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This is how I was taught, too, so I'm getting a bit confused with the  
discussion about which diagonal to use for slopes.

For me, when going on a clockwise circle (right side to the inside of  
the circle), I will be "up" when the right front foot is on the  
ground.  To me, that is the "right" diagonal.  Going the other  
direction (left side to the inside of the circle), I am "up" when the  
left front foot is on the ground, so it is the "left" diagonal.  That  
makes more sense to me, since everything is either "left" or "right".

With that definition -- if you are trotting on a slope, with the high  
side to the right, do you post on the left or right diagonal?


On Apr 13, 2007, at 9:01 AM, Tx Trigger wrote:

> I was not taught by watching the shoulders of the horse move, but by
> watching the horses foot hit the ground. Maybe this was easier for  
> them to
> explain to a 9 year old kid. I dunno. Anyway, in an arena when the  
> front
> hoof towards the inside of the ring hit the ground out in front of the
> horse, you are "up".  Thus, if going counterclock wise in a ring,  
> with the
> left side of the horse to the inside of the ring, you would be on  
> the "left"
> diagonal, and in the rise, or "up" when that left front hit the  
> ground in
> front of the horse.  Also, as a kid, I was taught to sit the two  
> beats to
> change diagonals, but later learned to stay "up" and light and  
> balanced for
> the two beats, and it was smoother and easier on the horse. The  
> problem some
> have is they have to lean way out and over to the side to see the  
> foot hit
> the ground in the beginning, but as one rides more, you can feel  
> it, or hear
> it.
>
> I prefer the right diagonal , so I just remind myself to change to  
> the left
> when I think about it, and in turn, I ride both fairly even. As far as
> sloped trails, I seem to feel which has that more balanced feel as  
> we trot.
>
> I remember when Erin McChesney (Klentos) won Tevis the first time, she
> mentioned her dressage background, and what diagonals she was on  
> for certain
> types of trails. I think it does make a difference, but just can't  
> remember
> all of what she said.
>
> Jonni
>
>
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