself up as this will throw you out of time and balance. Count the horses rythm as the shoulder goes forward and back, in a 1-2, 1-2, 1-2. Good luck, you will soon get the hang of it.
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Post by neighlass on Mar 3, 2009 21:17:13 GMT
Thanks, my RI said to hold on to his mane... I felt cruel doing this but she said he wouldnt mind... |
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jane
Novice Willy Washer
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Post by jane on Mar 3, 2009 23:41:35 GMT
holding mane is good and as scatty said - 1 -2 1 - 2 .............................
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Post by solomon on Mar 4, 2009 7:56:43 GMT
Think of the rise as coming from your knee so you are hinged and its a forward back movement over the saddle hips coming to front of saddle and back that has helped me. Also read alll you can by great trainers like Pippa funnelll and mary wanless. Happy trotting.
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Post by kitcat on Mar 4, 2009 9:13:20 GMT
Try and let Major's movement push you out of the saddle rather than making yourself rise then you are going with him. A RI I had always said never rise more than the horse throws you. The old Mon-day Tues-day works instead of 1-2 1-2 if you want to try something different. You will get there, one day it will just snap into place.
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Post by fimacg on Mar 4, 2009 9:34:27 GMT
closing your eyes may help you get the rhythm even if you just close them for 3 or 4 beats as you go down the long side.
If you don't like holding the mane you could loop a flash strap between the front D rings on your saddle and hold that which I think feels more secure than a neck strap, or holding the front of the saddle.
As for the bouncing it suddenly just comes in what I call 'a flash of the blindingly obvious'. I could never ever do sitting trot and then one day it was like "aha!!! thats how you do it!!!!" and now its easy.
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Post by racaille on Mar 4, 2009 16:02:16 GMT
As Fi says, a common mistake by novices is to rise too much and the time it takes you to get all the way up puts you out of sync for the next one! So yes, just a little way out of the saddle. We do an exercise here (all levels) which can help: at trot, stand up in your stirrups with your legs straight (trot arabe) and maintain it down the long sides of the arena, going into trot en equilibre on the short sides. This is the 'light seat' you use for jumping - ie, just out of the saddle with all the weight being taken by you knees which flex at each stride. This will help you feel the difference between being too far out of the seat and just enough for rising trot. The exercises are hard at first - both the balance and the amount of work your knees have to do. Practice makes perfect though! You can strengthen your knee muscles at home by placing your feet apart and, with a straight back, bending your knees and straightening them slowly, as though you were doing rising trot. It will pull your calf muscles. When you get good at it, stand on the bottom stair of your staircase, with just the ball of your foot on the stair and do the same thing, really thinking about your weight being in your heels. This will lengthen your achilles tendon (which shortens if you wear high heels!!) and will make it easier for you to get correct foot position - ie not toe down!!! Do try these - they really make it easier and less tiring as novices can find rising trot exhausting. But it will click into place and before you know it you'll be doing rising trot for miles and miles without noticing ....... |
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Post by rainbow on Mar 4, 2009 18:17:57 GMT
not very good advivce from me but u should ride mattie he is the most bounciest horse ever lol he really flings u into the air. rode him today and omg lol.
But yeah it does just eventually fall into place, u will get there!
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Post by neighlass on Mar 5, 2009 11:12:12 GMT
Just noticed all these replies so thank you very much  I am gonna give it another go this weekend and leave it during the week this week as my back is playing up and bobbling about makes it worse! Those excersizes sound a challenge but I will give them a go! I have had a "bad knee" (inflamed knee cap) now and then since i was about 8 and so the muscle above my left knee isnt as strong as the other but I am determined to get it working and up to scratch! Thank you so so much for all of the advice. I will try and think positive too... x |
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Post by Becca on Mar 5, 2009 16:07:19 GMT
Not sure if someone has already said it but keeping your lower leg still will help, lots of people tend to swing it almost as if to swing themselve out the saddle. You need to keep it firmly under you to keep the best balance |
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Post by neighlass on Mar 7, 2009 11:10:01 GMT
Just to let you all know I did it today!!! We had done some walking whilst standing excersizes and that sorta did the trick as she said that that was the position I needed to be in - I didnt realise I needed to go so high so as soon s she told me that I just did it! Poor Major didnt know what was going on as I went bonkers cuddling him and squeeling! My homework for next week is to be able to keep him going in trot all the way around the school!! Thank you for all of your advice, i'm sure it all helped as I tried taking it all in! |
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Post by spotti on Mar 7, 2009 16:08:06 GMT
YAY! Go you!
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Post by neighlass on Mar 7, 2009 18:41:22 GMT
Thank youuuuuu!!!! ;D I must say, it has made my weekend! How sad am I!!! |
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Post by betsybubbles on Mar 7, 2009 21:38:50 GMT
Well done lass - you'll be hacking out in no time! It's definately sensible to set yourself small achievable goals!
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Post by spotti on Mar 8, 2009 8:51:25 GMT
Not sad at all! We've all been there and had that " ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D" feeling when we've finally 'got' something. I'm so happy for you. And bless Major - he sounds such a sweetie  |
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Post by kitcat on Mar 9, 2009 10:59:59 GMT
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Post by neighlass on Mar 9, 2009 18:29:04 GMT
Thank you I took Major in the school this afternoon as I had the day off and I mounted him on my own (without having to have someone steady him) and did half halts and trotted on both reigns (even if it was in a circle  ) and so I am very pleased of me and my boy! Eventually I managed to get him going in just a line, I just need more practice! I think though more than that I was more pleased about the fact that I can speed him up and slow him down in walk now wheras I couldnt before! God I do love that lad!! |
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Post by Jen on Mar 9, 2009 21:46:03 GMT
thats really good!! well done you!!!
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ceej
Administrator
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Post by ceej on Mar 10, 2009 16:34:20 GMT
yay! well done! i think rising trot is one of the hardest things to learn! once you have it you wont understadn why you couldnt do it, but before that its difficult!
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Post by brigadier on Mar 14, 2009 20:57:25 GMT
Thats a huge 'bounce' forward! Well done!
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Post by maximum on Mar 15, 2009 21:43:58 GMT
well done you!! its so strange as some people 'get it' right away and for others it takes ages but once you do it never ever goes away so well done you!
as ficmag suggests close your eyes and feel the horse pusing you up and down. a wee lunge lesson might help as then you dont have to worry about the steering and impulsion and can work on you!
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