Horse Riding: Recognizing the Correct Trot Diagonal

Trot is a two-time, diagonal gait with a moment of suspension after each step. The legs move in diagonal pairs like this, left hind and right fore together, then right hind and left fore together with the moment of suspension between each pair.

To ride on the correct diagonal, a rider must rise when the horses outside shoulder is going forward and sit when the outside shoulder is back. When riding in a straight line or when hacking it doesn't matter which diagonal you rise and sit to as long as you change frequently to avoid producing uneven muscle development and balance in the horse.

The Incorrect Diagonal

Many riders find it difficult to tell which trot diagonal they are rising on without leaning forwards and looking down at their horse's shoulders to check. However, it is not necessary to look once you have learned how to �â'¬Ëœfeel'.

We use the horse's shoulders as a guide to whether or not we are correct because they are easy to see if we glance down to check. If the shoulder is moving forward or back so must its foreleg, and so must the opposite hind leg. So if the rider rises when the outside shoulder and foreleg go forward, she is also up when the inside hind leg is forward, which means she is on the correct diagonal.

The present theory behind why we rise on this diagonal is that this leaves the inside hind leg (which does most of the pushing) free to come forward unencumbered by the riders weight so encouraging free, forward movement, provided that the rider isn't restricting the horse with the reins.

It is possible to feel the correct diagonal, eliminating the need to look down and risking unbalancing yourself and your horse. As a horse's hind foot comes forward, the same side of his back will dip and, because the trot is a diagonal gait, the opposite shoulder/foreleg will come forward simultaneously.

By riding with a relaxed seat in sitting trot, the rider should be able to feel this dip thus enabling them to go into rising trot on the correct diagonal without looking down to check.

Spend some time feeling your horse's hind legs moving forwards underneath you in walk. Then progress to a slow, active, sitting trot. Loosen your seat and leg muscles. When you feel the outside hind come forward (and the inside shoulder), rise on the next beat and carry on from there and you will be on the correct diagonal.