One of the most difficult things that a riding instructor must teach her students is how to post on the correct diagonal. By the time we’re accomplished horsemen, posting the trot becomes second nature. We have difficulty describing how it is done and translating this skill to our students.
This is where excellent communication skills are absolutely essential. You must find an effective method of teaching students to post on the correct diagonal, and you might have to use different methods depending on the student.
Don’t Make This Mistake
If you start talking about posting the trot and diagonals with your students, they won’t automatically know what you are talking about. Many riding instructors just start babbling about the importance of diagonals without thoroughly explaining the definition.
Tell your students that a diagonal is the leg with which they should post. Then explain what that means.
A demonstration is the most effective method of teaching students to post on the correct diagonal. Once they can visualize the movement, they will be much better equipped to mimic that action with their own bodies.
While an experienced rider is demonstrating the posting trot, talk your students through the action. Point out the outside leg (the leg against the rail) and how the rider posts up when that leg goes forward and sits down when the leg on the rail hits the ground.
Have them watch for a few minutes with several changes of diagonal. Let them see how it works and explain why it is so important.
Setting Students Up for Success
Your job as a riding instructor is to explain in the simplest terms possible why and how something works, whether it be posting on the correct diagonal or attaining the correct lead at the canter, or something else entirely.
If you don’t set them up for success, they’re going to fail miserably. And they’ll feel bad about themselves. And they’ll find another riding instructor—one who does set them up for success.
To teach your students how to post on the correct diagonal, they must understand several things:
- Difference between the inside and outside legs
- Anatomy of the trot (two-beat diagonal gait)
- How to post correctly
- How to check their diagonals
Otherwise, they’re going to return a blank stare when you tell them to rise and fall with the leg on the wall or offer any other catchy rhyme designed to teach them how to post on the correct diagonal.
You can also teach them diagonals at the walk so they can concentrate more intently on the movement of the horse’s shoulder. Provide as many demonstrations as it takes for them to get the concept, and focus on diagonals for several lessons so the correct diagonal becomes second nature.
And don’t forget to read Part One of this article: Teaching Students to Post the Trot
You might also like:
- Teaching Students to Post the Trot:
Part One - Teaching Students to Sit the Trot
- Teaching Students Horsemanship
- Teaching Your Students to
Mount and Dismount - Teaching Students Basic Equestrian Safety
About the Author: Laura Jane Thompson is the Chief Equestrian Officer of Riding Instructor University and the Feature writer for the horses section at Suite101. She believes that any horse business can succeed provided its owner practices smart strategy.
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