Trotting/ Posting/ Horseback Riding---PLEASE ANSWER!!!!!!!!!! Thanks!!!! :) :-D?

Question

I started horseback ridining and due to injures to the horse I was riding, I only got to ride for a few months--before we stopped, I was having alot of trouble posting as I trotted----any tips?

By the way I ride English style, and I have been snowboarding for about four years, any way that could help me out here?

Thanks! :)

Answer 1

actually you want the outside  the leg closer to the fence or wall)  front leg down when your down and up when your up you can watch the right shoulder for these movements and you at first want to think up down up down to keep that motion going....keep your heels down and if you need to just put your hands in the front of the saddle to get the idea it maybe help can also have your trainer put poles down you can feel the legs more hope this helps!

Answer 2

First when you start trotting on the lunge line don't even think about anything but posting. OK, when you go forward you have to have the kind of motion of when (sorry if this sounds weird but it is like the EXACT movment) your humping something. About being in rythm with the horse when it's front outside leg (which means the leg that is closest to the rail) goes forward you go up. And about your feet being in the right place your feet should be in line with your shoulders and butt. And about building leg muscles climb stairs and keep your heels down and climb with your toes. Keeping your heels down is also very important. If you have any other questions about riding email me at [e-mail]. I HOPE THIS HELPS!!!!!!

Answer 3

You really just have to practice and get the feel of the horse.  It's hard to find the rhythm at first.  It's sorta like dancing... some people are good at it and it's really easy for them, but some people have a harder time... it doesn't come as naturally.  so similarly, some people can get on a horse and post easily the first time, others need a little practice before they're good at it.

So trot around a lot... spend a lot of time on a horse and spend most of that time trotting.  Do not worry yet about your diagonals.  when you're first learning to post, you just need to feel the horse underneath you and figure out when you should be bouncing up and down.  [once you have the hang of that, you should then try to post the correct diagonal... you should "rise and fall with the leg on the wall" so you should go up when the front outside leg goes forward]

If there are others around when you're trying to post, have them help you by speaking the horse's rhythm... have them say something like "up down up down" or "1 2 1 2" as each of the legs move forward.  then try to go up every time there's a 1.  I've seen a lot of times that riders will try to stay up way too long when they first start to post.  so make sure you're not trying to stay up for 1 and 2 and then fall and go back up for 1 and 2 again.  You really will only be up for a second before you fall back to the saddle.

Again, if you have someone around while you're learning to post, have them demonstrate... have them watch you for a couple minutes, then have them get on the horse and show you what you're doing and what you should be doing instead.  it might help you to actually see what the posting should look like.  Posting is a hard thing for someone to explain.  When i would teach lessons to kids in the summer, I would always get on the horse for a minute and post the trot for them to see waht it looked like... and they usually did a lot better after watching me.

And if you have a friend there while you're riding, have them put you on the lunge line... let them worry about making the horse trot and steering and that sort of thing... you just worry about what you're doing with your body.

I find that the best way to learn to ride is both from watching others and then doing it myself.  If you have some free time, but you're not at the barn, try going to youtube or something like that and watching videos of people posting (search for horse shows or something like that).  As you watch, try to sit at the edge of your chair and lift yourself up and down as the rider does.

When you post, don't try to pull yourself up too high.  If you're trying to get all the way into a 2-point position, you're going to stay up too long.  the post is just a tiny bounce up out of the saddle.

Remember to keep your legs back... if your legs are in front of you it will be very hard to stand up out of the saddle so it will be very hard to post in rhythm with the horse.  Also, when you go to post, your upper body will be a little more forward than it will be at the walk.  having your legs back and shoulders a little forward will help you stand up.

That's all good general advice... if you need more help, give me a specific question and I'll try to address it.

Answer 4

it takes time and patience and leg muscle...

don't use your stirrups to push yourself up... if you have to in the beginning rest you hands on the withers to help balance and then gradually take them off... roll up on your thighs to bring your hips up and forward... practice makes perfect!

Answer 5

make sure the outside leg of the horse (the front one) is going forward/up as you go up.

Answer 6

wow same thing here ive been riding for about a year and a half and i started jumping about a few months ago, the way that helps me when im posting is a try to keep a beat in my head, like a song that has the same rythym a trot would