Trot
First time horse owner? Getting back into riding after a dangerous fall and wanting to know how to approach things? Well then, this article is for you! The trot is a very fun and energetic pace! For the beginner rider, anything over a walk can seem frightening! I think all horse riders can agree to that! Trotting is a two-beat gait where the left foreleg moves forward with the right hind leg and vice versa. Horses' trots can range from slow and sluggish (which is the sign of a lazy and unmotivated horse) to a very violent and bouncy trot (signs of an anxious or overly excited horse). You want your horse's trot to be calm and relaxed, yet carry a forward movement. These steps can help you learn to relax and get comfortable at the trot.
Steps
On your own
- Be comfortable walking with your horse. You're not ready to trot until you're 100 percent confident with the walking.
- Know all the basic things, such as asking your horse to halt, turn or move forward.
- When you are comfortable with walking you can know move on to a trot. Make sure you are relaxed as your horse can sense all your tension and may not respond well to commands.
- Urge your horse into a walk. Keep the walk smooth and rhythmic. If your horse is having a hard time walking, nudge him/her with your heels.
- Sit as correctly as possible. Keep your back straight, your heels lower than your toes, and the balls of your feet on the stirrup irons (toes to the nose as well). Your elbow and hand should be creating a straight line to the bit.
- Always aim to sit back instead of leaning forward, Leaning will cause you to lose your balance.
- Make sure that you are putting all your pressure into your heels and not pressing down on the reins, as this can hurt the horse's mouth.
- Squeeze both legs on your horse, with a little bit harder pressure on the inside leg (if you squeeze the outside leg harder, this is the aid for canter). If the horse doesn't respond, tap the horse lightly with your crop. Try not to kick your horse, because this only dulls him/her.
- Squeeze tightly with your legs and give your horse a couple of kicks until you can feel that you are going in a 1, 2, 1, 2 rhythm.
- Trotting can be very uncomfortable, as it bounces a lot, and makes you move around in the saddle. To make you feel more in control and balanced, gently rise up and down to the rhythm of the horse.
- Get on the right diagonal to post. Diagonal is when you go up the horse's shoulder closest to the wall should go forward then when you go down the horse's shoulder should go back. An easy way to remember this: "Rise and fall with the leg on the wall." While this is the extreme basics of posting, you might want to know why you do it. Not only are you raising yourself up when the outside shoulder-blade comes forward, but you are lifting yourself off of their back when the inside hind leg comes forward. Hence 'diagonal.' This allows their inside leg to extend farther and the horse can use itself more efficiently. A lot of people blindly post and have no idea why they do it.
- Guide the horse's speed. Your horse should always be moving forward, but remain collected in your hands. His energy should be powered by your legs and caught in your hands, not by jerking on his mouth or kicking. Don't choose to whack your horse or to kick him/her as your very first option for changing speed. Use good horsemanship instead:
- If your horse starts to slow down, squeeze or nudge slightly with your heels and lower calves while you are coming down from the post to keep them in a consistent trot.
- If your horse starts to want to walk, squeeze with your calves and heels. If your horse starts to want to canter, sit up straighter and give them a nub with the reins (don't pull though). Keep your hands low to their neck and the reins loose at all times.
- If your horse starts going too fast, you might want to give the horse a little nub with the reins. Sometimes horses stumble after going so fast.
- If you want to go into a canter, slightly tighten the reins and squeeze with your outside leg. Finally, if you want to go even faster, or your horse won't listen, use a whip, this gives them the boost they may need.
- To make your horse slow to a walk, sit back deeply in the saddle and squeeze the reins. Or, gently pull, if necessary.
- Keep practicing as many times as necessary until you feel comfortable in this gait.
With a helper
- Be comfortable walking with your horse. You're not ready to trot until you're 100 percent confident with the walking.
- Have your helper lunge your horse with you on the horse.
- Have the helper guide the horse into a trot. Your helper should start to make your horse go from a walk to a trot and while you're getting used to it. Loosen your rains and hold the saddle.
- When you feel comfortable, take control of the reins. Start to rise as the horse's shoulder goes forward. Go down as its shoulder comes back.
- When you think you are really ready to trot by yourself ,get your helper to stop lunging your horse. Then squeeze your horse a bit more tightly than you would normally do and the horse should trot.
- If your horse starts slowing down squeeze in again.
- If your horse starts to go into a canter, don't panic. Just gently pull the reins in a bit until your horse goes into a trot again.
- When you know how to trot without any worry, try a canter. It is often a lot easier to canter than trot as it is less constrained.
Tips
- You should never have to pull or catch the horse in the mouth with the reins. You should have a feel of his mouth at all times and let your arms move with the motion of his head, back and fourth in a tempo. You need to understand collection, and lengthening/shortening strides before you even attempt to trot, or post.
- Be aware that all kicking does is dull your horse, meaning that it just starts to take more and more to make them move. Avoid it as much as possible.
- It may be a bit overwhelming at first to trot but when you have mastered rising up and down at the same rhythm as your horse you will feel relaxed in this gait.
- Keep your horse going the speed you want it to go. By way of example: You have a mouse under an upside down plastic cup. You want to move the plastic cup. If the mouse is leaning on the back of the cup, there is a problem, and if the mouse is running into the front of the cup, there is a problem. You want your horse to stay exactly in the center of the cup. However, be responsible with the speed you tell your horse to go at. You need to be able to handle it, or you could end up hurting yourself or your horse.
- If your instructor says you are not ready to trot, don't be upset. Instead, work hard to get to a point where you are ready. Remember, your instructor knows best and is only trying to keep you within your skill range.
- If the horse does not trot after the last 5 or 6 times say "trot on!" Or "trrrot"
- At first it's hard to master trotting, but with a lot of determination and practice, you'll get the hang of it.
Warnings
- Never trot until you can comfortably walk around the arena.
- Never ride without another person around, for safety reasons. Even seasoned riders always ride with others near, in case of emergency.
- "Never" jump in a canter until being able to jump trotting in a two-point position.
- Most of all, never panic, and never yell or raise your voice at your horse. Keeping good contact on the outside rein, and using plenty of inside leg, looking forward at all times, and keeping your shoulders and hips square over the horse is the best, surefire way to keep your horse where you want it.
- "Never" trot towards an open gate without the reins short enough that you can control your horse very easily. Your horse could break into a canter and be hard to control.
- You will always want to beware that the horse can get spooked and they might turn fast and might throw you off. Or might just turn sharply.
