How to Improve Your Posting Trot

The posting trot is a fundamental gait in any discipline, especially in the beginning phases of a horse or rider's journey. Yet mastering your riding position during this gait takes precision, body awareness, strength, stability, and consistent practice.

A correct rider position not only enhances the aesthetics of the trot but also directly affects the horse’s balance, rhythm, and freedom of movement. Whether you're a novice rider or an experienced rider looking to polish your foundation, understanding and improving your position during the posting trot is essential.

What Is the Posting Trot?

The posting trot is a two-beat gait where the rider rises from the saddle for one beat and sits for the next - matching the rhythm of the trot. The rise and fall should sync with the horse’s outside front leg (on a circle or in the arena).

By matching the "up" part of the posting trot to our horse's outside front leg, we're also up and off of his back when his inside hind leg is off the ground, making it easier for the horse to correctly lift his back and ensuring fluidity and harmony between horse and rider.

The Ideal Dressage Rider Position

To ride an effective and elegant posting trot, the rider should aim for:

• Head: Balanced, looking forward—not down—allowing the neck to remain soft and aligned with the spine. Keep your chin up!

• Shoulders: Back and open, not stiff or pinched together.

• Arms and Hands: Elbows bent, relaxed, and close to the body; hands steady and following the horse’s mouth gently. Think cinder blocks tied to your elbows and helium balloons on your wrists!

• Torso: Upright and balanced over the hips, avoiding leaning forward or back. Imagine a string attached to your sternum, lifting your chest up and forward as you rise in your post.

• Seat and Hips: Deep in the saddle during the sitting phase; allowing the pelvis to move with the horse.

• Legs: Hanging long and relaxed with heels down, gently draped against the horse’s sides without gripping - like a soaking wet towel draped around your horse!

• Feet: Even weight in the stirrups with the ball of the foot resting comfortably. Let gravity pull your heels down into the dirt.

Common Mistakes in the Posting Trot

• Tipping forward at the rise, which throws the rider off balance and shifts weight onto the horse’s forehand.

• Over-posting or standing too high in the stirrups.

• Gripping with the knees, which destabilizes the seat and leg.

• Stiff hands, which block the connection with the horse's mouth.

• Falling back into the saddle rather than maintaining control of your body as you return from the post to the sitting phase.

Maintaining correct rider position in the posting trot (especially on these big-moving warmbloods!) requires incredible balance and core strength!

Tips to Improve Your Position

1. Lunge Lessons: Riding on the lunge allows you to focus entirely on your position without needing to steer. You can close your eyes, place your hands on your hips, or try different arm positions to develop body awareness and balance. We'll talk more about lunge line exercises in an up and coming article! Stay tuned!

2. Core Strengthening Off the Horse: Pilates, yoga, or targeted core workouts build the strength needed for stability without tension. If you'd like specific exercises to do at home off the horse sent directly to you, shoot me a message HERE! I'll send them to you - FREE!

3. Work Without Stirrups: Riding the posting trot without stirrups encourages a deeper seat and correct use of the pelvis.

4. Film Yourself Riding: Watching videos of yourself can highlight habits or imbalances you may not feel.

5. Visualize the Movement: Think of rising from your core rather than pushing with your legs. Imagine your pelvis gently swinging forward and up with the horse’s movement.

6. Work With a Mirror or Ground Person: Real-time feedback can be invaluable in catching and correcting issues as they happen.

   
   

Final Thoughts

The posting trot may seem simple, but refining your rider position during this gait is a lifelong endeavor in dressage... well, any discipline, really!

With attention to detail, mindful practice, and consistent feedback, your posting trot can become a powerful tool for communication and harmony with your horse.

Remember, a balanced rider creates a balanced horse—and it all starts with your position!