Another vicious cycle. In a perfect world a rider would learn to ride on a schoolmaster that has been developed CORRECTLY which to us would mean it has a great topline and is capable of keeping his back “up” so then the rider could spend a lot of time developing the skill for the sitting trot on a horse that will “allow” them to sit correctly and relatively effortlessly. Unfortunately this is not a perfect world and most riders begin on horses that aren’t developed yet or developed incorrectly. This combination is certainly not insurmountable if done logically. This process should be symbiotic for the horse and rider.

If an inexperienced rider sits the trot on a horse that is hollow to begin with it is uncomfortable and near impossible to stay relaxed (for horse and rider) The unavoidable progression is the rider gets more and more tense, the horse hollows more and more which then makes it worse for the rider which makes it worse for the horse, or the horse is asked to go slower and slower and is no longer being worked in any kind of gymnastic manner and does not benefit the horse in any way. Either way you look at it……vicious cycle.

My approach is for the rider to begin sitting the trot ONLY when the horse can sustain the riders weight and balance without affecting it’s own gaits and showing no signs of hollowing and resisting. Now the progression will not be a contradiction and will create a symbiotic relationship. Horse and rider are not being forced into positions that they cannot possibly sustain therefore not creating a situation that is detrimental to their progress. It now becomes a win-win situation because the horse can comfortably support the rider which in turn makes the trot easier to sit for the rider allowing the rider to stay supple.

development hollowing sit the trot tension