Sitting Trot question

[tbchick84]

[QUOTE=DunByMistake;8926870]
At a clinic this summer, the clinician got me to sit just a few strides on my very green (and large!) horse just so he could get the feel of me sitting. As I have very tight hips already, I found I was getting tighter and tighter trying to force myself down in the saddle.

The clinician suggested ‘wiggling’ my hips when I felt myself getting stiff. Literally moving one hip forward then the other and trying to wiggle my bum in the saddle. Sounds totally ridiculous (and I felt realllll silly doing it) but it does work. Obviously not something you want to do all the way around the ring but for a few strides when you need to relax, it does work![/QUOTE]

Yes, I have tight hips too. I frequently have to do a little “wiggle” reset. Nobody’s ever around when I ride, so I don’t mind doing it. If I ever get the $$, a saddle with a narrow twist is in my future.

[EventerAJ]

Being relaxed helps to follow the motion. There is a bit of unconscious gripping with your thigh, but it’s more of a gentle hold/release following the horse’s motion, sinking deeper into the saddle with each downward bounce. Back-pedaling a bicycle is a good analogy, but don’t let your core get mushy. If you grip with your legs 100% of the time, you’ll bounce off the saddle like a clothespin trying to pinch a big carrot.

I learned to sit the trot without stirrups, and I find it’s helpful for students. Force yourself to post or 2 point without stirrups as long as you can, until your legs feel fatigued, jelly-like, burning and screaming “DEAR GOD NO MORE POSTING! PLEASE!” and allow yourself to sit the trot… your dead legs will no longer be pinching for dear life and those loose muscles will allow you to sit deeper, drapey legs like wet noodles, and the sitting trot becomes a relief instead of a chore. For some students it’s best to start on the lunge line (with side reins to help the horse give a place to sit), depending on their ability and how bouncy the horse is.