How to trot Your Horse

Trotting or jogging your horse is a faster pace than walking and will allow you to cover a lot more ground. In the trot the horse will pick up and land one front foot and the diagonal hind foot at the same time


1 Tack up your horse using English or Western tack.

2 Mount your horse.


3 Hold reins firmly yet allow enough slack that the horse can move its head.

4 Sit upright with your shoulders back, head up and eyes looking ahead.

5 Keep 60 percent of your weight in your stirrups and 40 percent in your seat.

6 Begin by having your horse standing still or walking.

7 Squeeze both of your legs to get your horse to move forward.

8 Cluck or kiss to your horse at the same time. These are both noises you make with your mouth to get your horse to move.

9 Release the pressure from your legs once the horse is trotting.

10 Bounce along with each upward movement of the horse or raise yourself slightly out of the saddle each time the horse's outside front leg swings forward (posting the trot.)

11 Get into the rhythm of the horse's movements and relax.

12 Remember to breathe. Holding your breath creates tension in your body that your horse will pick up on.