Beating the saddle (a trot technique also known as raised or beaten or light trot or jumped and symmetrical two-stroke gait, as opposed to sitting trot) is a riding technique used mainly for English riding, with which the rider lifts on the saddle following the time of the horse's step. This prevents the rider from being tossed from side to side while trotting, and the horse from having excessive pressure on his back. While it may seem unnatural at first, trotting becomes easier and easier as you practice. To learn how to trot correctly by tapping the saddle, start with the following step 1.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Learning to Beat the Saddle
Step 1. First of all understand why the saddle is beating
The main reason is to avoid being tossed left and right in the saddle while the horse maintains a particularly bouncy gait - the trot. By beating the saddle, for the rider the movements become more comfortable and also less burdensome on the horse's back.
- Once you have gained the necessary experience with the light trot, it will also be possible for you to change the pace of the horse's gait by simply tapping the saddle faster or slower.
- The horse will change its pace to match yours, and doing so eliminates the need for hand and foot commands.
Step 2. Feel the diagonals
Spur the horse into a regular trot. Now pay special attention to the horse's gait - have you noticed that the trot has two strokes? Good. This will help you understand how the saddle stop works.
- While trotting, the horse simultaneously moves the left hind leg with the right front leg (which are diagonally to each other), and vice-versa. This is what we are referring to in the riding arena when we are talking about diagonals - the simultaneous diagonal movement of the front and hind legs.
- The diagonals have a great impact on the trot beaten. When done correctly, the rider stands up as the inner hind and outer forelegs move forward, and sits down as the outer hind and inner forelegs move forward.
- The reason is that the horse's inner hind leg is the one that pushes it forward. By rising from the saddle while this leg is in motion, you encourage the horse to stretch the leg even further under its body, and thus to produce a more effective stride.
- In the beginning it is always quite difficult to identify which diagonal the horse is on. A good trick is to observe its outer shoulder. You should get up as his shoulder moves forward, and sit down as he moves back.
- If this movement is difficult to spot, just attach a small bandage or piece of colored tape to the horse's shoulder. Thus the movement is easier to spot.
Step 3. Move forward and back, rather than up and down
So, now that you know when to get up, you just have to figure out how to do it. Most newbies believe that the trot is trotting upwards above the saddle and then back down, but this is not the case:
- First of all, sitting down and getting up completely takes too long and would cause you to lose your rhythm. Secondly, standing on the stirrups would involuntarily cause you to move your legs forward causing you to lose your balance. And finally, getting up all the way would cause you to fall back heavily into the saddle, putting a lot of pressure on the horse's back, defeating the goal of hitting the saddle.
- Instead, you should try to move back and forth in the saddle, since this is a more natural movement. As the horse's outer foreleg moves forward, move your pelvis forward towards the tip of the saddle. You should only get up in the saddle a few inches - just enough to free it.
- Do not push yourself forward with your feet - in fact they have nothing to do with this balance at all! Point your knees to the ground, then squeeze your inner thigh muscles to lift your pelvis into the saddle.
- As you stand up, lean forward at an angle of about 30 degrees. By doing this you will get a more natural movement in harmony with that of the horse, allowing it to trot better. The only exception allowed in this case is for dressage only, for which the rider's shoulders must be straight and aligned with the hips.
- As soon as the horse's outer shoulder comes back, sit gently in the saddle.
Step 4. When you change rein, the diagonal also changes
When you change rein (i.e. you change direction when riding inside a stables), the horse's inner hind and outer front legs reverse the diagonal, which means you'll need to change your pace.
- To change diagonals, all you have to do is sit for an extra step, so the next time you get out of the saddle you are already in sync with the horse's new gait and its inner hind and outer front legs.
- In other words, instead of going up - down - up - down you will have to go up - down - down - up. It sounds complicated, but it's very easy once you get the hang of it.
- When you hike you don't have to worry about changing diagonals, because outside the stables the horse has no "inside" or "outside" legs. However, during a hike you can have a good opportunity to practice changing the diagonals, as you can decide to reverse them whenever you want.
Part 2 of 2: Solutions to Popular Problems
Step 1. Avoid sitting too heavily
This is one of the most serious problems for riders who are learning the trot. By putting too much pressure on the horse's back, it forces him to shorten his stride and in some cases even unbalance him.
- You should try to avoid too heavy landings on the saddle, at least as long as you can lift yourself by moving back and forth instead of up and down.
- However, excessive stiffness could also be a problem, so keep your knees slightly bent and try to move naturally in tune with the horse.
Step 2. Check that your legs are positioned correctly
If they are moved too far forward you will end up dangling backwards, while if they are too far back you will end up dangling forward - neither of these conditions is ideal for a trot.
- Try to keep your legs close to the waist (the center of the crotch), as this forces your back to stay in the correct posture.
- You should also avoid involuntary leg movements (which are actually quite common while trotting) as this would involve confusing commands for the horse to think you are kicking or pushing him.
- These involuntary movements usually occur when you leave your legs too soft from the knee down, while your knees and thighs are stiff. You can counteract this position by relaxing the thighs and contracting the calf muscles, all the while keeping the calves lightly in contact with the horse's body.
Step 3. Look ahead
Many riders become completely absorbed in synchronizing their movement with the horse's stride, to the point where they spend all their time staring at the horse's shoulders and forgetting to pay attention to their surroundings.
- It is an easy habit to take but difficult to correct. Not only are you less aware of what is happening around you, but you are also inclined to lean your shoulders forward, compromising your posture and trot.
- Correct this by choosing a fixed point to watch as you trot, be it the treetop or a nearby roof. This will also help you learn to take time for the trot by feeling the horse's movement instead of on sight.
Step 4. Keep your hands and arms still
Many tend to throw their hands and arms up and down as they beat the saddle. This is not good, since doing so disturbs and confuses the harmony that is being created with the horse.
- Try to keep your hands and arms still, always keeping them in the same position, even if the rest of your body moves back and forth.
- If that helps, try to imagine your hips moving between your elbows as you stand up.
Advice
- A common flaw is pulling on the reins to maintain balance while trotting. Horses don't like this, so rather shorten the reins and keep your hands suspended above the horse's withers. While trotting keep your hands relaxed and still - don't move them up and down!
- Don't lift yourself up on the stirrups, but use both your calves and inner thigh muscles to support yourself. To learn this technique better you can also try to trot without the stirrups. Expert riders don't need it!
- Sometimes the horse tends to slow down or speed up to walk or gallop. To make him stop walking, just squeeze it lightly with your heels and calves when you sit down and click your tongue at the same time; to make him stop going to the small gallop one must know how to recognize the moment in which he evens the stride to gallop, or when he stretches from the position of the small trot. If you recognize this moment, just give it a little nudge with the reins (not too hard, without tugging) and sit upright, ready to start the trot again. The horse immediately recognizes your repositioning and slows down the pace.
- As you stand up, move your hips in the forward and upward direction, but don't overdo it.
- Remember to breathe! Sometimes the riders concentrate so much for a correct light trot that they forget to breathe, resulting in a stiffening of their body. Breathe deeply and deeply to keep your body relaxed.
- You don't have to get too high in the saddle. Just enough is enough to avoid getting hit when the horse's back rises. Getting up too high could compromise your balance.
- If you find yourself tapping on the wrong diagonal, to reverse it, sit for one more beat (get up-sit-stay-sit-get up).
