Posting is the act of rising in and sitting in the seat of the saddle. Trotting without posting causes “bouncing” and also is very hard on the horse’s back. Posting in the rhythm of the horse’s trot helps absorb the horse’s natural movement, producing a more comfortable and rideable trot over long distances. Learning to post requires good balance, a strong core, and the ability to feel the horse’s movement. Before beginning to trot, practice holding the body in a two-point position as well as posting at the walk.
Posting in a Two-Point Position
The two-point position requires the hip angle to close slightly and put the rider’s shoulders in front of the hips. Then engage the balls of the feet and lower leg to slightly lift you out of the saddle. The two-point allows the rider’s seat to somewhat leave the saddle while providing enough support should the rider lose balance and need to sit back on the saddle. Additionally, this is a great way for the rider to build core and leg strength, develop balance while in motion, learn to keep weight in the heels, keep hands steady, and provide an opportunity to feel the rhythm of the horse.
Posting at a Walk
Before trying to post at the walk, it is necessary that the rider have a strong stable leg with the weight in the heels. If these traits are not present, return to practicing the two-point, while paying special attention to the rider’s leg. Once the rider has a strong stable lower leg with weight in the heels, he or she should only lift the seat out of the saddle about 3” to 4”. For a point of reference, 4” is the width of an average sized adult’s fist. Next, gently sit back down trying to control the upper body. Hold the mane or neck strap if you need support. Repeat the up-down motion at a walk until feeling comfortable and balanced, while getting your bottom out of the saddle.
Steady Hands while Posting
It is very important to post with your seat not with your hands. Riders new to posting tend to do so with their entire bodies including their hands. This creates confusion for the horse who relies on the rider’s hands for communication. Keep in mind as you rise and sit, the hands need to stay in one place. This will take practice so keep your elbows soft and let them hinge while posting up and down. For extra security, fix the hands in one place by resting them on the pommel, holding the horse’s mane or neck strap.
Horse’s Mouth
Stay mindful of the horse’s mouth. In addition to posting with the hands, many riders new to the rising trot will unknowingly balance on their horses’ mouths or “water ski” their way upward. The rider should not pull on the reins to help himself or herself rise out of the saddle. Such action can seriously hurt the horse’s lips, gums, tongue/palate, and contribute to a hard mouth. To avoid this issue, concentrate on maintaining a light and consistent contact with the horse’s mouth as you post. If this is a particular struggle for you in the beginning, use the pommel or a neck strap. No shame in grabbing some mane.
Feeling the Trot
I am a huge proponent of focusing on one thing at a time especially for beginners. My preferred way of teaching a new rider to trot is to start them on a lunge line, have them get in their two-point, grab mane, and have the lunger ask the horse to trot. I feel that it is the best way for the rider to feel the motion of the horse and work on their balance and leg control. When the rider is somewhat confident with his or her balance in a two-point, I ask them to verbalize at the trot the timing of the “up” and “down”. Once they have succeeded in their verbal timing, I instruct them to post.
Starting to Post
Try to post with the rhythm of the horse by saying aloud “up, down, up, down.” If you lose a balance, try to regain it, or go back to the walk and try again. Repetition is key. Keep going until the rider is comfortable. Getting your balance and timing right will take time so do not get discouraged. When the rider is comfortable going around the rail at the posting trot, they can try steering in a circle or around cones in a grid.
Learning Diagonals
Posting on the correct diagonal means that the rider rises as the horse’s outside front leg (the one closest to the rail) is moving forward and then sits as the same leg is on the ground. When posting on the correct diagonal, the horse is balanced and correctly supporting his weight and the rider’s weight, especially in corners and tight turns. To learn the diagonal, pick up the posting trot, look down at the horse’s legs, and identify with which leg you are standing up in a saddle with. Go back to the walk and try it all again. You should continue this until you can guess without looking on which diagonal you are rising. The rider will know he or she has mastered this skill when they can pick up the correct diagonal from the walk based on feel.
There is no easy way to learn to post, and some people will naturally “get it” much faster than others. But once you have it figured out, it’s like riding a bike, you will never forget.
