I rode..gasp..a TROTTING horse today

[Brigitte]

Yes I did..Why do you ask? Because the ranch bought one, I've only ridden one before, a one eyed gelding, but I got on with waaay too long stirrups went for two strides almost bounced off and came back.
So today the mare was out and saddled and the touristguide told me about how she bounces alot then told me to go ride her..so I did. And well...BOY I LOVE PASO FINOS. Lol...she's very sweet,easygoing but wow..I tried to post (tried is the keyword) but still got bounced around alot. I liked her canter though. I want to ride her a few more times just so I can learn how to post a bit. But now..I appreciate finos more :D

[Pasogirlz]

LOL. Brigitte. It always amazes me how the ppl who grew up on Paso don't have a real appreciation for what the rest of us went thru before we found Paso Finos until they ride a trotter. :lol:

[Brigitte]

Lol yeah...and I always hear how people say that they'l never go back to ride a trotter after riding a paso for the first time...yet here I am actually wanting to ride a trotter..I find all the bouncing fun..but I only rode for 7 minutes. I'm sure if I rode for an hour I wouldn't be so excited about the bouncing part

[Terri]

We have one trotter in my corral, the "token quarterhorse". I ride him when I need some exercise.

[motorgypsy]

Once a year we go to a local dude ranch and take ride on their very nice trotting horses. One trot and we're ready to go home and hug our guys and forgive their silly ways!!!

[CarolU]

I grew up on trotting horses...they really do improve your seat and your coordination, and YES, help you get in shape...

but why bother? Riding a Paso is SOOOOO much easier. :roll:

[pnalley]

:lol: HA!HA!
So I'm not the only one out there with puddin legs :-?

I'm just getting over my chapped area's from my ride 2 weeks ago on my App gelding. I too will be riding him to get in shape. After 5= yrs of Paso glide iIcould use the workout posting.

[Terry Wallace]

Ah C'mon....there is nothing wrong with a trotting horse..I had them most of my life...its what I learned to ride on...if you can ride a trotter...you can ride anything, as your balance will be really good. ;-)

[Brigitte]

Yep I figured it will be a workout..I could already feel my legs after that short ride :shock: . I'll keep on riding her just for the heck of it..there aren't Paso Finos EVERYWHERE in the world..so yeah

[Dianne]

Hmmmm so that means that Pasos are BAD for us and make us fat?

[cowboy ed]

hey brigitte, i ride trotting horses more than i ride paso finos. you should ride that mare some more and learn how to post. it is really good excercise, and like carol and terry said, you will really learn great balance and riding skills. if you ride that way a lot, you dont get sore either. i became a much better rider after doing lots of long distance riding on trotting horses. i have ridden several endurance rides of 50 miles, a couple of 75 milers and one 100 mile ride. most of that mileage was at a trot, although i have cantered for as much as 8 miles at a stretch. now that is fun!

[Got Brio?]

I dont have a paso to ride yet. I love riding my Arabian Nisha :D Pasos are fun too ;-) http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c59/nisharox/1funshow11-12-05.jpg
This is me on Nisha!
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c59/nisharox/arianna_grayson_6_05web.jpg
and this is me on LynnG's Paso Arianna! 8-)glad you had a good time! :D

[SandyMM]

True enough - learning to post a trot is great excercise and great for balance...

You might trying shoertening your stirrups on that mare to put a bit more bed in your legs. Let her 'throw' you up and use your legs to 'miss' one bounce. Then ease down with her. Then repeat... It's been so long now - I forget, but you post a trot on one diagonal - left or ight (watch the shoulder blades) depending on which side is towards the inside of the arena....

[DebbieS]

We have 3.5 trotting horses (our Pervuvian/QH mare will gait or trot, depending on her energy level). Linda Parelli has some great shows on riding with fluidity. She explains how to post a trot, and sit a trot (and look good doing it). She teaches the 'pushing passenger' lesson where you 'push' yourself into the saddle, and let the horse's movement bring you back up. that really helps alot. Most of us think we have to be stiff and bring ourselves back up, but once you relax and let the movement of the horse do it, it feels so much better.

She explained it as "The horse is trying to move, and the rider is trying not to move". Of course, this is what we do without thinking about it.... that's what makes the 'bounce' happen.

I used to ride a dressage-trained Arab (many years ago). I felt so much more graceful back then. After riding Listo for the past year, it's hard to get into the groove again. I will be riding our APHA more this season, so I'm going to have to practice before taking him out in public!! He has a very nice extended trot though, which can keep up with my Paso's corto!!

[pnalley]

To follow the correct diagonal you rise with the front leg near the rail, sit when it's on the ground.

You will qiuckly find out that you are "one sided" and that YOU prefer to post on either the right or left diagonal.

If you are on the wrong diagonal just sit one bounce & rise again, that should get you on the correct diagonal.

I remember how, my old puddin legs betray me though ;-)

[Brigitte]

Thanks for the advice guys..I'll try it out see how it goes