sitting trot bareback - tips

[shadesofbay3]

as a hunter rider with an old back injury, i find that riding bareback is much more comfortable for me, but there is one thing i really struggle with, and that is riding at the sitting trot. i can do it comfortably if i get my mare to go REALLY slow (like slower than she should be going), but i want to master it at a reasonable pace and would like some tips

things i have heard

-think of your legs hanging/wrapping around horse’s barrel to avoid gripping… basically thinking “down”
-rolling your seatbones underneath you to avoid sitting directly on your “pockets” and bringing your diaphragm “up” (this is sort of confusing?)
-leaning back a bit and avoid having a stiff back
-thinking of each hip bone as a separate entity and moving them with your horse individually

i know because of my injury i also have a weaker core and that doesnt help my problem at all.

any advice/tips are appreciate

TIA

[Scribbler]

We rode bareback a lot as kids.

We did walk, jog trot, and full blast bombing all out gallop.

Like Western riders who don’t post, bare back riders don’t tend to enjoy extended or even working trot.

The only discipline that insists you ride an extended trot without posting is dressage. And even in a cushy $7000 saddle with a deep seat and giant thigh blocks, sitting the lengthened or extended trot on a big Warmblood needs a lot of work and strength, and is often a stumbling block to adult amateurs showing above First Level. Sitting a big trot in other words is hard even in a saddle engineered for that purpose.

So honestly I don’t have any tips for sitting a working trot bareback because I don’t think many people do it.

[CBoylen]

I agree that you probably want to go slow. But also make sure your hands are in front of your shoulders , with a bend in your elbow, and above the neck. People hang on, either to the mane or the reins, and end up tipped forward which will always lead to bounce.

[Willesdon]

Perhaps use a neck strap so that you feel more stable, worry less about balance and therefore can relax into the movement of the horse.

[Renn_aissance]

You hit the nail on the head. Your problem is a weak core. Strong core muscles will help you to stabilize your seat and allow you to move with the horse. Are you able to do core exercises, Pilates, or PT?

[foursocks]

The thing that helps sitting trot regardless of if you have a saddle or not, is getting the horse working over its back. Going slower with the horse inverted isn’t going to help as much as getting him to lift his back and work into the bridle.

[anon40672407]

I always found I felt better riding bareback when I lifted my knees up the barrel a bit (like they would be with shorter stirrups) rather than thinking “down” and letting my leg wrap around the horse. I could use a little thigh muscle to cushion jolts.

I don’t recall this WRT sitting trot specifically, but what’s the joltiest gait? I’m guessing in hindsight that it had to do with trotting.

Of course, to a dressage rider, this is the opposite type of advice…but try it, and report back.

[ZELLA]

Think of hula-hooping, do that, and then relax at the same time. It’ll come in time. But it takes time.

[Mukluk]

A drink to relax you? Maybe one for your horse as well?