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A bumpy ride is no fun, for you or your horse! For this reason, English equestrians are taught to post the trot.

WHAT IS POSTING?

Posting is the rhythmic (up and down) motion a rider will perform, in time with the horse's forward movement.

Basically, the rider goes up when the horse's outside shoulder moves forward. At the same time, the horse's opposite (inside) hind leg is leaving the ground.

POSTING IS NOT SIMPLY STANDING IN THE STIRRUPS.

Beginning riders often post too high. They stand up in the stirrups and flop back down on the horse's back. This helps neither horse, nor rider. Also, it is impossible to remain in rhythm with the horse this way.

HOW TO LEARN TO POST.

Each horse has a natural rhythm. By beginning with riding lessons on a longe line, a rider will be contained on a circle, with the instructor controlling the speed and direction of the horse. Most often, the beginning rider will not even hold the reins. Instead, he will focus on balance and rhythm on the horse.

A wonderful instructor taught me to post by requiring me to ride on the longe line with my eyes closed. Because she held the line, the horse stayed obediently on the prescribed circle. My only job was to feel the horse's hind end, as it swung from side to side with each step.

Within minutes, I was rising and falling gently, in time with the trotting horse's gait.

WHAT ABOUT DIAGONALS?

Posting is not simply popping up and down atop the horse. The purpose of posting is to stay in rhythm with the horse and to stay out of his way, so he can move forward smoothly.

To do so, the rider must post on the correct diagonal. The common rule is this: "Rise and fall with the leg on the wall." What does this mean? When the horse's outside front leg steps forward, the rider will go up. When the inside front leg moves, the rider will go down.

Up down, up down. That's posting!

In time, a sensitive rider will be able to feel whether he is on the correct diagonal or not. If not, the rider will sit for two beats (bounces) and rise again on the right beat.

RIDING DISCIPLINES
Different English riding disciplines will offer variations on posting the trot. For example, a Saddleseat (English) rider will often post directly upright, but not very high. Such riders will keep a rapid tempo, along with their horses. Hunt-seat riders may post slightly forward, along with the shapes of their hunt saddles. Dressage riders will vary the speed and height of their posting, as a means of modulating the speed of their horses.

Generally speaking, Western riders do not post. One might post on a very young horse, just to help him with his balance, but this is not acceptable in the show ring.

VARIOUS TROTS

In English equitation, a basic working trot will usually require posting. In a collected trot, the rider may be asked to sit the trot (and refrain from posting). An extended trot may be augmented by posting.

In preparation for jumping, a rider may perform the two-point position, which is almost like standing in the stirrups (although most of his weight is borne by his knees and calves). In two-point, a rider does not post at all.

Posting is not difficult to perform. In fact, after a bit of practice, many riders prefer the comfort it offers.

Learn more about this author, Linda Ann Nickerson.
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