I took lots of riding lessons when I was a little girl...LONG time ago. Had one of those scary German dressage instructors...Anyway, diagonals were always so simple...I was taught that if you are sitting when the left fore hits the ground you are on the left diagonal...as we trotted around and around and around, we were also taught to always be on the outside diagonal...i.e...if going counter clockwise the right front leg is on the outside so sit when the right front leg hits the ground. After awhile it is easy to see just by glancing down, which shoulder/leg is hitting the ground. I have been afraid to say anything because reading all these posts got so confusing I started to think I have been doing it wrong all these many, many, many years ! ;-). So I'm not going to read anymore and just stick with the simplest....which ever front leg is hitting the ground at the same time your butt is coming in contact with the horses back, that is what diagonal you are on.
