Feeling you diagonals

[SugarCubes]

I’ve been working on this lately and trying to break the habit of peeking to check if I’m right. I’m getting frustrated at my progress though. If I sit the trot, my hips swing to the outside when the inside hind comes forward. I can feel this, and I have verified it by looking. So, in my mind, I should wait until I feel my hips swing to the inside, then come up on the next beat. But for some reason, this is only working when we track left, when we track right I’m on the wrong diagonal? What am I doing wrong?

Any advice? I really want to get this down, it’s annoyed me for years!

ETA: Or is there a trick to feeling it when you’re posting? I’ve been sitting the first couple strides of the trot because I cannot fathom it being easier to feel while you’re posting, but maybe I’m wrong about that?

[Flyspray87]

I had a really hard time with this. It took me a while and I thought there’s no way I can go without taking a peak.
What really has helped me and actually became a habit I cannot break is thinking “left right” or “up down”.
I think one issue I had was my brain would think “post now” but my body reacted too late so I picked up the wrong diagonal.

So even at the walk ill think to nyself which every step, left right, left right, left right–then pick up the trot and still keep saying to my self left right left right or up down and that helped me pick it up all the time. I still do and I feel so silly saying it in my head but it really has helped, just something that worked for me when I thought I would never “feel” it.

[SugarCubes]

@Flyspray87

I had a really hard time with this. It took me a while and I thought there’s no way I can go without taking a peak.
What really has helped me and actually became a habit I cannot break is thinking “left right” or “up down”.
I think one issue I had was my brain would think “post now” but my body reacted too late so I picked up the wrong diagonal.

So even at the walk ill think to nyself which every step, left right, left right, left right–then pick up the trot and still keep saying to my self left right left right or up down and that helped me pick it up all the time. I still do and I feel so silly saying it in my head but it really has helped, just something that worked for me when I thought I would never “feel” it.

Do you say “left, right” when the shoulders move? I have actually tried that too, I really concentrated on keeping track of which shoulder was coming forward at the walk and as I asked for the trot transition I knew when to start my post. Is that what you’re recommending? I should try that again since sitting the first few steps isn’t seeming to work…

[BLBSTBLS]

A good way to learn to “Feel” is to pick up a sitting trot, and have a helper stand in the ring. As your sitting the trot try to feel the outside leg going forward. When you think you feel it going forward say now or one or any word you want out loud and let your helper tell you if it is correct or not. Keep your eyes up and forward. then try posting to sitting and keep saying aloud when the outside leg is going forward.

You can also do this while working on the lunge line. have a helper or your trainer put you on a nice big circle. sit the trot and close your eyes and announce when you feel the outside leg move forward.

Always sit a few steps when you pick up the trot to feel your diagonal before you start posting.

Good luck!

[SugarCubes]

@BLBSTBLS

A good way to learn to “Feel” is to pick up a sitting trot, and have a helper stand in the ring. As your sitting the trot try to feel the outside leg going forward. When you think you feel it going forward say now or one or any word you want out loud and let your helper tell you if it is correct or not. Keep your eyes up and forward. then try posting to sitting and keep saying aloud when the outside leg is going forward.

You can also do this while working on the lunge line. have a helper or your trainer put you on a nice big circle. sit the trot and close your eyes and announce when you feel the outside leg move forward.

Always sit a few steps when you pick up the trot to feel your diagonal before you start posting.

Good luck!

LOL, did you read my post? That’s exactly what I’ve been doing. I can feel when the inside hind comes forward, which would also be when the outside foreleg goes forward, but it’s not translating to beginning my post on the correct diagonal.

[Movida]

The way I was taught was:

1. establish sitting trot on a 20m circle
2. try and post on the correct diagonal
3. switch diagonals and feel the difference
4. pick which diagonal I thought was correct
5. check.
6. rinse and repeat.

You’ll learn to feel the different balance when you post on each diagonal. Smaller circles exaggerate the difference. And obviously the more you practice, the faster you’ll learn your timing to begin the post on your bad side.

[GoodTimes]

I had to think about this for a second. I never taught myself to recognize if I’ve I’m on the correct diagonal or not without peaking, however I don’t really ever have to check unless I’m riding an unfamiliar horse, or the horse is being a little silly. I sit for 2-3 steps and then start posting.
There’s nothing wrong with taking a peek as long as it’s just a quick glance down with your eyeballs to the outside shoulder. It shouldn’t take more than a glance, and you shouldn’t have to move your head/shoulders.

[BLBSTBLS]

Yes, I did read your post, I just didn’t explain well… Movida explained what I was thinking in my head…

[HuntinQuarters]

I have been struggling with this lately too. I can typically feel my right diagonal easily and pick it up without peeking. However, no matter how hard I try to feel my left diagonal, if I pick it up without looking I always seem to come up on the right instead. Is it common for a horse to have a stronger diagonal (same while turning either direction) that makes it easier for a rider to pick up one over the other?

[Impractical_Horsewoman]

For me, the more I ride a horse, the easier it is for me to identify if I am on the correct diagonal or not. Also, some horses are easier to feel than others. I am someone who often has to peek but on a few horses with very animated trots it just feels really weird to be on the wrong diagonal!

[SugarCubes]

Thanks guys! Ok, maybe I’m making this harder on myself by doing this down the long sides of the arena…I guess I should practice on a circle first so it’s easier to feel.

