Sometimes I am using lateral work as an exercize to gymnasticize or supple a horse who is maybe crooked or stiffening against one leg – then it might be more productive to post. Maybe I am needing the exercise because the horse is a bit tight, or not fully warmed up yet. Then he may not be giving me a good place to sit, or the posting may encourage more freedom in his movement. When I am practicing the movements for the show ring, and I want the movement to be well-collected and precisely controlled, I will generally do better sitting. Other reasons: A lower level rider, or when on a difficult to sit horse, or if either horse or rider has a sore back, it may also be easier on both horse and rider even though not quite what you strive for in the show ring.
I can sit or post depending on the circumstances. Of my two horses, one is better when sitting for the lateral work as he needs very clear and unwavering aids. The other can get tight in his back and poll and will then suck back, posting allows me to keep him swinging through and forward to help encourage him to step forward and sideways instead of just sideways.
There is also the instances (like right now) where I am not fit enough to sit the trot without riding a touch backwards. So I sit when I can and post the rest until I get fitter. Especially because my one boy is so ridiculously sensitive about my hands.
This…
I agree with many things stated here. For Tucson, his trot was still tighter than you would want to sit (or he could tolerate a rider sitting) until he was around PSG engagement. The lateral work helped lengthen the tight muscles dynamically, so was very good for him… when sitting wasn’t. I have done lateral work on JJ when posting once so far. She generally swings a ton, but one day she hadn’t been ridden due to rain and wet arena, temps had dropped, a new herd of cattle had been delivered to the grazing land across the street… she clearly needed me posting. And the lateral work loosened her up, so by the end of the ride I was sitting it.
I post all lateral work when warming up my older, stiff OTTB. It helps him loosen his back and that is a hard feat most days. When we are actually working, I usually sit but if he gets stuck I will start posting to help him swing again.
I feel that it’s a kindness to the horse to post while doing lateral work, particularly if a movement is new to them.
As a rider doing it because you can’t sit properly, simply means that you are not riding up to that level, and need to get there ASAP by working on learning to sit unless you have a physical disability.
As for not having control when rising, it simply means that you are not strong enough to use your legs independently while rising, try riding in 1/2 seat to build leg strength.
When showing, S/I, H/I. H/P must be shown sitting. Perhaps Hilda is just emphasizing that.
I agree with many things stated here. For Tucson, his trot was still tighter than you would want to sit (or he could tolerate a rider sitting) until he was around PSG engagement. The lateral work helped lengthen the tight muscles dynamically, so was very good for him… when sitting wasn’t. I have done lateral work on JJ when posting once so far. She generally swings a ton, but one day she hadn’t been ridden due to rain and wet arena, temps had dropped, a new herd of cattle had been delivered to the grazing land across the street… she clearly needed me posting. And the lateral work loosened her up, so by the end of the ride I was sitting it.
Sometimes I throw in lateral work to get my horse to focus when she’s being really super fresh and hot (when we’re warming up at a new property or in the “scary” ring at home, or if she’s just having a super spicy day). So we’re warming up, I’m posting to stay off her back, but I’ll put her in S/I to keep her from taking off. Lateral work is also helpful as a training aid to get the horse to pay attention to you.
And if we’re training lateral work otherwise and we start to lose some of the energy from behind, it can help to post to encourage the momentum. It all depends on what you’re trying to get out of the horse and what you’re working on in the moment.
Not actually related to the OP’s original question but there are many variations to schooling a horse. Both of my horses are happier if I ride the first few minutes in two point. It helps them loosen up though it may look strange when using a dressage saddle. I always post while warming up which includes lateral work. Once they are through and forward I will include sitting trot.
Great post!
I had a pro (who had been a H/J pro, who got this from Carlton Brooks, a NorCal BNT) tell me to switch diagonals every six strides on a weak-n-green dressage horse of mine. Preferrably, switch that on the “up” part of the post. The idea was to never let her get used to pushing harder with one hind leg than the other.
Since then, I have kept my eyes peeled for more information about what posting or sitting or putting your seat here or there in the saddle) does for the horse’s hind end and back. IMO, i think I should learn to feel enough that I can use my seat in all these different ways as any of them would improve the horse.
It’s like getting a bigger vocabulary for your butt.
Me too^^
Somewhat as others have alluded to…but I like to be able to post or sit all of the lateral movements because I should be able to. I think it shows influence if you can execute the movement with impulsion and control in both sitting and posting. I know I’d rather sit, but when I have him really on the aids I can post or sit…it doesn’t matter. I can also use posting to encourage more swing and movement through the back.
I think it is a great test to see if you can execute the same movement sitting or positsg. If you sit does the impulsion change? Does the rhythm change if you post? Etc…
I like the stretchy sitting trot as a great test of throughness and how reliably the horse is working off my seat. On the flip side I like to be able to post the passage, using the posting to keep the rhythm.
Exactly, you influence as you see fit. I think a lot of people don’t really get to feel/see the influence on rhythm and impulsion with sitting vs rising on lateral or collected movements. I was good with lateral (rising vs sitting), but needed to sit for half steps/ piaffe. IMHO tells you a lot about your aids and coordination of them. I needed to sit for big collected movements, just not coordinated enough to post them yet.
