posting diagonal - stupid question

[mayS]

I'm so confused!? I used to do my posting trot perfectly, always picking up the right diagonal, lesson after lesson. I think that I knew the right diagonal by remaining still the first stride or two until I felt the right time to post.

Then something happened and I'm not sure what. For the past 2 lessons I have been consistently posting on the wrong one every time! What feels more comfortable to me now is the WRONG thing. It's almost like the horse is moving differently? And it's not just bad luck -- I'm *always* choosing the wrong one now.

If I look down to check when the outside shoulder is moving, I get yelled at for looking down while moving. :p

Any guesses why I suddenly the wrong diagonal feels more "right" to me?

Just out of curiosity, how bad is it to do this? Is is horribly bad for the horse? Or just poor form and less comfortable?

Thanks in advance. :D

[dressage1anja]

when the outside shoulder is down, is when you sit

[galadriel]

There's an explanation of why you post to the "correct" diagonal here:
http://lorienstable.com/articles/riding/450-trotting-diagonals/

It's a matter of precision and balance. But in quite a lot of cases, it's minor--the horse is coping with enough that the small amount of difference that diagonal makes wont change much, or you're not circling enough to make a difference, or...

And there IS also a school of thought which suggests riding on what many of us here consider the "wrong" diagonal--and another that suggests that there is no wrong diagonal, as long as you're consistent.

Short answer: You're not hurting the horse by not getting the correct diagonal.

Some horses make it easy to post on just one diagonal, no matter which way you're going. If you or the horse have come unbalanced in some way, then the horse may make it easier for you to post on the wrong diagonal in both directions.

To figure out which diagonal you're on, you can try to feel for the hind legs (as described in the article above)...or you could also try to "flick" your eyes down quickly without moving your head. You can check the movement of the shoulder without making it obvious that you are doing so. (Turning your head to look down *does* alter the horse's balance, so it's better to learn how to check your diagonal without moving your head.)

[Drummers mum]

I found something really wierd the other day. On Drummer I always post on the same diagonal! I don't think about it, it just happens and I have to make a real effort to swap and stay swapped as its not so easy and comfy.

[happy herman]

I found something really wierd the other day. On Drummer I always post on the same diagonal! I don't think about it, it just happens and I have to make a real effort to swap and stay swapped as its not so easy and comfy.
most horses have a favorite diag. for you to post and will switch you to the favorite. i would suggest you do a good bit of work on the non favorite and soon you should find the disliked one would be as comfortable as the favored.