Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

I had a horse once who definitely had a preferred diagonal.  He would 
bump me back onto it whenever I switched.  He also had high/low heel.  I 
dealt with evening him up physically with shoeing but I also decided 
that I would post on his hated diagonal enough to also help even him 
out.  He was a bossy horse and I had to be more determined that he was. 
 After several months of very uncomfortable trotting, he did get more 
even and the battle of wills was over because he was more comfortable 
with me on his "bad" diagonal.  Unfortunately, I can't remember which 
diagonal he preferred compared to which was his high heel.
Laney

Beverley H. Kane, MD wrote:
> To answer part of the original question, the diagonal is named for the 
> horse’s front leg for which we are posting *up* or *rising.* That’s the 
> convention. Biomechanically, it doesn’t matter what you call it as long 
> as you know where you are and how to switch. After 5 years of English 
> lessons, I can just now get my left diagonal by feel instead of by 
> looking down. (Could always feel the right.) </sigh/>
> *
> *My endurance mentor, who is also a Centered Riding instructor, has me 
> post on the uphill (inside) diagonal when riding on a trail canted to 
> the left or right. On a curved trail, we post to the diagonal on the 
> outside of the curve, same as in an arena. (Angie’s intuitive way.) My 
> mnemonic is “*Post to the most*.” That is, if there’s a bluff to your 
> left, and a 50’ drop off to your right, post to the side with the most 
> land.
>
> > From frequent vet scribing, I hear vets tell riders to change diagonals often, at least every quarter mile or so, especially if there’s anything iffy on the back exam.
>
> I find “diagonal wars” highly comical w/ horses that throw you back onto 
> their favored side. I always laugh when they do it—and try to sneak in 
> the balance side a minute or so later.
>
> Beverley
>
>
> On 4/13/07 8:35 AM, "Barbara McCrary" <bigcreekranch@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>     I took lessons about 25 years ago, just to learn to change
>     diagonals.  Previously, I had always posted on one diagonal only.  I
>     was taught to come down as a front leg came down.  So I came down as
>     the right leg came down, or vice versa.  *I always thought that as I
>     came down with the horse's right front leg also coming down, that
>     was the right diagonal.*  And I came down with the horse coming down
>     on his inside front leg.  I think that is the same thing you are
>     saying, but you said rise with the outside shoulder.  Am I right, or
>     just confused?
>
>         Barbara
>
> _______


=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp

Ride Long and Ride Safe!!

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=