RE: changing diagonals

["Linda VanCeylon" <LVanCeylon@vines.colostate.edu>]

Hi Linda,

You are correct.  You should post on the uphill side.  It becomes very 
difficult on some courses which are laid out so that you are almost always 
situated with the hill on one side.  Here in Mountain Region, that seems to 
happen to me a lot.  The course might go around a big mountain or up a 
ridge and you could go for 10 miles or more posting the same diagonal.  
What I do in that case is try to give some breaks for walking (usually not 
a problem in rocky areas) or occasionally sit a "light seat" instead of 
posting.

I've had those very same experiences with the "subtle sneaks"!!  These guys 
are much smarter than we often give them credit for.

Lindavan, Mountain Region
-------------
Original Text
From: "Flemmer, Linda" <flemmerl@rcbhsc.wvu.edu>, on 8/16/99 9:59 AM:
To: XMail@XMail@ACNS[<ridecamp@endurance.net>], Linda 
VanCeylon@Property@BusFin
Cc: XMail@XMail@ACNS[<Skiparound@aol.com>]

-----Original Message-----
From: Linda VanCeylon [mailto:LVanCeylon@vines.colostate.edu]
  Also, make sure you are 
using the appropriate diagonal for the terrain.  

Linda,

Question for you...  If you are riding on a road shoulder that has a slight
slant or drop off, is there a preferred diagonal?  I have always posted on
the inside (uphill) diagonal in this case, but I wasn't sure what others 
are
doing.  Where it is legal, we try to switch sides of the road so that one
side isn't always "down hill".  

Otherwise, equitation & dressage lessons always taught me to post on the
outside diagonal of a curve.  If we are traveling in a straight line, we
alternate every little while.

My older gelding was one-sided after a severe injury as a yearling.  He 
came
to me as a 9 year old.  We used posting on his weak diagonal as one of many
tools to strengthen that side & make it more flexible.  It is amazing how 
he
could "sneak" a change of diagonals in on me.  A little "stumble", a canter
stride, etc.  They can be subtle!

Linda Flemmer



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