Sitting Trot...Training Test?

[NewbieEventer]

[QUOTE=merrygoround;4013939]
Getting someone to put you on the longe, and teach you the sitting trot.

I cannot but wonder what someone, who has not mastered riding to the level of capability at the sitting trot, is doing on there eventing.

Getting grayer by the second. :lol: :lol:[/QUOTE]

I’m not sure that being able to sit the trot well correlates with safe/good cx jumping…but then again, maybe I’m just not yet at the level where I would recognize this. I’m pretty low on the totum pole of eventing (only doing BN/Novice)…but have to start somewhere :yes: Sounds like you think I shouldn’t be jumping/cx b/c I’ve not mastered sitting trot I’d be a better rider for mastering the sitting trot on this beast of a mover, but to not jump until I do seems a bit extreme. I do appreciate the spectrum of opinions/comments/suggestions though :yes:

[NewbieEventer]

[QUOTE=enjoytheride;4015823]
Funny, you’d think all those dressage queens who think they belong at first and second level would bother learning how to sit the trot before they go out in public.[/QUOTE]

:lol: Yes, learning to sit the trot is definately something I’d rather not do in front of an audience :lol:

[Dressurfan]

[QUOTE=NewbieEventer;4015808]
I’ve talked to my trainer (a relatively BNT in eventing) about sitting his trot…and she said not to bother until I start getting ready for Prelim. I would like to practice more sitting trots to develop my seat, but am worried about hurting my horse’s back. Are there any exercises out of the saddle I can do to help me reach this next level? Also, do you think it makes a difference whether I’m using a dressage saddle or jump saddle? [/QUOTE]

We all know the saying practice makes perfect. Do not wait until you are ready to show prelim and then start learning to sit the trot! Start now so that you will know how to sit when you are ready for prelim. The best way to learn is to practice a little bit each day. After your horse is warmed up ride for 5 min a day in sitting trot with no stirrups. This should not kill his back. Also ask your trainer to help you work on getting his back up and suppling him. A swinging back is easier to sit than a tight back. A dressage saddle will help you sit better than a cc saddle because it is designed to balance you in the optimal position for sitting wheras the cc saddle is designed to balance you in the optimal 2 point position.

[MistyBlue]

Huh…when I’m jumping my tuckus and my tack rarely meet each other. Also my irons are a helluva lot shorter than would be necessary for a working sitting trot. Hard to jump anything higher than a crossrail with long irons unless you plan to sit the jump too. :winkgrin:

[NewbieEventer]

[QUOTE=Dressurfan;4017015]
We all know the saying practice makes perfect. Do not wait until you are ready to show prelim and then start learning to sit the trot! Start now so that you will know how to sit when you are ready for prelim. The best way to learn is to practice a little bit each day. After your horse is warmed up ride for 5 min a day in sitting trot with no stirrups. This should not kill his back. Also ask your trainer to help you work on getting his back up and suppling him. A swinging back is easier to sit than a tight back. A dressage saddle will help you sit better than a cc saddle because it is designed to balance you in the optimal position for sitting wheras the cc saddle is designed to balance you in the optimal 2 point position.[/QUOTE]

Thanks, Dressurfan. I’ve already kind of started doing just what you suggested…except instead of 5 min, I sit for a few strides, post some, then repeat. I do wonder if I’d have an easier time if I tried this in an actual dressage saddle. I might see if I can borrow one for a couple rides.

[Ambrey]

Did you ever get an answer to your original question?

http://www.usef.org/documents/disciplines/dressage/tests/abridged/First%201.pdf

anywhere it doesn’t say “rising or sitting” it’s sitting.

[arizona101]

My first gelding that I wanted to do dressage with had the most enormous trot ever so I can totally understand your difficulty ! We started out doing the hunters with him and his trot would win the hacks for him but boy it was a bear when I wanted to do dressage. I doubted I would make it past TL at first because of the dreaded sitting trot. If I practiced much my back would kill me and in hindsight I bet his back probably got sore too ! Luckly I found a great dressage trainer who really put me on the path to sitting the trot.

