I have just started taking horse riding lessons. I've learned how to post while the horse is trotting. I am so confused what my instructor means when she says I have to "switch." Please help ...
"We rise and fall with the leg on the wall" is the saying. It helps the horse to balance and stay on the outside of the arena, and helps the leg cues be correct when you post on what is called the 'outside diagonal 'pair of legs.
When the outside front leg is in the air, so should your seat be out of the saddle.
When your instructor tells you to 'switch' it means you are posting up with the wrong diagonal pair of legs. The way you fix this is to sit for 2 beats, and begin rising again. It takes quite a bit of time to develop the feel for which diagonal you are on; you will have to look at the horse's shoulder for a time to tell when you are right.
Good Luck. Give yourself time, and don't be afraid to ask your instructor questions.
It could mean that you need to change diagonals. I am surprised that she is already wanting you to change diagonals if you have only just learned .
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When a horse trots he moves his legs in diagonal pairs. He starts off with his outside hind and inside foreleg moving forward, and then his inside hind leg and outside foreleg. Watch some videos to work out what I mean.
When the horse is trotting, to keep him balanced and the muscles down the sides of his spine even, the rider needs to sit when the outside foreleg comes back towards him. This changes depending on which rein you are on. For example, if you glance down at your horse's right shoulder (on the left rein) it will seem to come back towards you and it is then that you should be sitting. If you are not sitting on that shoulder then you will be needing to sit for two beats and then start to post again. That is switching the diagonals. Hope this helps.
It is very possible that the instructor is asking you to change legs on the horse - which other posters have explained adequately.
The other option is that she is asking you to change rein or direction. So if your trotting around the arena they might be wanting you to change direction and trot on the opposite rein.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com People tend to have their own jargon and "horse talk", so it really is best to always ask when you don't understand something. That way they will explain it to you and remind them to slow down.
Sometimes horse people are very confident in their own ability and fail to adjust their teaching style for different levels of riding. Their is quite an art to teaching beginners how to ride.
I had an instructor many years a go who always spoke in the most technical terms of dressage for anything. I remember actually asking her to try and explain a few things and she was almost unable to, she had no ability to explain things on a learning level. I changed instructors because I was not learning at a satisfactory level in this environment.
I don't ask new students to learn how to pick up the correct leg or know diagonals until they really have mastered other aspects of riding. Although some instructors believe students should be taught every thing correctly from the very first lesson. Their is merit to both methods of teaching, but I prefer to eliminate the frustration from juggling so many balls while learning to ride.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com
I'm sure your instructor would be more than happy to explain that they mean next lesson.
Good luck with your lessons ;-)
She means to switch your diagonals.
You're supposed to rise when the horse's outside leg goes forward, and sit when it goes back. To 'switch' your diagonals, you need to sit two strides then begin rising again.
If she hasn't taught you about diagonals, then you should ask her for an explanation:) They can be confusing at first.
She could be meaning to sit for two strides. When trotting you are supposed to sit when the outside leg goes back? I think that's right. I can't remember this that well, was ages since I have done proper riding lessons. So if she says it again, then sit for two strides, and if its right, then thats what she wanted you to do.
Just ask your riding instructor, I think she just means that. You are on the wrong diagonal or something.:)
You should have asked her immediately what she meant if you didn't understand. Avoids confusion.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com
From what you've said, I'm assuming she means to "change diagonals". Chances are you were on the wrong diagonal when you were trotting.
You should always rise on the outside leg. So when you are trotting, you should be rising when his outside leg takes a stride.
She may have taught you about 'diagonals' while posting to the trot? If not then you need to tell her to explain it. Switching is just to sit a beat and rise on the opposite diagonal. But I would ask her to clarify anyway because she may want you to change direction too.
