How to Post the Trot

If you have ever triedsitting on a trotting horse, you may have found the experience very uncomfortable. The trot can be very bouncy, but there is a way to smooth out the bouncing and jarring. Posting is to rise out of the saddle seat for every other stride of the horse's forelegs, thus smoothing out the jolts you will encounter if you just sit. This makes riding the trot much more comfortable for you and your horse. It doesn't matter if youride English or western. There are times when trotting is appropriate and more comfortable, no matter how you ride.

Supplies for Trotting

• Yourhorse saddlebridled and ready to ride
• A person who can competently lunge your horse
• A lunge line (if possible)
• A ring or arena withsmooth footingfor your horse

How to Post the Trot

The easiest way for you to learn and the most comfortable for the horse is to begin learning to post the troton a lunge line. This way, you can learn to stay with the horse without worrying about steering or inadvertently pulling on the bit and confusing or伤害了马.

If you aren’t able to start on alunge line, try riding your horse in an arena or fenced ring where it will be inclined to trot in a straight line without much guidance from you.

1. Practice Sitting Two-Point or Half Seat

   Lift your bottom out of the saddle, tense but don't grip tightly with your upper legs and stand slightly in the stirrups. Try to control the stance with your muscles, rather than by putting all your weight in the stirrups. You’ll have the same position as a martial arts ‘ready stance’ or a downhill skier. Do notuse your handsto steady yourself.

2. Cue the Horse to Trot

   Make sure you are feeling relaxed and secure at thewalkbefore cueing your horse to trot. The cue is a pressure of the legs, sitting deeper in the saddle, or a tap with the heels, depending upon the schooling and sensitivity of the horse.
   

3. Feel the Bumps

   With your horse at a steady trot, try to sit and keep your back flexible to absorb the bumps. The upward and forward thrust you will feel is called the impulsion.

4. Lift With the Impulsion

   Allow yourself to be lifted by the impulsion. If your horse has very little impulsion, you will find sitting the trot very easy. If your horse has strong impulsion, you will be lifted out of the saddle. Some beginners bend forward during impulsion. Your back should be almost vertical, with only your pelvic bones making the up and forward arc.

   Tip

   Don’t try to pick yourself up with your upper body. Your shoulders should stay relaxed. There shouldn’t be a lot of brute strength involved in posting. A few muscles might start to complain, and you could get winded.
   

5. Smooth the Bumps

   Once you have discovered the rhythm—and it may be helpful to count one, two, one, two—try rising on "one" and gently lowering on "two". The action is up and forward with the pelvis, standing in two-point and sitting on every other stride. Continue this rhythm as your horse trots steadily. Try to stay with the motion to avoid getting left behind and ‘double bumping'.

6. Keep Your Legs Still

   Concentrate on keeping your lower leg motionless from the knee down. Don’t lift with your toes, grip excessively with your knees, let your legs to swing, or let your ankles to cave in. Many beginners shove their feet forward. Looking down, you should not be able to see your toes. The basic position of thegood seatis maintained at every gait.
   

   Tip

   If the inside of one leg is getting rubbed, check that you are sitting square in the saddle. Check that yourstirrup leathers是相同的长度。弥补差异leg length with a shim in your boot. Most people have one leg longer than the other affecting balance in the saddle. Chafing on both legs means your legs are swinging. Practice keeping your lower leg still and wear riding pants with leather knee patches or tall boots for extra grip.

7. Pick Up the Reins

   Now that you can feel the rhythm and are able to post while on the lunge line, you can trypicking up the reins. The challenge will be to keep your hands still, while your body moves up and down to the rhythm of the strides. Don’t let your hands move up and down, but flex through shoulders and slightly through the elbows and wrists.

8. Keep Practicing

   Don’t feel discouraged if you still get bumped around a bit, or your friend gets it right away, and it takes you two or three lessons. Youcanlearn to post, and soon you will not be aware you are doing it. Practice as much as you can and soon posting will be an effortless habit that makes the riding the trot much more comfortable for you and your horse. With enough practice, you will find you can post without stirrups or even asaddle.

Tips for Improving at Posting

• Learn to keep your hands steady at home: Stand behind a chair or high table in a riding position: knees slightly bent, head up, back relaxed but straight, and fingers resting on the chair or table at elbow height. Now rise and fall as if you were posting. Concentrate on keeping your hands motionless on the table.
• Secure your seat: You may already be familiar withexercises in the saddle, and you should be able to do them at the trot. These are easiest and most safely done on a lunge line. Try reaching forward and touching your horse’s ears, turn and touch its tail, bend to touch each toe and ride with your arms outspread. The exercises encourage muscle tone and balance.