HuntinQuarters - Same thing here! I’m pretty accurate tracking left, but tracking right I’m wrong almost every time. I was wondering the same thing, if maybe my horse is stronger one way than the other so it’s easier to feel? Idk…

Goodtimes - My trainer is ADAMENT that we learn to feel it and don’t use our eyes to check. Instead, she’ll have me place my hand on the horses shoulder so I can feel if I’m right or wrong without looking. I’ve been peeking to check my whole life and thought I was pretty discreet about it, but she still catches me :lol:

Movida - I like this method, I’ll start practicing this during my warmup each ride!

BLB - Aha, got it! Thanks

Impractical Horsewoman - I’ve had this horse for years, but he’s a QH with a very typical QH trot…which probably does make it a little harder to feel than on a bigger moving horse with more suspension in the gait!

[ParadoxFarm]

I know this is not exactly what you’re talking about, because I probably peek when going from walk to trot. I’m not even sure. BUT, in the last couple years I’ve found something that works for me when I go from canter to trot. When I transition down, if I consciously squeeze my thighs together as I transition down, I pick up my diagonal EVERY time. Something about the squeezing maybe makes me feel it better. I don’t know the mechanics of it, but it was a weird sort of light bulb for me. Again, walk to trot, I still probably look.

[WhoaNellie44]

I just read “Enlightened Equitation,” by Heather Moffett. Her explanation of feeling the diagonals made so much sense to me. The book was worth it just for that portion (I found her writing style kind of narcissistic, but if you can get past that, it’s worth a read). I have the hardest time with this. When I look at the shoulder, by the time I’ve realized I should be on the rise, it’s too late. It’s much easier for me to feel the right diagonal by using the motion of my horse’s hips as a guide.

[DunByMistake]

I have found that most people naturally pick up one diagonal over the other. I always always pick up my left. So I know if I’m on left rein and I pick up diagonal, I will be correct. If I’m on right rein, I will pick up posting knowing I’ll start on wrong diagonal. Then after about 2 rises, I will sit and switch.

[SolarFlare]

You can also try feeling for the movement of the horse’s ribcage instead of the shoulder. When the barrel swings out, you should be rising in the post. Also very useful for timing lateral movements, because this is when the inside hind is moving forward.

Feeling for the shoulder never worked for me - and now I just have a habit of looking down. I did spend a while working on feeling it but have slipped back into the bad habit. You’ve inspired me to practice more again.

[lintesia]

I still struggle with this… sigh.

Ages ago, my trainer gave me an exercise that did help at that time (and now I need to use it again!). All you do is, after picking up the trot, post for five strides, sit for five strides, post for five strides, sit for five strides, etc. What this does is alternate when you’re on the correct diagonal and then the incorrect diagonal and allow you to feel, in quick succession, the difference.

[M_Owen]

I learned on a lunge line with no stirrups. I think it helped me get the feel better. I also find it easier to feel the hind legs than the front, not sure if that will be helpful. Good luck! Once you feel it it will be second nature.

[luckymaverick]

I’m working on this too- after too many years of looking, I decided it was going to be one of my riding goals this year. I found, if I concentrate, I can feel Pony pushing my outside hip back, and voila, correct diagonal. However, if the walk is subpar, it’s harder to feel. I still peek to make sure I’m correct, after a few strides. Straight-a-ways are harder to feel for sure. If the canter is active, canter to trot I can almost always pick up the correct diagonal, or at least feel it better.
I have a bad habit of posting before Pony is actually trotting- almost willing her into it. Not sure how/why I picked up that habit- trying to break that one too. That’s why I started sitting a few strides of the trot before posting as needed.

[Flyspray87]

@SugarCubes

Do you say “left, right” when the shoulders move? I have actually tried that too, I really concentrated on keeping track of which shoulder was coming forward at the walk and as I asked for the trot transition I knew when to start my post. Is that what you’re recommending? I should try that again since sitting the first few steps isn’t seeming to work…

Yes–I think saying up down helped me most over left right. but yes when the outside shoulder goes forward I start my up down. It takes a little bit for our body to respond when our brain has already processed it. One person I rode with who was more advanced than me told me not even to say up down–just to go right into it and start posting. Basically that I should not have to say up down, but what works for someone won’t always work for the others. So that WORKED for me and i am way more confident picking up the correct diagonal.

Let me know if it works for you.

[Flyspray87]

@SugarCubes

Thanks guys! Ok, maybe I’m making this harder on myself by doing this down the long sides of the arena…I guess I should practice on a circle first so it’s easier to feel.

HuntinQuarters - Same thing here! I’m pretty accurate tracking left, but tracking right I’m wrong almost every time. I was wondering the same thing, if maybe my horse is stronger one way than the other so it’s easier to feel? Idk…

Goodtimes - My trainer is ADAMENT that we learn to feel it and don’t use our eyes to check. Instead, she’ll have me place my hand on the horses shoulder so I can feel if I’m right or wrong without looking. I’ve been peeking to check my whole life and thought I was pretty discreet about it, but she still catches me :lol:

Movida - I like this method, I’ll start practicing this during my warmup each ride!

BLB - Aha, got it! Thanks

Impractical Horsewoman - I’ve had this horse for years, but he’s a QH with a very typical QH trot…which probably does make it a little harder to feel than on a bigger moving horse with more suspension in the gait!

My trainer is the same. Gets very upset when we peak. Especially more advanced riders. I was with one trainer who said to “pretend to blink” and take a peak so I never tried then switched to my current trainer and it was difficult st first but now it’s become so much fun that it’s a “skill” I’ve “almost” mastered when I thought it was absolutely impossible. Try the up down!!! Do not post on the DOWN! Sometimes I have to sit for like ten steps before my body can actually respond. It’s hilarious. Your brain tells you to post NOW, but your body takes a little bit. It’ll get way better, easier, and quicker.