[HairOfTheDog]

The convention of rising on the outside shoulder is important only to be on the proper diagonal for show purposes. For you learning to 'post' as a more comfortable way to ride a fast trot or on trail, it makes absolutely no difference to the horse.

Does he have a nice slow jog-trot? If he does, I would sit it and not try to post it. It's actually difficult to post to a slow trot and looks and feels awkward. I only post when we are doing a long stretch of extended trot.

[CindyDawg]

We will have to ask Becky that:') Fast is in the eye of the rider IMO but I think he's fast. I'm comparing him to the 20-30 y/o school horses though. You know, the ones you have to constantly kick to keep um walking? Are you watching Americas mustangs on the explorer channel?

[AnAmericanMother]

Posting to the outside shoulder actually is more important than just convention in the show ring. If your horse is turning you should always post with the outside shoulder (when the outside shoulder is going forward, you are rising). This is because it takes your weight off the pivoting forefoot. Also, when you begin to work on bending your horse, the correct diagonal helps your aids on the bend.

If you're trail riding, you need to alternate diagonals. Most horses have one diagonal that feels more comfortable than the other. That's because horses are right or left-sided just as we are right or left-handed. If you can view your horse from above, you will probably see that his backbone is flexed one way or the other. The foreleg opposite his flexion (the open side) is the canter lead that he will tend to 'fall' onto - i.e. if you run him into a canter from a fast trot. You need to work on bending him opposite his natural tendency, so you have to post more on the more uncomfortable diagonal.

My mare was naturally flexed to the left (most horses are) but we have worked so hard on opening her left side that she is now equally comfortable on both diagonals and can spring into either lead quite easily (she still prefers her right lead slightly though.) I would learn to post first if your horse has a springy trot. Don't stand in your stirrups or throw your body up; let the horse's spring throw you up out of the saddle. You need only anticipate it by a fraction of a second, let the horse do the work! The slower your horse's trot, the slower your post should be.

In order to get a good sitting trot, you need to relax your upper leg and tuck your bottom under. Tilt the pelvis slightly forward so that the two frontal prominences (your "sitz bones") are in contact with the saddle. In essence you "stand" in an English saddle rather than sit in it. Let your upper leg relax and flow around the horse's sides. Shoulders well back. The next step is to disconnect your upper back from your pelvis, as though you had a U-joint in the small of your back. The back stays straight while the seat moves with the horse. (This is harder to describe than it is to DO.)