Ridecamp: RE: [RC] Right-Handed Riders/Diagonal

This is going to be even more controversial probably than the other posts,
but I have a theory that diagonal preference has something to do with the
rider's handedness, only in how handedness relates to their abdominal
oblique muscles happen to be. I know I used to have an imbalance in my
oblique muscles and when I first started riding 8 years ago, I noticed I had
a definite strong preference for the right diagonal and posting the left
diagonal would just about jerk me out of the saddle. After I figured out it
was me and not my horse, I strengthened that weak side of my abdominals and
it got almost as easy as the right. I still to this day have difficulty
hitting the L diagonal right off. I always, always rise first on the right
and then switch to the L diagonal. The imbalance is in me. I am right
handed. During the posting movement, your abdominals contract reciprocally
to counteract the twisting action of the diagonal trotting gait. If one side
is weaker than the other, that is where the preference comes from.  JMHO

Susan and Fly Bye
>
>
> Ok, I'll be different (nothing new in that...). I am right-handed
> and prefer the left diagonal. I have to constantly check my
> diagonal. Since I unconsciously post the left, I'll purposely
> change to the right as often as I remember. Tanna will bump me
> back to the left, but I'm not sure if that's because HE prefers
> it, or because I do and thus it's easier to carry me when I'm
> comfortable and probably more balanced?
>
> However, he shows his own signs of left-hoofedness. He can really
> bend into a tight left turn, but he doesn't bend as well into a
> right-hand turn. He also prefers the left lead on the canter. (I
> have the hardest time getting him into the right lead, but we're
> working on that.) He was that way from the day I bought him.
> Shows how well I've been working on that right side, huh? :/
>
> However, I do think a person's level has to do with it. Once I
> rode a huge hunter jumper type back at my old barn, and I had the
> hardest time posting on the right diagonal. Wasn't him, it was
> me. I also did the same thing with a little morgan-type mare.
> I've been working hard on my right diagonal and I think I'm more
> balanced than I was last year at the right diagonal, but it's
> still not my favorite diagonal.
>
>
> April
> Nashville, TN
>
> Dbeverly4@xxxxxxx wrote:
>
>
> >I think it has more to do with handedness in the rider not the horse. ?A
> >right handed rider almost always prefers the right diagonal so
> they'll make
> >the horse stronger on that side.
> >
> >I'm left handed and definitely prefer the left diagonal....all
> my horses do
> >too. ?Its me not them.
>
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 Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
 Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
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