I do both. Like others, long periods I’ll post some sit some. Greener horse I’ll post.
You put me in a wintec and I’m posting no matter what. I am NOT sitting a jog/trot on one of those! Nuh nuh. No way. I even half seated a lope the one time I was in one. Looked redonkulous riding so English in a Western saddle but saved my bum!
I attended a clinic at the Equine Affaire with Julie Goodnight and she said “Of COURSE western riders post. We just don’t post in competition.” I assume she means in a Western Pleasure type of class.
I have been to local shows where an extended trot is asked for and riders are even told “you may post”.
When trail riding, doing a long trot I’ll either post or stand.
I seem to remember as a child, back in the age of dinosaurs, that western riders who posted were frowned upon.
My dutch mare has alot of suspension unless she is barely trotting. if I didn’t post, I’d bounce to kingdom come. I could barely sit her trot in a dressage saddle let alone a western saddle. 
My dutch mare has alot of suspension unless she is barely trotting. if I didn’t post, I’d bounce to kingdom come :lol:
:lol:
Maude, I so get this! I used to have an OTTB like that…no matter what I could not sit that trot! Posting kept me ON him!
OTOH, my paint mare I have now has a trot that is very easy to sit. Overall, I think it really depends on the horse’s gait and suspension even more than which kind of saddle one is riding in.
On the occasions my husband has taken me to a ranch in West Texas to work cattle (yes, for fun, ugh) I was definitly impressed to see the cowboys posting when we were heading out to round up pairs. We had to go several miles at a trot and they were definitly posting. These were macho, no nonsense types. Logical, to get from point A to point B the most comfortable way for horse and rider would be a good posting trot.
On the breed circuits (mostly) everything is schooled in a western saddle. My hunt seater has been schooled in a western saddle forever, and prefers it, as do I!
But do you post?
I taught our 4H kids to post and why, how it is better for the horse at times.
They were also showing in English classes.
Later, while working cattle, some parents that were cowboys, here and there, in private, one would ask me to show them how to post, which I did.
Most of them then went on to post while long trotting along, although I remember some that at times still just stood in the stirrups.
Some western horses have such a short, choppy trot that it is harder to post on them.
I used to tell them riding western or English or racing or any other discipline is like using different but similar languages to talk to horses.
They are close to the same, but there are some differences, like more or less contact and demanding more or less quickness or extensions of the horse, plus the technical riding each discipline requires.
Yes, I do, as does everyone I know, when riding what is known these days as the ‘long trot’ aka ‘working trot’ for most of us.
But, it should be realized that lots of working cowboys (and wannabes) prefer simply going from walk to lope, very little trotting. I know a very few who actively discourage trotting- they just want two gaits on their working horses. I know when growing up, if I happened to go spend time at a working ranch in 60s and 70s, the horses just weren’t accustomed to trotting. Walk or lope or gallop.
It’s a method that can work if it’s what the rider wants- though my own preference is three good gaits, not two.
I have been taught to use posting trot as a training tool for a western pleasure horse. I have taught my mare that its OK to go fast when I am posting for warm up. As soon as she feels like she is relaxed and wanting to slow down I will sit and she gears right down and jogs. If she still wants to speed up at the jog I will go back to posting and do some suppling exercises and then try to jog again. Its an excellent training tool as it is very clear to the horse, post means forward, sit means jog.
I’ve always posted when long trotting or when riding an unbalanced ‘surge-y’ greenie
I always post in my Western saddle, but then again I’ve never had a horse that would do that slow, Western jog!
With my gelding, whether I post depends on whether he’s doing a jog or a trot. His jog is quite smooth. Posting to it feels artificial, like posting to a fast walk. His trot has more action, so it’s more comfortable for both of us if I post.
I think I’ve managed to get a sweet jog out of my mare only once. Her trot isn’t horrible compared to many horses, but it’s got enough bounce that both of us are happier if I post.
[QUOTE=BBRider;6298076]
In the past several years I have noticed more and more people are posting at the trot in their Western saddles.
Correct me if I am wrong, but this seems to be a new thing…what happened to the sitting jog/trot?
Understand, I come from an English riding background so I am not against posting, but I just wondered if my perception of this being a growing trend is right…and why do you think it’s happening?
I personally enjoy doing BOTH the sitting trot and posting…whether or not I am riding English OR Western.[/QUOTE]
I do for the most part with a faster trot. People say it’s a “english” thing. I disagree! It’s “riding” thing.
I do both, depending on how my back is feeling. The sitting trot for too long just jars an old injury enough to make it uncomfortable. Posting is much easier on it.
Plus, on young horses, I like to know that they are used to whatever I may be doing on their backs and that they will keep a steady rhythm even if I am changing mine up.
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