The Rising Trot or How to Post Why would you want to post a trot? There's a few reasons, long distances is the first to come to mind as this preserves both the horse and rider. in arena work, it is for freeing a horse's back muscles while riding their working trot. I will warn, that posting a trot is a "feel" and once you develop it, it will become second nature. A few terms to learn: Diagonal - when a horse trots (non-gaited horse), the opposing pairs move together; right fore/left hind, left fore/right hind. It is a 2 beat feeling and hearing(attach some bells and you'll hear it better) Inside rein - If in an arena, the inside rein is the rein towards the middle of the arena. ie if you are going to the right, your right rein and right leg are your inside aids. Outside rein - just the opposite of above. Therefore, if you are riding to the right in an arena, your left rein and leg will be your outside aids. Now to ride it - I recommend riding without stirrups to get the full benefit of learning the feel and the muscles needed to do this properly. The movement you are going to achieve is a rolling up and off your thighs while keeping your heels down or level and shoulders/hips/heels in alignment. If you take away the horse, you should be standing whether you are at the rise or the sit in the posting sequence. Establish a nice rhythmical working walk and then ask for a trot. As the horse trots, feel the "bounce" that will naturally impel you up and out of the saddle. Let this motion do so but control it by allowing your upper body to roll up off your thighs with your belly button pushing upwards towards the horse's ears. Make sure you don't lean forward - always maintain the vertical shoulder/hip/heel alignment. Never NEVER pull yourself up using the reins. Land lightly upon your saddle and follow the rhythm. If you are doing this properly, your horse will continue happily forward. Adjusting the forward speed or slowing down is in another article. For now, obtaining the muscles and feel is the goal. Now to check for the "proper diagonal" look as you are rising at the outside front leg as this leg should be going forward as you are rising. ie. if you are going to the left around an arena, you will be rising with your horse's outside leg, the right leg. If you notice by glancing down that you are not on the proper diagonal, sit for two strides and then start rising. You should be on the proper diagonal. Remember, this takes time and patience. Have fun with this - use music that has a two beat!