1. Olivia C’s supple, balanced sitting trot shows the development of both her equitation skills and her relationship with the horse. {Dartmouth Athletics}
The Torture-Free Sitting Trot
This excerpt from “The Athletic Equestrian,” by ARIA Certified Instructor Sally Batton and Christina Keim, helps intercollegiate riders improve their skills “Riders, please sit the trot.”
fect” sitting trot may never happen. But that doesn’t mean a rider shouldn’t work little by little to make her sitting trot the best it can
Few words can more effectively elicit an involuntary groan from a rider
be on that day, with that horse, to the best of her ability.
than these. For many riders, training their seat to follow the bounce of the horse’s back in the sitting trot can seem to be an insurmountable
Some instructors struggle to describe to students exactly how to sit
task. But despite the challenge, there are several reasons why all riders
the trot. Instead, they offer platitudes like, “You need to relax,” or
should set a goal of improving their ability to sit the trot.
“You just need to follow the horse.” While both of these statements are true, it has been my experience that most students need more
First, riders with a supple, balanced seat in the sitting trot are better
guidance than this to actually sit the trot effectively. Riders need
able to use this tool to refine the shape, length, balance, and power
to understand the mechanics of what actually happens with their
of their horse’s trot. Second, for riders who compete, the sitting trot
bodies during a balanced sitting trot.
is a popular test used by judges to separate a competitive equitation class, both on the flat and over fences. But perhaps most importantly,
To sit the trot effectively, the rider uses her gluteal muscles and the
when a rider can harmoniously sit the trot, she is truly working with
muscles of her abdominal core to stay connected with the saddle
her horse as a partner. A supple, balanced sitting trot is a badge of
during the moment of suspension—the same muscles that control
honor, one that shows the rider’s commitment to developing both her
rider balance and the following movement of the pelvis in the walk.
equitation skills and her relationship with her horse (Photo 1).
These same muscles support the torso and pelvis through the transition from the walk to the sitting trot and help to maintain contact
Developing the sitting trot is a process that takes time, and rid-
with the saddle throughout the trot stride.
ers must be patient. The process can be challenging, and it can be frustrating, and the truth is that for some rider-athletes, the “per-
Ready to try? Let’s get started.
Spring 2022 | Riding Instructor
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