Once you become more experienced with the rising trot, it is also possible to change the horse’s rhythm simply by posting more quickly or slowly. The horse will alter his rhythm to match with your own, thus sometimes eliminating the need for hand and leg signals.
During a trot, the horse’s left hind leg and right front leg (which are diagonal to one another) move simultaneously, and vice versa. This is what riders are talking about when they refer to “diagonals” - the simultaneous movement of diagonal front and back legs. These diagonals will greatly influence your rising trot. When performed correctly, the rider will rise from his/her seat when the inside hind leg and outside front leg are moving forward and sit when the outside hind leg and inside front leg are moving forward. The reason for this is because the horse’s inside hind leg is the one which propels him forward. Rising out of your seat while this leg is in motion will encourage the horse to stretch the leg further under his body, and therefore producing a more effective stride. At first, it can be difficult to tell which diagonal your horse is on. A good trick is to watch your horse’s outside shoulder. You should rise out of your seat as his shoulder moves forward and sit back down as it moves back. If the movement is difficult to pinpoint, stick a bandage or piece of colored tape on the horse’s shoulder. This makes the movement easier to see.
Firstly, sitting straight up and down takes too long and will cause you to lose your rhythm. Secondly, standing up straight in the stirrups will cause your legs to involuntarily shoot forward, throwing you off balance. And thirdly, rising straight up will cause you to land heavily in the saddle, which puts pressure on the horses back and defeats the purpose of posting in the first place. Instead, you should try to move forwards and backwards while rising, as this is a much more organic movement. When your horse’s outer front leg goes forward, move your pelvis forwards towards the top of the pommel. You should only rise an inch or two out of your seat - just enough to clear the saddle. Don’t use your feet to propel yourself - in fact, your legs don’t come into the equation at all! Point your knees towards the ground, then squeeze your inner thigh muscles to lift your pelvis out of the saddle. As you rise out of your seat, lean forwards at a 30 degree angle. This helps you to move more naturally with the horse, allowing him to trot better. The one exception to this is in dressage, where the shoulders stay straight, in line with the hips. As the horse’s outside shoulder move back, sit down softly into the saddle. [4] X Research source
To change diagonals, remain seated for one extra stride, so when you rise from your seat it will be in sync with the forward motion of your horse’s (new) inner hind leg and outer front leg. In other words, instead of doing up - down - up - down you will do up - down - down - up. It sounds complicated, but it’s easy once you get the hang of it. You don’t need to worry about changing diagonals when you’re out on a hack, as the horse has no “inner” or “outer” legs outside of the arena. However, this gives you a good opportunity to practice posting and changing diagonals, as you can decide to switch sides as often as you like.
As long as you are posting by moving forwards and backwards instead of straight up and down, you should be able to avoid a very heavy landing. However, stiffness can also be an issue, so make sure to soften your knees and try to move naturally with the horse.
Try to keep your legs at the girth ( the middle of the horse) as this will ensure your back stays in the correct position. You should also try to avoid making involuntary leg movements (which are common while posting) as this can give the horse mixed signals, as he thinks you are kicking him or urging him forwards. These involuntary movements usually occur when your lower legs are too loose, but your knees and thighs are too tight. You can combat this by relaxing your upper legs and tightening your lower legs, keeping your calves pressed lightly against your horse’s barrel at all times. [8] X Research source
This is an easy habit to get into, but a hard one to break. Not only are you less aware of what’s going on around you, you will also be inclined to slump your shoulders forward which affects your posture and ability to post. Get out of this habit by picking a point to look at while you post, whether it’s the top of the trees or a nearby roof. This will also help you to learn how to time your rising trot correctly through feel alone, rather than by sight.
Try to keep your hands and arms steady, keeping them in the exact same position, even as the rest of your body moves forwards and backwards. If it helps, imagine your hips moving between your elbows as you rise. [8] X Research source
