Guest Blog post # 73: "Reiner Klimke Couldn’t Sit That Trot" by the infamous Bad Eventer!

Reiner Klimke Couldn’t Sit That Trot

I really don’t understand why the sitting trot is so elusive. 

A few days ago I was running through the Intermediate tests and envisioning the Advanced tests as next on my “to be conquered” list.

I was in Dressage Queen mode like I’ve never been before. Everything was beautiful, smooth and forward. If ‘good riders don’t bounce’ I wasn’t just good. I was a total freaking rock star. 

Then I changed horses. 

And I felt like I was taking my first “up down” lesson. I couldn’t even post without flopping all over the place! When it came time to sit, the wheels came off in a hurry. 

Wow. 

I couldn’t sit AT ALL. 

So I lengthened my stirrups. 

Then I lengthened them again. 

Then I shortened them. 

Then I took them completely off. 

My frustration was growing. 

I tried leaning back, then further. 

Then I tried stepping into my ankles. 

Then I tried trotting really really REALLY slowly. 

Then I tried sitting 2 steps and posting every 3rd step. 
By this point I couldn’t even get 2 steps in without feeling like I was launching out of the tack.

There is something about dressage that makes me question what I’m doing on a regular basis.

I had visions of packing up and changing sports. I don’t think jumpers do much sitting trot…………. 

Or perhaps I should switch to driving…………

By the time I called it a day, I had lost all the skin on the inside of my legs, and my horse deserved his massage and liniment bath more than ever. 

I managed to schedule a bit of an emergency lesson for the next day……..

And then I immediately regretted it. 

Failing miserably by myself is one thing. 

Showing my full incompetence to the fearless leader is much- less – cool.

So I started trotting around with my super bouncy warmblood & the first comment was, “Is this what he was doing yesterday? Because Reiner Klimke couldn’t sit THAT trot!”

While I appreciated the attempt to make me feel better…………….

……….that’s when words & phrases like ‘connection’, ‘through’, & ‘in front of your leg’ started coming up. 

And that’s precisely where my eyes tend to roll up in my head. 

When it comes to dressage there seem to be mystical goals that no one can quite explain to me…….

For example: here’s a few sentences from dressage texts:

1. Dressage Different “Ah, feel, that nebulous term that floats around dressage lessons world wide. The way some people describe ‘feel’ makes the concept seem like Flora, Fauna and Merryweather must float down to your cradle as a baby and gift it to you in front of the entire kingdom. Many dressage instructors believe that ‘feel’ is a skill that a rider either has or has not, with no room in between for growth.”
2. Dressage Naturally “There is a sweet spot of a certain energy, a certain balance and a certain level of relaxation where the horse can find his best healthy posture. It is different for each horse and each moment. By experimenting and being curious, we can find this sweet spot where the horse is moving in a way that allows his back muscles to move freely. When this is able to be fairly consistent, we can connect with it and enjoy a harmonious connection with the reins.”

That makes you want to run out and try dressage right away, right? Because it’s a clear and attainable goal? Um…….about that……………….

So here’s the part that is missing in the last 50 or so sitting trot articles I’ve read. 

Are you ready to learn the secret of the universe?

I think my old dressage instructor explained it the best when she said,

“The horse has to give you a place to sit.” 

And before then. 

No one, not even Reiner Klimke, could sit that trot. 

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