Galop 3In the saddle
Contents
- 01WelcomeOverview
- 02Life in natureKnowledge
- 03Bedding and waterCaring for the horse
- 04The points of the horseKnowledge
- 05The hoof and shoeingKnowledge
- 06A full groomingCaring for the horse
- 07Tack and bridleCaring for the horse
- 08The walk and the trotKnowledge
- 09The diagonal at trotIn the saddle
- 10Markings and whorlsKnowledge
- 11Coat colour variantsKnowledge
- 12BreedsKnowledge
- 13The aids to turnKnowledge
- 14The canter strike-offIn the saddle
- 15Position and balanceIn the saddle
- 16Controlling the gaitIn the saddle
- 17Curves and half-voltesIn the saddle
- 18Approach and jumpIn the saddle
- 19GroundworkOn foot
- 20The disciplinesKnowledge
- 21Revision and examRevision
Rising trot on a given diagonal
At rising trot, you always sit as the same diagonal pair lands. Choosing that diagonal, and changing it at will, is one of the key skills of Galop 3.
In the exam programme
- Rise to the trot on a given diagonal and change it at will.Specific part
- Explain why you change diagonal at the rising trot.Specific part
At trot, the feet land in diagonal pairs, in two beats. At rising trot, you rise for one beat and sit for the other: so you always go with the same diagonal. You are trotting on the left diagonal when you sit as the left fore and the right hind land, and on the right diagonal when you sit as the right fore and the left hind land.
Remember
One word, two meanings: a diagonal is a pair of the horse’s legs, and the diagonal is also the line across the school that you ride to change the rein. The sentence always tells you which one is meant.
- Left fore, on the wall side: it lands
- Right hind, on the inside: it lands at the same moment
- The rider sits: rising on the left diagonal, the outside diagonal
- The other diagonal is in the air: the rider will rise as it lands
Which diagonal?
In an outdoor arena or an indoor school, unless your instructor says otherwise, you trot on the outside diagonal: the left diagonal on the right rein, the right diagonal on the left rein. That way you sit as the inside hind leg — the one that carries the most on curves — is on the ground under the horse, which helps its balance as it turns.
Knowing which diagonal you are on
- Watch the outside shoulderWithout dropping your head, glance at the horse’s outside shoulder. If you rise as it comes forward and sit as it comes back, you are on the outside diagonal.
- Check from the startGo into trot, find your rhythm, then check your diagonal straight away; correct it at once if you need to.
- Learn to feel itWith practice, you will recognise your diagonal through your seat, without looking. Train yourself: guess first, check afterwards.
Changing the diagonal
To change the diagonal, sit for two beats in a row — sit, sit — then go back to rising: you now rise with the other pair. You can also stay up in balance on the stirrups for two beats, but it is less discreet. Nobody should notice the change: same rhythm, same speed, same line.
- At every change of rein — across the diagonal, on a half-volte, turning across the school to change the rein — change your diagonal, usually in the middle of the line that takes you onto the new rein.
- Out on a hack, where there is no right or left rein, change your diagonal regularly, for instance at each change of direction or every few minutes.
Remember
Why change the diagonal?
The diagonal you sit on takes your weight at every stride: it works harder. If you always stayed on the same one, the horse would tire and build muscle on one side only. By changing regularly, you share the effort between both diagonals; by choosing the outside diagonal in the school, you help its balance on curves.
Common mistake
Looking for your diagonal by leaning over to peer under the neck: your upper body tips forward, your hands drop and the horse slows down. A glance with your eyes alone is enough.