Has anyone seen people post some and sit some of the same test? I have not. I personally think it looks like a person can’t fully commit to sit the whole thing.
I have always heard it’s not allowed to switch it up, can’t find that answer specifically.
If it works for you, great.
I thought that at TL you could either sit or post the trot unless it was specified to post it, such as in the stretchy circle.
I have a sensitive, hot Tb mare who generally does better (she is steadier, rounder, shows more bend) when I sit the trot, so that is my default, but I do post at times when it “feels” right for her.
No judge has ever commented on my alternating between sitting and posting or said that I’d better post.
True, it would probably look weird to switch mid-test. It would give the impression that the rider started out sitting, and then realized things weren’t working out, and switched to posting. If nothing else, I suspect it would impact the general flow and consistency of the test.
Yes, you can do both in the same test. Not at all against the rules. Judges won’t like you to START a movement one way, and then change your mind, though…and being symmetrical would be wise:
Like, if you sit the shallow loop serpentine in one direction, also sit it the other way.
It’s considered standard to do some steps of sitting trot as an aid to transitioning in and out of trot to canter or walk or halt… That doesn’t count as “sitting”.
And to be clear: in no way is is collection on the table for training level.
I think there are times when it behooves you to switch back and forth. For example - last show I did a less than stellar job prepping for the canter-trot transition. He came a bit above the bit and hollowed his back so I went rising for a few strides to encourage him to bring his back up, then went sitting again near the corner. Judge made no comment about it and it was the right choice in the moment. FWIW I have ridden sitting trot in every TL test this season on my young horse and haven’t had a single comment about it. If you sit well and the horse goes correctly it will not affect the score or show up in your comments.
[QUOTE=SendenHorse;8790693]
you can’t mix and match, either sit OR rise, unless specified as posting.[/QUOTE]
IIRC, and I could be wrong as it was many years ago but I remember a Training level (Eventing test) with lengthen trot that said to post, the rest could be sitting. I think you can mix and match so long as it does not say "sitting required’ and so long as you don’t do it within a movement - IE ok to post lengthenings, sit working.
I scored alright, judge didn’t say anything about me posting/sitting. She did have a reputation for having a chip on her shoulder with TBs and I really was scored lower than I should have been… Trainer & friends watched the test, said it was our best one ever, very accurate, expected high 20s (eventing, remember) and I got a 38…
Any time I have scribed for a judge they lament when someone sits - they’ve never seen your horse before, so they don’t know if he’s better sitting or posting - IMHO best to post.
Do report back if you try this though, Rain! I’m curious if the judges say anything.
TL is so short though! Not sure there is enough trot time for good “sample sizes!”
I guess I stand corrected it’s not forbidden per rules, but it’s always been trained into me that you just pick one. Good to know though, I will file this away in my brain in case i need it.
Yes, you absolutely can sit and post in the same test. I do so in the training 3, every time (scores 67-78) and often at 1st level and usually get 8’s on the rider scores in those tests. I’ve actually had it commented a few times that my use of sitting and posting was good decision making and beneficial. But, that doesn’t mean that a rider that gets 6’s should start sitting parts of the test and expect better scores; however, its not correct to say that doing both is either not allowed or looked down on when well done.
[QUOTE=Rain;8790773]
True, it would probably look weird to switch mid-test. It would give the impression that the rider started out sitting, and then realized things weren’t working out, and switched to posting. If nothing else, I suspect it would impact the general flow and consistency of the test.[/QUOTE]
Not at all. Especially with things like lengthening, riders switch all of the time. I know and scribe for many judges, and the comment is always what is best for the horse. And it shows you can be a better rider. For example, if you’re posting, and sit in a corner to get the horse back together and organized, I think that’s very smart and I would reward it as a judge.
[QUOTE=SendenHorse;8790739]
Has anyone seen people post some and sit some of the same test? I have not. I personally think it looks like a person can’t fully commit to sit the whole thing.
I have always heard it’s not allowed to switch it up, can’t find that answer specifically.
If it works for you, great.[/QUOTE]
There IS no rule saying you cannot switch. Period. End of story.
[QUOTE=Rain;8790773]
True, it would probably look weird to switch mid-test. It would give the impression that the rider started out sitting, and then realized things weren’t working out, and switched to posting. If nothing else, I suspect it would impact the general flow and consistency of the test.[/QUOTE]
Primarily schooling show experience, but… I have never had a judge penalize me for realizing something was not working out and doing something different to fix it. If anything, scores go up and I get comments about “better with X” or whatever I was being dinged on before. Rider scores have been better in those tests, too, usually with comments along the lines of “thoughtful ride.”
I think most judges can tell the difference between a rider that cannot maintain any consistency in the gaits at all and one that recognizes and fixes a problem in the gaits. IME, the second is going to outscore the first.
[QUOTE=SendenHorse;8790739]
Has anyone seen people post some and sit some of the same test? [/QUOTE]
I have done it several times, and have earned my highest scores at Training Level doing that.
[QUOTE=SendenHorse;8790804]
I guess I stand corrected it’s not forbidden per rules, but it’s always been trained into me that you just pick one. Good to know though, I will file this away in my brain in case i need it.[/QUOTE]
I stand corrected people! really! see my new post, ok? thanks
[QUOTE=Silverbridge;8790995]
I have done it several times, and have earned my highest scores at Training Level doing that.[/QUOTE]
must be regional, in 20 yrs I can’t recall seeing anyone switching. As I said, good to know and I’ll file it for future use.
[QUOTE=Silverbridge;8790995]
I have done it several times, and have earned my highest scores at Training Level doing that.[/QUOTE]
Me, too.
I switch as appropriate at first, and did at Training as well. My highest scores have all had some of each. If my mare starts to get tight in the back, I post. If she starts to get on the forehand but loose, I sit, if she gets squirrely I sit so I can direct her. It does change within the same test.
Well, sort of, I have. But I was also in a sidesaddle when the sitting improved things, and posting isn’t so easy there 
When doing the same Training tests astride, several times I would ride something, like the shallow loops, sitting, just to work through something, and it always always always ended up going better when I was eventually able to post it. But the horse seems to go better overall in the sidesaddle, and so I’ve been doing all my Training tests this year sitting, in the sidesaddle. Not the usual case, though, and not easy to sit.
Generally, I’d say unless you have a very very specific reason, and a solid seat, post.
[QUOTE=SendenHorse;8790739]
Has anyone seen people post some and sit some of the same test? I have not. I personally think it looks like a person can’t fully commit to sit the whole thing.
I have always heard it’s not allowed to switch it up, can’t find that answer specifically.
If it works for you, great.[/QUOTE]
OT (Sendenhorse, nice reply to BTDT… another little mean post …You are very experienced in writing little mean things…)
[QUOTE=Manni01;8791055]
OT (Sendenhorse, nice reply to BTDT… another little mean post …You are very experienced in writing little mean things…)[/QUOTE]
Reported.
Not again! Let’s get back on topic, ok?
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