How good is your trot bottom
written by alison short
With the winter competitions well under way and enthusiasm running high, my diary has never been so full with many of you reaping the rewards of regular training, while others hope to snatch a gem that will give them a winning percentage in one crash lesson!
The biggest breakthrough in training is to instil a confidence between horse and rider achieving a correct way of going in a methodical way, enabling you to replicate this not just without your trainer but under the watchful eye of the judge, along with all the “expert” critics in the gallery.
It's no wonder that so many of you struggle with being relaxed, yet effective during that ever crucial five minute test.
“If the electricity between the rider and the horse could be measured you could probably run your stable lighting for a week!”
My granddad always told me a horse will feel through your seat if you are scared, but to what extent do we really appreciate how much the contact through our seat effects our horse's way of going?
As an example, next time you ride a canter transition try doing it with a trot bottom! This might seem bazaar but if you have a confident seat in trot does it feel the same in canter, maybe your horse speeds up in the last two trot steps to canter do you know why? Well from experience I can tell you that the chances are you change something seconds before you canter, your seat effects 100% of your aids. If you tip forward you have altered not just your balance but your horse’s balance, your contact and your leg position, in fact repeated in training you are asking your horse to tip onto his forehand as part of your transitional aid.
To improve this try to practice being able to sit in balance for a few steps in sitting trot and then rise again, practice this until you don't perch in anticipation of cantering, and your horse stops taking the sitting trot as an aid to canter. When you have mastered this be aware that the trot should not alter in rhythm whether you are sitting or rising, and that the ability to keep a balance between both you and your horse is vital, this may not be achieved in one training session.
Rider tip If you start to loose your balance in sitting trot focus on keeping the same distance between you and your horse’s ears, sliding your tummy button forwards whilst gently tapping your elbows on your sides.
The next step is to question your canter aid, is it precise? The riders inside leg should be hanging by the girth and applied with a slight hug whilst the outside leg is in a mirrored position making contact from the girth and then slides back with the same pressure. For those of you with a laid back type who is laboured to canter you must practice lots of transitions either within the trot or trot walk trot, sharpening him with a gentle tap on the top of his hip with your schooling whip when using the leg.
Now with your trot bottom that is so confidently able to achieve a few sitting trot steps, apply your canter aid, try imagining that your canter speed is not going to exceed that of your trot, leaving your shoulder over your hips in the transition.
If your horse speeds up in the last few trot steps remember you are in control of the rhythm, don't be afraid to feel the contact to achieve the same feel in the rein that you would expect in trot, whilst still proceeding into canter.
“After all if you change everything that's good to go to the next pace, how can you expect consistency from your horse? “
Alison Short is a Freelance Trainer and a British Dressage Judge she is available for private tuition, clinics and advice. Call for more info 07719900275 or email alisonshort@btopenworld.com
