How should your body be positioned in rising trot to maintain balance?

• A. Sit tall with a steady neutral spine, heels down, eyes forward, hands soft with light contact, and rise with the horse’s rhythm.
• B. Lean forward with the shoulders, heels up, eyes down, and rise separately from the rhythm.
• C. Slump the back, look at the horse’s withers, grip the reins tightly, and rise late.
• D. Sit back, keep legs straight, and rise with a fixed seat.

Answer: (B)

In rising trot, balance comes from moving with the horse rather than fighting their motion. The goal is to stay centered and responsive, letting your body follow the horse’s rhythm.

The best approach is to sit tall with a steady, gentle spine, keep a soft, light contact with the reins, and keep your heels down to anchor your legs. Your eyes should be forward, not down, so your whole body stays aligned with the horse’s movement. Rise in time with the horse’s stride, letting your hips and pelvis float with the trot rather than rising independently or out of sync. This combination keeps your weight evenly balanced over the horse and allows your core to soften and your legs to stay connected without gripping.

Leaning forward shifts your balance ahead of the horse, making it harder to follow the trot. Keeping the heels up reduces contact and stability. Looking down disrupts your natural alignment and balance. Rising out of rhythm or with a stiff or restrictive posture breaks the flow of the movement, making it harder to stay centered.