Posting/rising trot, how to post on the correct diagonal.?

Question

Honestly, I think I've had a problem with this since I was still doing lessons... My teacher said I could never pick up the post on the correct diagonal...

From previous searches, I know that you rise when the outside shoulder(the one on the rail) is forward so that the hind leg can come forward further. But my problem is that I don't ride in a round pen. Hell, I don't even HAVE a round pen. All of my riding is either done in the pasture, out in the fields, or on the trails. So which is the leading shoulder?!

My teacher always told me that I'd be able to tell which was the correct diagonal because it would feel smoother than the other. Which is true- but I always have to test both of them before I know for sure. Which is incredibly annoying, because you know how horses sometimes are about keeping the same speed for any period of time -_- Or if I feel her slowing down, and I click with my tongue to keep her going, some times I think she switches diagonals on me... Or perhaps I'm just paranoid or something... I really can't tell with the trot... I much prefer the canter, honestly....

Answer 1

It's the shoulder on the outside of the circle, or the outside of the bend. Even in a pasture/field, you should be doing some sort of bending when you're riding, so you would post up when the shoulder on the outside of the bend is forward. As for trail riding, when there are turns you can switch to the diagonal of that particular turn, and when there are straightaways, you can either pick your preferred diagonal or switch off periodically. Generally speaking, you should be spending equal amounts of time posting on each diagonal, so just switch off periodically on the straightaway.

Answer 2

It may not be correct but on straight paths/hacks/trails I suggest with rising with what feels comfortable - yes, there will be corners but unless it is tight or your horse is very unbalanced, you should be ok even on the wrong diagonal.

Of course, you could always take sitting trot for corners.

In an open field you are probably still moving in either a clockwise or anti clockwise direction - so you will have an inside and outside leg - rise with what would be the outside shoulder

Answer 3

Try to pay attention to if you are going in some kind of circle or square, post on the outside leg which is on the outside of the shape. If you accidentally land on the inside diagonal, sit for two "bumps" and then pick up your posting again. If you cut across your ring and change directions, remember to switch back to the outside diagonal.