Correct Diagonal
Rising with the outside leg sitting with the inside leg.
Incorrect Diagonal
Trouble Shooting Tips
1. If you have trouble picking up the correct diagonal to start with it helps to sit for the first three trot beats glancing
at the shoulder and then starting to rise. This trick is not infallible but does often help!
2. Have someone watch you when you’re riding and have them tell you when the outside shoulder comes forward.
3. Breathe!!!When we’re trying to master a new skill, we can get so caught up with the task at hand that we forget to
breathe!
4. When you’re in the show pen, glance down to check your diagonal, if it’s wrong, sit for two beats and start rising
again
5. Practicing “feeling” your diagonals. Ask for the trot with your eyes closed (making sure you’re in a safe area), once
your horse is trotting and your posting to the trot, glance down and check
Most of all have fun! Don’t sweat the small stuff, just know
that we’re all on this learning journey together. We all started
out somewhere and it’s with persistence and consistency that we
progress.
January
January • • February
February • • 2017
2017 • • The
The Australian
Australian Quarter
Quarter Horse
Horse Magazine
Magazine • • Page
Page 31
31