The trot is a two-beat gait that occurs when a horse's diagonal legs hit the ground simultaneously. It is sometimes considered "bumpy" and uncomfortable, especially for beginning riders, and in English disciplines, riders are expected to post. Posting involves rising out of the saddle during the first beat of the trot and sitting down for the second beat on the correct diagonals.
Diagonals are not very complicated, but many beginning riders have trouble discerning which diagonal they have chosen at the trot. To learn diagonals, a rider must first master the rise-and-fall motion of the trot.
To post correctly in an English saddle, riders check their diagonals either before they start posting or once they have entered the gait.
Correct Diagonals
Learning diagonals means knowing when to rise and fall during the trot. To do this correctly, the rider posts up when the outside front leg strikes the ground and sits when it falls back. Rising with the inside leg means the rider is on the incorrect diagonal. The inside and outside legs are determined by the arena in which the rider is working; the outside leg is the one closest to the rail.
The reason for posting on the correct diagonal is simple: It is the industry standard and it helps the horse remain balanced at the trot. Riders who do not take the time to learn diagonals will have points taken off at horse shows and will create an unbalanced gait for the horse.
Changing Diagonals
It is possible to change diagonals in two ways. The first is to sit a beat, rising again when the correct leg comes forward at the trot. The second method is to hop up into a two-point for a beat, but this is more difficult and is not as attractive for the rider.
Checking the Diagonal
In riding lessons, riders will often hear their instructors call to, "Check your diagonal!" This means that the rider is posting on the incorrect diagonal and should sit a beat to pick up the correct one. However, it helps if riders can see this for themselves.
An easy way to tell if a rider is on the correct diagonal is to watch the horse's shoulders. This keeps the rider from bending down to see when each front hoof strikes the ground, and it is much easier when a horse has a short or clipped gait.
If riders have trouble learning diagonals, an instructor can help them learn on a lunge line in a more controlled environment. One-on-one instruction is often necessary for riders who have difficulty picking up the correct diagonal.
Laura Thompson - Laura Thompson is a horseback riding instructor and freelance writer living in Houston, Texas. She is proud to be the feature writer for ...
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