Are you sitting comfortably?

Are you sitting comfortably?

Here at Derriere Equestrian, we know that sitting trot is a fantastic way to enhance your seat, balance and coordination. Riders often avoid using this technique in day to day training, as it is harder to achieve than regular rising trot, however if we can discipline ourselves to include it into our flatwork routine, it will strengthen our inner core muscles!

Feeling effortless

Belgian Dressage rider Laura Luyton says the perfect sitting trot should look and feel effortless. “The lower leg should stay in the correct position with the heels well down; the rider should be connected to the saddle at all times, never bouncing and with no unnecessary movement. The hands should remain very still, the movement being absorbed through the shoulders and elbows and backs and heads must be straight; chins up and never, never look down,” Laura advises.

“It is easier to achieve your perfect sitting trot either with longer stirrups, or none at all, to encourage a good loose length of leg. Be sure to relax into the movement, keeping very upright. Imagine your hips being attached to either side of the saddle and your spine being perfectly central. Allow your body to go with the flow of the movement of the horse so that the two are moving as one,” she suggests.

Lovely lungeing

According to French Dressage rider Antoine Nowakowski, a good way to begin is with a friend or trainer lunging you, leaving you free to concentrate. “Tie your reins into a knot and hook both hands under the pommel of the saddle, pulling it up to you with the movement and rhythm of the horse,” he recommends. “Once you are confident, take your hands to the correct position and with a slight bend in the elbow and the thumbs on top, without taking up the reins – this will concentrate your mind on keeping your hands still. This technique can be practised in walk, trot and canter and will give you a real feel for the depth of seat required. If you have a horse with big movement, start in a jog trot and ease yourself into opening up his pace and if you feel you start to lose connection, re-collect him and start again,” Antoine says.

Why not add some competitiveness in sitting trot – with a friend when you’re both schooling, do some exercises such as circles, serpentines and figures of eight, setting some goals. ‘Up the ante’ by placing paper money notes on your saddle then repeating the shapes, to see who can retain their money for the longest time!

An off the horse exercise

Stretching exercises such as those found in yoga and pilates classes will benefit your body’s ability to increase flexibility, as will any good regular exercise, i.e. walking, swimming and cycling. Simple exercises at home such as planking and wall squats take little time, and will pay dividends. The big rubber balls found at gyms are a useful addition to practise correct posture. Get in the habit of walking tall throughout your day! 

Remember to equip yourself with some comfy, supportive riding underwear - the Derriere Equestrian range is designed for both men and women. “It’s hard to find great riding underwear for men, but the DE Performance Padded Shorty and the Performance Seamless Shorty both excel at their job - exceptional comfort and performance,” Antoine says.

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