Step by step instructions for collection?
I think you'd be better off googling that Leah - it's detailed, long and theres 1000 different ways people do it. I'd suggest looking into the classical dressage way rather than modern.
But here's a brief way of how I achieve collection.
I start by getting the horse to learn how to listen to my seat; I halt and half halt with my seat. I also use my seat and legs for rein back. And legs for turning and momentum.
Depending on the horse but I usually start in trot, and have a very loose rein on the circle, I ask the horse multiple times, almost every second step to do something, either a rein back, or a half halt. This gets the horse listening and always knowing something will be asked of him, it also gets him thinking up and over his back. I do this is trot and canter too. Always keeping him thinking forward and never letting him fall on his forehand. I want them to rotate their pelvis and push even when going from canter to halt.
After a couple weeks of that I'll then pick up the reins and ask for bend and lift of the neck. Still constantly transitioning through the aids and paces. Then as a general rule that horse will have basic collection and then I apply it to general riding and then I can ask more of him like lateral movements or to ask him to give me more in each gait.
But here's a brief way of how I achieve collection.
I start by getting the horse to learn how to listen to my seat; I halt and half halt with my seat. I also use my seat and legs for rein back. And legs for turning and momentum.
Depending on the horse but I usually start in trot, and have a very loose rein on the circle, I ask the horse multiple times, almost every second step to do something, either a rein back, or a half halt. This gets the horse listening and always knowing something will be asked of him, it also gets him thinking up and over his back. I do this is trot and canter too. Always keeping him thinking forward and never letting him fall on his forehand. I want them to rotate their pelvis and push even when going from canter to halt.
After a couple weeks of that I'll then pick up the reins and ask for bend and lift of the neck. Still constantly transitioning through the aids and paces. Then as a general rule that horse will have basic collection and then I apply it to general riding and then I can ask more of him like lateral movements or to ask him to give me more in each gait.
Sitting trot tips? My horse is really bouncy and my trainer says I need to work on it before I canter.
Fyi - It's very very hard to sit trot to a horse that isn't trotting properly. (Unless they're super smooth) once a horse is moving correctly over his back it's 100x easier. Idk why your instructor wants you to sit trot before cantering, doesn't seem smart to me.
Keep in rythm with your horse with your pelvis - rotate and move it up and down and side to side as each step is taken. Sit deep in the saddle and have a firm calf. Keep your head up and make sure you're sitting vertical.
Keep in rythm with your horse with your pelvis - rotate and move it up and down and side to side as each step is taken. Sit deep in the saddle and have a firm calf. Keep your head up and make sure you're sitting vertical.
How would you go about to work for a top rider and to ride some of their horses?
I'd probably suggest asking around, calling stables/farms where they're based and asking if they want someone to work, and/or if not, or if you're not suitable, ask what level of experience is required to work there, then keep ringing up people/stables that are less and less of high status and start working where you can to get your knowledge and experience up. Then eventually you'll be good enough and have enough references to work at a top class places.
I’m having difficulties transitioning from an extended jog to a jog. Tips? Advice? Suggestions? 😬😬
I'm presuming you mean trotting.
When you ask to come back to the trot think up and back, let me break that down. You're forward and pushing in the extension, then you want to keep that, but compress it, so we want the horse to have more up than forward and back as in we want the haunches under the body slowing the horse down while still pushing.
Imagine if you were extending the trot/jog and then you asked for a rein back, the horse would curl his haunches, sit back and do the reinback. So that's basically what you want but then before the horse actually broke from the trot, you asked for more forward, but by then you've taken the forward push away and you're left with the up push.
Does that even make sense?
When you ask to come back to the trot think up and back, let me break that down. You're forward and pushing in the extension, then you want to keep that, but compress it, so we want the horse to have more up than forward and back as in we want the haunches under the body slowing the horse down while still pushing.
Imagine if you were extending the trot/jog and then you asked for a rein back, the horse would curl his haunches, sit back and do the reinback. So that's basically what you want but then before the horse actually broke from the trot, you asked for more forward, but by then you've taken the forward push away and you're left with the up push.
Does that even make sense?