by Brett Miller

Created on: July 24, 2007   Last Updated: June 25, 2009

Posting is the term used for rhythmically rising and falling with the gait of the horse at a trot. It lessens the pounding one receives at the very uncomfortable trot. Admittedly, some horses do have smoother trots than others, but it is all relative, the trot is the roughest of the horse's gaits. So learning the proper way to post not only improves your riding pleasure, it is better on the horse too. Having a rider bouncing uncontrolled on their back takes its toll on the poor fellow.

Each gait has a beat, for the trot it is a two beat. One two one two one two. You will post to that beat. As your horse moves into the trot, begin to get the feel of the beat. Allow the thrust of the trot to move you out of the saddle. That is one. On two, softly sit back down. On the next beat you will again rise from the saddle. The power of the horse's motion is what propels you from the seat. You use no muscles, besides what it takes to maintain your balance and restrain all other motion, but more on that later. Sometimes you only rise from the saddle by a fraction of an inch, which is alright; we aren't skateboarding and trying to catch some air.

The inside thigh muscles are the proper muscles to use for this exercise. Keep from the knee down as quiet as you can. Use the inner muscles to control your descent so it is quiet and rhythmic. The upper body should be inclined forward, while keeping the back straight. The hands must be still as you post. They do not move with the motion, for one reason they are attached to the reins that are connected to the metal bit that is inside the horse's mouth. The quieter your hands, the less damage you will do to the inside of your mount's mouth.

Watch the horse's shoulder. You are actually in beat with either the left or the right shoulder. This is called the diagonal. It's not that critical to know the proper diagonal unless you are showing or you care to do all things well. In that case a simple child's rhyme can be used, "You rise and fall with the leg on the wall." If you are in the arena and on the rail, you should be rising and falling with the shoulder (the leg) that is next to the rail (wall). If you're not, the solution is simple, sit for two beats, one, two, now rise and you will have changed diagonals and are now posting to the correct shoulder.

A word to the novice rider, posting uses muscles that are unaccustomed to much activity. You will be sore. The upside is that you would be sore trotting without posting, but your whole body would be aching along with your horse's back. Those posting muscles will adapt and become strong and firm, then posting may become one of your favorite activities.

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