First we found the best dressage saddle I could afford. I had not invested in one yet because I never saw myself going past TL soon due to the sitting trot. Trainer rode horse a lot getting him round and sitting the trot so he would learn to relax and carry the rider sitting without fear of having his back beat. Meanwhile I had a million lunge line lessons on a nice comfy horse. Lots of transitions , riding no hands , arms over head , no stirrups , you name it. They did vaulting at that barn too and I w/t/c on the vaulting horses too , anything to develop my seat. Finally I was back on my own big moving horse (on the lunge) sitting the trot as long as I could do it well. As soon as I started to grip/bounce / tighten or he became hollow stiff or inverted we would transition back to walk get organized and try again. It took a while but it helped a ton !

Somewhere during this whole time frame I remember driving home from my lesson when it occured to me my back no longer hurt after sitting this horses trot ! I was thrilled because I had owned the horse 10 years and had accepted being sore as a part of riding that horse. From them on I knew to pay attention to my body and when I started to hurt in that old way I had been used to I needed to check my position and be sure I was not falling into my old habits.

Good luck ! Sitting the big movers can be tough !

[Lifting_Chickk]

[QUOTE=NewbieEventer;4015808]
Sorry for my confusing post…I meant First Level USEF test 1

Yes, you must sit the trot with the exception of the 20m stretchy circle.

I do realize I really need to work on my seat. I could sit the trot decently with my last horse, but the horse I currently have is such a huge mover (esp at the trot) that I find it extremely difficult to maintain constant/smooth/fluid contact with his back at the trot. He literally bounces me out of the saddle every time his inside hind comes up. When I do try to sit his trot, I feel like I’m getting whiplashed in my lower back trying to follow his motion. I’ve talked to my trainer (a relatively BNT in eventing) about sitting his trot…and she said not to bother until I start getting ready for Prelim. I would like to practice more sitting trots to develop my seat, but am worried about hurting my horse’s back. Are there any exercises out of the saddle I can do to help me reach this next level? Also, do you think it makes a difference whether I’m using a dressage saddle or jump saddle? (currently only have a jump/cc saddle)

If you are going to be showing 1st level at a recognized dressage show, it would be advised to use a dressage saddle. In the eventing world, I’ve seen dressage tests ridden at the Novice level quite successfully in jumping saddles.

We are eventing at the lower levels (BN/N), and do jump all of stadium and cx in 2-point or light 3-point at the canter. I’d like to get a bit more involved in dressage and am wanting to do some recognized shows this year…just hoping that I don’t get laughed out of the ring :([/QUOTE]

It took me a while to learn how to control my body in the sitting trot too. It helped when I began to feel my hips loosen and allow them to follow the motion instead of bracing against it. Tension is your enemy here. Good luck!

[flshgordon]

@NewbieEventer;4015808

Sorry for my confusing post…I meant First Level USEF test 1

I do realize I really need to work on my seat. I could sit the trot decently with my last horse, but the horse I currently have is such a huge mover (esp at the trot) that I find it extremely difficult to maintain constant/smooth/fluid contact with his back at the trot. He literally bounces me out of the saddle every time his inside hind comes up. When I do try to sit his trot, I feel like I’m getting whiplashed in my lower back trying to follow his motion. I’ve talked to my trainer (a relatively BNT in eventing) about sitting his trot…and she said not to bother until I start getting ready for Prelim. I would like to practice more sitting trots to develop my seat, but am worried about hurting my horse’s back. Are there any exercises out of the saddle I can do to help me reach this next level? Also, do you think it makes a difference whether I’m using a dressage saddle or jump saddle? (currently only have a jump/cc saddle)

We are eventing at the lower levels (BN/N), and do jump all of stadium and cx in 2-point or light 3-point at the canter. I’d like to get a bit more involved in dressage and am wanting to do some recognized shows this year…just hoping that I don’t get laughed out of the ring

For First Level test 1 (or any First level test) you sit EVERYTHING except the lengthenings and the stretchy trot circles.

[NewbieEventer]

Thanks for the clarifications regarding sitting trot in 1st Level. I think I’ll stick to the Training tests for now

[quietann]

[QUOTE=NewbieEventer;4019570]
Thanks for the clarifications regarding sitting trot in 1st Level. I think I’ll stick to the Training tests for now :)[/QUOTE]

NewbieEventer, welcome to the “staying in Training level for now because OMG Sitting Trot” club! I have a bouncy little mare (and the fact that she’s little means her steps are quicker, which makes for more bounce per meter :lol:)