Greenie prefers sit the trot WWYD?

[QHquest]

I am finally (yeah!) getting my 5yo gelding to his 2nd CT and the week after he goes to his first Horse Trial.

My gelding maintains a more steady contact and rhythm when I sit the trot vs. posting. Would I look too weird sitting the trot in a BN dressage test? Anyone else done this?

[mjrtango93]

My guy prefers sitting trot as well, the track baby I just sold too. I don't think its that uncommon, and honestly I think sitting in the test looks more polished anyway if the horse goes well that way, plus you don't have to worry about diagonals!

[Blugal]

If the test says "rising or sitting", you're good to go. You won't look silly.

[technopony]

Not at all - many people sit the trot at BN.

[flyracing]

I pefer to sit as long as the horse goes equally well (or in your case, better). You should sit the trot for sure if thats the way the horse goes best.

[deltawave]

I got a comment at a Training level HT (actually it may have been the T3D we did) that my horse looked happier during the times when I was posting, and that I *should* post if that is the case. The same would apply to sitting. If both are allowed, do whatever makes the horse go better. :yes:

[Ajierene]

I always sit the trot in my dressage tests. When I first started learning dressage, I thought you had to. I found out a bit later that I didn't, but after years of riding both western and hunter/equitation, sitting or rising didn't bother me and my horse doesn't care.

[LR1976]

My horse also goes better when I sit however, his trot is one of the hardest trots for me to sit. (I have three other horses who's trots I could sit all day) Because of this I always stay away from sitting my tests because I don't want to look like I don't know how to sit a trot and therefore get docked for it. What would you do in this case?

[asterix]

Hmm, I'd run an experiment -- either at a couple of events or (cheaper!) at a schooling dressage show (hmm, as I say that, I don't know whether the straight dressage tests give you a choice on sitting or posting at Training. I know at First you have to sit...) --
sit a test, and post a test -- see if judge comments on your sitting, and see how much "worse" you think your horse went on the posting test. You may have to try a whole season of fiddling to see what works...

[LR1976]

Hmm, I'd run an experiment -- either at a couple of events or (cheaper!) at a schooling dressage show (hmm, as I say that, I don't know whether the straight dressage tests give you a choice on sitting or posting at Training. I know at First you have to sit...) --
sit a test, and post a test -- see if judge comments on your sitting, and see how much "worse" you think your horse went on the posting test. You may have to try a whole season of fiddling to see what works...

I think training level dressage tests you can do either??? I'll go look because that is a really good idea.

[asterix]

yeah, sometimes we've got things locally here in area ii that are sort of "fix a tests" or "mix and match" -- you can ride several tests for the same judge, or something close to it, for 10 or 15 bucks a pop. You never know, your sitting might look better than it feels, or ditto on the change in your horse when you are posting...

[mbdobbs]

It generally doesn't look funny to be sitting the trot at the BN tests unless perhaps you're in the rider division. Remember, all the big name riders have babies in the BN Horse divisions and they ALL sit the trot. That being said, even in the rider division, it's all about whether you're sitting appropriately and are soft. If you're bouncing all over the horse's back, which I don't think you are, then it's a problem.

Also, Asterix's idea is a good one if you can do it. Get the opinions of some real judges.

Melissa