Lesson 6: Basics of the Trot
What to know about the gait: equine and rider body mechanics
When a horse walks, he uses his head for balance, and the rider will experience some movement of his neck and head. When a horse canters, he uses his head and neck for balance, and the rider will feel quite a lot of movement of the head and neck, and often—depending on the character and quality of the horse’s stride—the rider will feel as if he or she is being pushed forward from behind at the canter.
At the trot, the horse’s head and neck remain level; if the head bobs at the trot, the horse is lame and should not be ridden until the lameness is gone, whether through barn care or veterinary care. (Some lameness is quite common in horses, as they sometimes injure themselves playing or working, as humans do. A good barn manager/instructor will know when to call the veterinarian and when to at least begin treatment with liniments and other ‘home remedies.’ If a beginner notices a horse’s head bobbing at the trot, he or she should tell the instructor or barn manager right away. Often, the rider will be asked to trot the horse in both directions, or even work it at a different gait for a little bit, to see if the horse works out the problem, which can also be temporary, as a little stiffness would be for a human. As in humans, sometimes a little movement loosens whatever is tight and the lameness disappears.)
The part of the horse that the rider will feel moving is the horse’s back and hindquarters. Indeed, that movement will help push the rider forward just a bit, and will also allow the rider to sit back in the saddle once the rider knows what to do with his or her own muscles.
