Rising trot / posting trot! Typical mistakes and how to do it correctly

Being able to do rising/posting trot correctly is one of the most important skills that a rider can have. Learning to do it correctly is often a challenge especially for beginner riders. In this video we´ll go deeper into the biomechanics of rising trot and also discuss common mistakes, and how to correct them.
As horse riders, we need to be constantly developing our seat and our balance to improve our riding.
I have a lot more to come, remember to subscribe so you don´t miss them!
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DISCLAIMER
Try all exercises I show in my videos at your own risk. I take no responsibility if something happens while doing anything I show in my videos. If you are unsure if any exercise is suitable for you, always consult your physician before trying anything.
Hello and welcome to my channel! My name is Johanna Janatuinen, I´m a physiotherapist, animal physiotherapist and riding instructor. A big passion of mine has always been training horses and also rehabilitation. This channel is all about horse and rider wellbeing, and horse and rider training and development. You will find tips to improve your riding in and out of the saddle, and especially on how to develop a better seat in the saddle, which I think all good riding eventually comes down to.
I have worked with horses and riders for more than 20 years, first training horses and teaching riding in Finland where I live and also abroad. Later I studied to become a physiotherapist and after that also specialized in animal physiotherapy. I treat and train horses and riders, my biggest focus being to develop the connection and understanding between rider and the horse.

[@johannajequestrianphysio]

Click here to download my FREE ebook Tackle the Bounce! johanna-j-equestrian-physio.ck.page/17dff23e61

[@anettelangsrud5820]

Now I realize that I have been doing this wrong for 20 years!!! And no instructor have ever told me 🙈Thank you so much for the video! I´m looking forward to test it out 🤩

[@johannajequestrianphysio]

Thank you! So glad it was helpful😊

[@mollymysliwiec9745]

Thank you so much. That was an excellent demonstration of what to do and not do. The description of the hips being a hinge (and the knees) was really helpful! Very appreciated!

[@johannajequestrianphysio]

@@mollymysliwiec9745 So glad to hearit was helpful🙏

[@myworldautistic6839]

This is one of the best explanations I have ever seen. Thank you for this.

[@johannajequestrianphysio]

@@myworldautistic6839 Thank you🙏

[@boozywoozy1235]

Hi, I took your words into my riding lesson, my instructor asked me what I had been doing since my last lesson, thanks to your guidance I have now improved my positioning 100% Thank you 😃

[@johannajequestrianphysio]

Yes💪💪 so glad to hear that!😊

[@adamellebardem]

Thank you for all the visual examples! I am definitely hollowing my back(

[@johannajequestrianphysio]

You´re welcome! So glad I could help :)

[@ninabasta5111]

Seven years of riding passed until I realized that my lower part of legs were swinging and that I was, actually, unbalanced. I watched numerous videos, a lot of people advised me, but nothing was "all in one" like this video. Keep up with the channel and THANK YOU. I have a question as well: How do we "prevent" ourselves to rock back in the saddle/ how do we softly sit back in the saddle during trot? Also: How do we know whether we are sitting softly down?

[@johannajequestrianphysio]

Thank you, I´m so glad the video was helpful! To be able to sit back down softly, it´s really all about controlling the movement all the way down back into the saddle, and then back up again. There should hardly be any noise when sitting back down, if there is or the horse gets tense then probably it´s not soft enough. Balance is the key and also finding your leg position so that the leg is under your center of gravity. Hope this helps and if you have any more questions please feel free to ask! :)

[@robineervin8633]

Great. Very helpful. My balance was so bad and I thought my legs were not strong enough. I thought I would never do rising trot. Now it all makes sense

[@johannajequestrianphysio]

Yes, it's really all about correct technique! It just takes time and practice😊

[@boozywoozy1235]

Wow, excellent explanation, thank you

[@johannajequestrianphysio]

Thank you!

[@sandrat3690]

Thank you, for the very good explanation. Can you tell me what your foot ankles do? Loose, tight or something between? Toes up, heels down or foot straight? Since 20 years people tell me they just let the leg hang. If I do that everything wobbles even my foot ankels. 😢 Hope you can Tell something different 😊

[@CavaliaGirl]

Very helpful - thank you!

[@johannajequestrianphysio]

🙏😊

[@elizabethjesse8856]

Excellent demostration of moving the hips forward and showing us how the lower leg should be positioned. Can't wait to try this today and see if this improves my position.

