The Trot

Motion

The trot is a steady 2-beat movement in which the horse's legs move in diagonally opposite pairs. The horse springs from one diagonal to the other. In between these springs, all four legs are off the ground.

When a horse is at the trot he lifts his hooves in the following sequence:

1. off (right) fore and near (left) hind
2. near (left) fore and off (right) hind

Sit the Horse

To ask a horse to trot, squeeze with your lower legs, using more pressure than you would use at the walk, and kick gently with your heels.

Unlike the walk, a horse doesn't move its head forward and back, so your hands remain in a fixed position to follow the horse's movement.

Posting

The trot has two beats per stride and a moment in mid-air called suspension.

Because a horse's back moves up and down, you need to synchronize your lower back and pelvis to the rhythm of the horse's back to avoid being bounced up and down.

When you "post" the trot, you rise up out of the saddle as the horse's outside leg moves forward. Rise up out of the saddle for one beat, and then sit down in the saddle for one beat, while gripping with your legs to stay on.

Push down on the stirrups as you rise up out of the saddle, tilting your pelvis slightly forward, while keeping your back straight.

When you flex your spine inward, you are shortening it by the same amount the horse's back is rising.

When you straighten your spine, you are lengthening it by the same amount that the horse's back is falling.

The Meadowbrook Post

The Meadowbrook Post, used when riding a polo pony, is done in rhythm with the horse as it moves its legs and back.

Push your hips forward and up in a smooth thrusting movement. Your lower leg remains in the same position throughout, only your upper leg moves.

As soon as you return to the saddle, be ready to receive the forward and upward thrust of the horse's back in a smooth continuous movement.

Diagonals

Diagonal - the fore leg moving forward when you are in the up position of posting the trot.

A horse in the trot moves his legs in diagonal pairs:

• the off fore and near hind are called the right diagonal
• the near fore and off hind are called the left diagonal

To check if you are on the right diagonal look down to the horse's outside shoulder and watch it move back toward you.