trot<\/a> without all the hassles when you’re riding a slower horse that’s maybe a little tricky to motivate. <\/p>\n\n\n\nYou might have already read about my first pony, Satchmo. If you haven’t, he was the CUTEST little guy. He was super feisty and had a world of personality. He would also routinely kick other horses if they got too close. All this personality but he hated leading. Absolutely hated it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When I was riding him, I spent a lot of time working on my walk-to-trot transition and also on different types of trotting as I was learning how to ride. I rode English with him and we would work on lengthening and shortening the stride, keeping the trot even, sitting trot, posting trot, two-point at the trot, lateral work in the trot, etc. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The point is, there was a LOT of trot work. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nAnd rightfully so, because a lot of work on horses is done at the trot. That’s why it’s super important to master that walk-to-trot transition. We don’t want the horse to be pulling itself up my it’s front legs and kind of having the “finnnnnne, I guess I’ll trot” mentality. We want it to be enthusiastic and responsive but controlled. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
One problem I had a lot is that Satchmo would either lurch forward in the trot when I was following other horses with him or he would refuse to trot when I was trying to lead with him. When I finally did get him to trot for that first little bit when we were riding together, I never felt quite balanced. I didn’t know it at the time, of course. I was just learning to ride and I was thrilled to just be trotting! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once I understood how to better communicate with Satchmo, we felt extremely in sync when we were trotting, walk-to-trot transitioning and trot-to-walk transitioning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let’s see if you’ve experienced this problem…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Are You Having Difficulty with the Walk-to-Trot Transition? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n When transitioning from the walk to the trot, it\u2019s natural to resort to the usual squeeze, kick, crop routine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Usually that first walk to trot transition at the very beginning of a lesson or a ride is the hardest one. At least that’s what I always found!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only is it exhausting kicking and squeezing to get that first trot but it also doesn\u2019t feel good. Don\u2019t you wish your horse could just read your mind and pick up a lovely trot the second you ask?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I remember seeing horses easily trot off and it didn\u2019t even seem like the rider did anything. I felt so envious!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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