by Terry Mckee

Created on: April 11, 2008   Last Updated: June 25, 2009

How to Post the Trot

Posting the trot is a rhythmical motion done by the rider when the horse is trotting. Trotting is one of four gaits the horse has, the gaits are the walk, trot, canter and gallop.

Likening it to music, the walk and gallop are four beat gaits, in which the footfalls of the horse happen individually. If you listen carefully to a horse walking on hard ground, such as a driveway or barn aisle, you will hear a distinct one-two-three-four; each footfall is clearly separate, if the gait is true and pure.

The canter is a three beat gait and sounds very similar to a waltz. The stride begins with the right hind, say for the left lead canter, followed by the diagonal pair of the right front and left hind, and then onto the left front leg. A moment of suspension follows before the horse resumes the same sequence of footfalls. If you've ever seen a polo game, you'll notice that posting can also be done in the canter.

The trot is a two beat gait, in which the horse moves its diagonal pairs of legs at the same time. For example, the right front leg moves simultaneously with the left hind, alternating with the left front and right hind.

Posting the trot is usually one of the first things taught to a beginner rider, to learn how to move fluidly and in balance with the horse. It is an up and down motion in time with the two beat rhythm of the gait, where the rider lifts his seat out of the saddle for one half of the stride, then gently sits back down in the saddle for the other half, similar to standing up in the stirrups then sitting down in time with the horse. You can actually hear and feel the one-two rhythm.

It was created by the English riders while hunting; they found that posting the trot reduced stress on their mounts' backs. Now it used to when first staring a horse for the same reason, to minimize strain and warm up his muscles properly. The benefits of which have carried over to the Western discipline as well.
When riding out in the English countryside, however, it didn't matter which diagonal set of legs the rider posted up or down on as long as it was alternated, to give the corresponding back muscle relief. So if the horse was moving on the left diagonal, meaning the left front leg and right hind legs were moving forward at once, the rider would be rising in the trot and sitting as the alternating pair came forward. This is known as diagonals, when the rider purposely rises to either the left or right diagonal.

In a more formal or arena or ring setting,

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