My fella (a senior, with a non-healing high hind suspensory injury that sometimes bothers him and sometimes not at all) often seems more comfortable if I stick to the right (vs left) diagonal while posting, regardless of which way we’re tracking. I am curious as to the mechanics of the trot as they relate to the horse’s comfort with a posting rider. Anyone have any insights?
Sorry. I’m confused.
What do you mean by “more comfortable”? Are you riding a lame horse?
you know, a horse can be a bit irregular without being “lame”… your comment is quite rude.
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Keep your shirt on, please.
The OP said the horse was “more comfortable” on one diagonal, which, to me, indicates DIScomfort on the other diagonal.
I’d consider that, as well as any number of unexplained “irregularities,” to be intermittent lameness. If that offends you somehow, I’m sorry, but s/he did ask.
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It’s fairly normal for an older horse to prefer one diagonal to another, especially one that’s not in a consistent program of good flatwork to combat one-sidedness.
Among dressage circles, a horse that has a pronounced difference in the trot in one direction is referred to as “rein lame”
However, what you’re describing is a horse who is sooooo side dominant he prefers you posting to the inside leg when he’s traveling in his bad direction.
That’s a lame horse, or certainly not a comfortable one.
You have a couple of options here - 1.) Get a lameness work up 2.) stick to walking/short trots in straight lines trail rides 3.) start a supportive maintenence program that might include Previcoxx, Adequan or joint injections. I’d recommend 1 and 3 to start off with.
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I agree, except that I’d add 4.) Rest.
The OP described the injury as “non-healing,” which may simply mean that the horse has never been rested long enough to really recover. That happens a lot.
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Steady on, peeps. First of all, yes, I totally am completely riding a horse that on some days is lame. Lame-O, lamest, gimpy. However, on other days he is magnificent. On all days, (concentrate, now, people. Read for content…) he is at the fence waiting to go work, and he bobs his head up and down and makes cute faces and stands himself up squarely and with proper headset when he sees the saddle coming. If I do not put the saddle on fast enough, such as I’m standing there holding it while I chat for two seconds to a barnmate, he will reach around with his head and nudge me back to saddling him. Horse loves the ring and especially loves it when we use the indoor, as he seems to think that a fancy indoor means business. If he is not feeling up to trotting, he declines the aide to trot and I don’t ask him again that day. If he is feeling terrific, he volunteers the trot as soon as he’s warmed up, and then tick-tocks right along taking himself very seriously and making sure I’m not slacking either. If I show up at the barn but do not take him out of his paddock for “work,” he gives a disgusted sigh and walks away oozing contempt and won’t look at me and turns his big fat butt to me as I clean his paddock.
“Uncomfortable” as in, he stiffens up and seems to be almost pushing me off the left and onto the right. When I am on the right (vs left) diagonal, things are much flowier.
You all are very, very kind to be concerned about whether my horse is lame and how I am managing it, but may I offer that this was not actually the question. Trainers, vets, Santa Claus, the manufacturers of ProStride and Previcoxx, and God himself all know horse is lame. The question was, and I repeat for those in the back of the auditorium, might anyone educate me on the biomechanics of the trot relevant to posting?
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Red Barn is absolutely right. I did not put a senior horse on stall rest for months just so he could then spend another few months hand-walking for a few minutes. Horse was rested long enough for vets to feel that ligament was not responding to rest, though every other muscle that keeps him strong and balanced was atrophying away due to lack of constructive exercise.
When I’m old, I want to still go hiking and bicycling and whatever, even if I am gimpy at it. So, horse is managed the same way. Elderly people who would like to remain in their bedroom closet and stay there for months, in case being sedentary will cure old age, are welcome to choose that route.
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When you feel yourself being tossed up out of the seated phase of posting trot, you’re experiencing the upward thrust of one or the other hind, depending on your diagonal. We tell kids to rise when the inside foreleg is forward because they can’t see the opposite hind that’s responsible for this feeling.
If a horse actively resists one diagonal or the other, he is in pain on that side.
I still don’t understand why you’re riding this horse, though, since you understand that he’s lame and, at very least, “uncomfortable”. Whatever else is prescribed for a chronic suspensory issue, rest is key.
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I don’t have any info on the biomechanics, but a previous horse of mine also had a chronic high hind suspensory injury and would look and feel sound if I posted on the wrong diagonal (I want to say when that leg was on the outside but I might be remembering this wrong.) He continued to prefer one diagonal well into his rehab until he regained strength, then felt even again. I understand what I was feeling, in that his non-injured side had more strength so posting that diagonal was comfortable for me, but I have never quite wrapped my head around why it was also more comfortable for him.
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Because he appears to love to get tacked up and go to the ring and be ridden, and he gives every indication of being bored and grouchy when I don’t give him he option of going to “work.”
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Alright. I see that I missed a post above.
I personally would retire this horse, but that’s me. I’m certainly not going to argue about it.
Probably because, on that diagonal, your weight was borne by the injured leg in the seated phase of the post.
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You’re absolutely right, yet again!
Could this not have been said several posts earlier, being as it appears to be an excellent answer to the original question, vs. zooming off on various trajectories that no one asked about?
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I apologize, it did not occur to me that his information was what you were seeking, since it’s pretty basic and not exactly “biomechanics.”
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And I apologize for not having been more clear. My mistake, certainly.
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Effect of the rider position during rising trot on the horse׳s biomechanics (back and trunk kinematics and pressure under the saddle)
A good article with links to other relevant articles I plan to explore.
( As TooManyTBs noted: a previous horse of mine also had a chronic high hind suspensory injury and would look and feel sound if I posted on the wrong diagonal. He continued to prefer one diagonal well into his rehab until he regained strength, then felt even again. I understand what I was feeling, in that his non-injured side had more strength. )
Your horse is compensating for his injury. Alignment and balance change as he is protecting his body. ( we all do it ).
Sounds like you are doing well with him. Do what makes him happy and most comfortable. He is wanting you to ride him in the arena, on one diagonal, so be it. Just keep feeling and stop before his muscles get tired so he can protect himself. I tend too go just a bit longer when it looks so good and it is usually a bit too long, regrettably. (Try posting as TooManyTBs did on her horse.) I’d be tempted to occasionally/rarely change diagonal for a stride or two and see what he thinks. If he’s not comfortable - wait and try some other time. That can rebalance rider too. What does he think about 2 point?
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I think this might be in one of the other posts, but FWIW my horse was throwing me towards one side and I did more work on straight lines with alternating diagonals … 2 strides ‘correct trot’, stay up for one stride then 2 strides on ‘wrong’ diagonal. What also helped dramatically was using the Eagle ProSix posture wrap … helped me normalize himself without me on him.
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As has been pointed out, the gait pattern for posting trot is generally covered in up/down lessons for little kids - a point so obvious that it made your motives in asking this question seem somewhat suspish.
But if that’s really all you wanted to know . . . well, there you go.
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Thank you for your graciousness in saying this in the face of criticism. That takes some strength of character.
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