My training! Help please!

Appylover · 07-14-2007, 06:07 PM

I dont have a trainer or anything and Im new at this horse stuff, and I cant Figure out how to sit in the saddle at a trot or canter/lope. (i have dont canter/lope)

And how do you sit in the saddle at those? Do you stand up in the sturrips? And (if you have to stand) how do you keep your horse From stoping/slowing/ or going to a different speed?(like going from canter to trot then trot to walk)

Thanks!!
(I didnt know were this went so I put this in training)

**divinemisselle** · 07-14-2007, 06:28 PM

What discipline are you riding?

Appylover · 07-14-2007, 07:22 PM

Western/pleasure

instigatorkate · 07-14-2007, 08:52 PM

I teach students to ride the sit trot/jog with a slight left-right motion instead of bouncing up and down. To get the feel, grab the horn and stand slightly in your stirrups with your heels down and wiggle your butt left right left right left right in time with the horses jog, then lower yourself into the saddle, keeping the left right motion. Think heavy in your butt, and make sure you're not pushing on your toes (this pushes you up out of the saddle). Sometimes it help to think of REALLY heavy weights attached to your heels dragging on the ground.

For the lope, let your legs come a little in front of you, so you can just see your toes if you look down at your knee. With your non-rein hand (or the outside hand if you're on a circle) grab the back of the saddle. It feels weird at first, but it really opens your shoulder and hips up. Don't let your leg sneak too far ahead of you. Alternately (or together if your horse is super calm) mimic the motion of your horses lead leg with your arm on the the same side as his lead. i.e. pick it up and forward out in front of you in a circle. Yes, you will look stupid, but it works really well. Once you get it down, you can stop doing it. Same thing as before, think heavy in your seat and make sure your toes are up and heels down so you don't push yourself out of the saddle.

ETA: once you can sit well, then you'll be ready to start making sure the horse doesn't change speeds on you. Til then, as long as you're safe, don't sweat it too much. One thing at a time. Really, once they feel you learn to sit, they won't try to change speeds as much either.

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07-14-2007, 06:07 PM
Appylover Long Yearling Join Date: May 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,233	My training! Help please! I dont have a trainer or anything and Im new at this horse stuff, and I cant Figure out how to sit in the saddle at a trot or canter/lope. (i have dont canter/lope) And how do you sit in the saddle at those? Do you stand up in the sturrips? And (if you have to stand) how do you keep your horse From stoping/slowing/ or going to a different speed?(like going from canter to trot then trot to walk) Thanks!! (I didnt know were this went so I put this in training) __________________ MerryChristmasandHappyNew Year!!

07-14-2007, 06:28 PM
divinemisselle Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 6,657	What discipline are you riding? __________________ . If Everything Seems to Be Going Right... You Have Obviously Overlooked Something. ~Steven Wright

07-14-2007, 07:22 PM
Appylover Long Yearling Join Date: May 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,233	Western/pleasure __________________ MerryChristmasandHappyNew Year!!

07-14-2007, 08:52 PM
instigatorkate Long Yearling Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,197	I teach students to ride the sit trot/jog with a slight left-right motion instead of bouncing up and down. To get the feel, grab the horn and stand slightly in your stirrups with your heels down and wiggle your butt left right left right left right in time with the horses jog, then lower yourself into the saddle, keeping the left right motion. Think heavy in your butt, and make sure you're not pushing on your toes (this pushes you up out of the saddle). Sometimes it help to think of REALLY heavy weights attached to your heels dragging on the ground. For the lope, let your legs come a little in front of you, so you can just see your toes if you look down at your knee. With your non-rein hand (or the outside hand if you're on a circle) grab the back of the saddle. It feels weird at first, but it really opens your shoulder and hips up. Don't let your leg sneak too far ahead of you. Alternately (or together if your horse is super calm) mimic the motion of your horses lead leg with your arm on the the same side as his lead. i.e. pick it up and forward out in front of you in a circle. Yes, you will look stupid, but it works really well. Once you get it down, you can stop doing it. Same thing as before, think heavy in your seat and make sure your toes are up and heels down so you don't push yourself out of the saddle. ETA: once you can sit well, then you'll be ready to start making sure the horse doesn't change speeds on you. Til then, as long as you're safe, don't sweat it too much. One thing at a time. Really, once they feel you learn to sit, they won't try to change speeds as much either. __________________ Getting through PA School is like driving at night in the fog. You can only see a couple feet in front of you at a time, but you can drive the whole distance like that. Last edited by instigatorkate : 07-14-2007 at 08:56 PM.