[@johannajequestrianphysio]

Thank you so much😊

[@shamma7897]

thank you so much

[@johannajequestrianphysio]

You are welcome, glad if I can help! :)

[@christinamartel4718]

Thank you! This video was very helpful. Can you make a video with tips or exercises for strengthening your glutes and thighs to make this movement easier? I’m a newer rider and just find I’m lacking the strength to continue this motion for prolonged periods of time.

[@johannajequestrianphysio]

So glad I could help! And yes I will definitely make a video of some strengthening exercises :)

[@MrChocomaster]

it's very nice your action.

[@johannajequestrianphysio]

Thank you😊

[@the23rdLeeE]

Thank you very much for this video. I’m reviewing all the video you have made about rising trot. I really want to stop swinging my lower legs while doing the rising trot. Though I’m not intending to kick my horse, it does look I am kicking my horse every stride. It looks pretty awful. Could you suggest me any exercises I can do to stop this bad habit of mine.

[@johannajequestrianphysio]

Are you sure you're not pushing off from the stirrups when you rise? That sometimes can cause that kind of effect. Also, is your horse moving forwards or is he behind your leg?

[@the23rdLeeE]

@@johannajequestrianphysio thank you for your prompt reply. I am pushing off from the stirrups, I think . The horse is ok but under trackings. I felt my legs were relatively quiet when I rode a thoroughbred that was tracking but I’m not sure if there is any relationships to these two matters.

[@johannajequestrianphysio]

@@the23rdLeeE There can be, definitely. Also different can saddles put you in different positions so that can also play a part. Try to think that your feet are resting on a floor and you´re trying to keep them flat on the floor also when you're sitting down!

[@the23rdLeeE]

Thank you for the advice, I will try to imagining that.

[@AhmedKamalAbdelhalim]

Great video, thank you. I have a question. On the sit phase, should I land in the middle of the saddle or in front just behind the pommel? Taking in consideration that when I land in the front, I don't get the thrust from the horse to lift me up, In addition to the discomfort :) I always hear that we should be sitting in the front of the saddle ( for walk, trot amd canter) just behind the pommel, other says in middle of saddle. Is there any test for me to do/exercise to make sure am sitting in the correct place, so I can move easier with the horse? Thank you 😊

[@johannajequestrianphysio]

Hi and thank you! We should be definitely be sittin in the middle of the saddle, in the deepest point. Often riders may sit a little bit too much back in the saddle, and this can put quite alot of strain to the horse's back. Taking off the stirrups even for just a little while can help for finding the middle😊

[@AhmedKamalAbdelhalim]

@@johannajequestrianphysio Thanks a lot Johanna and we are waiting for another great video 😊😊

[@alexche1520]

Thank you for sharing this, but one thing I am not sure I am doing right is my thighs feel burning when rising🙂

[@johannajequestrianphysio]

Hi Alex! Where do you feel the burning, is it in the front, back or inner thighs?

[@alexche1520]

@@johannajequestrianphysio It is in the front.

[@johannajequestrianphysio]

@@alexche1520 Ok, so probably you are using your quadriceps too much. Try to think of using more the back of the thigh (hamstrings), and glutes to bring the hips forward when you rise. You can try to practice this by standing up from a chair and really trying to concentrate on activating the glutes and hamstrings, and not just the quadriceps (front of the thigh). I hope this makes any sense at all😅

[@alexche1520]

@@johannajequestrianphysio Thank you so much for helping on this.

[@lydiagould3090]

@@johannajequestrianphysio Thankyou, yes it does make sense. My knees were hurting a bit but that stopped when I used my glutes and hams.

[@sandrawilson808]

I am a new rider and I would love to have explained how you give leg aids while your posting. I find it hard to coordinate.

[@johannajequestrianphysio]

I might even make a video about this but I would advise to use your leg at the same time you are rising up away from the saddle. That way your seat is also encouraging the horse to go forward👍

[@sandrawilson808]

Thank you. A video would be great. Its difficult when your learning and you have alot to think about. Appreciate your input.

[@johannajequestrianphysio]

@@sandrawilson808 Yes it's definitely not easy. And with riding the learning never ends! I'll try to make a video at some point😊

[@sandrawilson808]

My riding instructor is fantastic. Love having visuals as an aid for teaching. Seeing others ride is so helpful.