Hello all. This summer I will be learning to ride English on my mare. I have never riddedn English before, therefore have never posted the trot before either. Any advice on my eq. (mainly my shoulders and back.), my horse, etc, when I start? How far should I go foward? To me, from watching horse shows, etc, it looks like you kind of push your hips forward; almost like in front of you? Is that a good way of putting it?And I have read in so many books and online about diagonals, and I am pretty sure I understand, but maybe I could get a quick "run-threw" about them and posting? (from another rider's point of view, etc). Also, I have seen a lot of riders, when posting, almost like pushing their chests out, keeping their shoulders way back and sometimes, it looks like they have an arched back when they rise out of the saddle. Any advice? Thank you SOOO much!!! This western rider needs all the help she can get!!!! Thanks!

when you are posting, you want to remember not to post from your stirrups (throws your feet forward and off balance) or from your hands (pulls on your horses mouth). you want to be using your upper thighs and keep your lower leg on the horse. your hips should not push past the pommel of the saddle, and you should use the momentum of the horse's trot to push you up to post. as for your upper body, you should not try to arch your back too much and force your chest out but instead, keep a straight back with your shoulder kept down and back to encourage a bent elbow so you have a straight line from your elbow to the bit. your ear, shoulder hip, and heel should all be in a vertical line to the ground when you are in the down beat of posting. as for posting diagonals, the outside shoulder should be moving forward as you post up, because then the inside hind is pushing off, which is the where the impulsion comes from. make sure to change your diagonal when you change direction by sitting 2 beats.