Diagonals Demystified
If you are new to riding, chances are you’ve heard the word “diagonal” bandied about. But what exactly is a diagonal, and how does it pertain to your riding? Keep reading and you’ll find out!
Basically, “diagonal” means opposite corner. When a horse trots, his legs move in diagonal pairs. Think about it. When your horse’s left front leg is forward, so is his rear right leg. When his right front leg is forward, so is his left rear leg.
When the left front and right back legs are forward, this is called the left diagonal. When the right front and left back legs are forward, this is called the right diagonal.
Posting on the Diagonal
When you are riding in a ring
So, what is the correct diagonal? If you are working in a ring, the correct diagonal is the outside diagonal. In other words, if you are traveling to the right around a ring, the correct diagonal is when the left front leg and right back leg are forward. If you are traveling left around the ring, the outside diagonal is when the right front leg and left back leg are forward.
So how does this work when you are posting? Well, when you are posting on the correct diagonal when going to the right, you would rise when the front left leg is extended, and sit when the right front leg is extended. Conversely, when traveling to the left, you would rise when the right front leg was forward, and sit when the left front leg was forward. Some instructors put colored bandages on the horses front legs to help new riders learn their diagonals.
What happens if you aren’t riding in ring? What if you are out riding on the trails? Which diagonal is correct in that case? Well, if you are taking a trot down the road, then either diagonal will do. Just pick one! However, you should know the horse’s legs you are posting on work harder than those you are not posting on. To that end, it’s always a good idea to switch diagonals every now and again to give your horse a break. His muscles will surely appreciate it!
Determining Your Diagonal
There is so much to think about when you are riding! How, amidst all this, can you tell if you are on the right diagonal?
Well, determining whether you are on the right diagonal is actually much easier than it sounds. Try this. Begin by getting into a nice, steady trot along the rail. As you sit, take a quick look down at your horse’s outside shoulder. Is the outside shoulder back when you sit? If it is, you are on the correct diagonal. If you find that the outside shoulder is forward as you sit, then you are on the wrong diagonal. You are going to have to change it. So how do you do that?
Changing Diagonals
Changing diagonals is much easier than it sounds. When you post, you are alternating between sitting and rising. Sit, rise, sit, rise, sit rise. To change your diagonal, just sit for an extra beat—sit, rise, sit, sit, rise, sit, rise. And voila! You are now on a different diagonal! Make sure you sit for two beats only—if you sit for three beats, you’ll end up right back on the same diagonal you started on.
With a little experience, you’ll be able to feel whether you are on the right diagonal, and won’t have to look down any more. Happy riding!
Ron Petracek is the current article director for a rapidly growing equine social network community.
He was raised in Southern Idaho with a beautiful jet black morgan as his adventure companion, and the Snake River within a easy ride.
Horses and the outdoors are a solid part of his life.
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