[Muffin]

A friend and I discovered yesterday we learned diagonals the opposite ways. I learned to check the inside leg (when the inside leg is forward, you're sitting down). She was taught to check the outside leg. Of course, now we feel them, but we started wondering- is it a discipline thing? My mom taught hunters, so I learned from her in the 70's. My friend started out eventing (she's about 10 years younger than me).

How and what were you taught?

[Seriously_Hunter]

I was taught to check the outside leg.
My coach had a back ground in dressage but taught hunters when I was with her.

[sophie]

outside leg for me, too. My instructors were military (dressage and eventing), about 35 years ago.

[HenryisBlaisin']

I also learned outside leg at summer camp. (hunt seat)

[mg]

I was taught with the outside leg. This was at both a dressage barn and a hunter/jumper barn.

[Capall]

I was taught inside leg.

[jawa]

Inside leg.

My instructor taught saddle seat at the time, but had been riding competitively since the 1930's, mainly a jumper background at that time.

ETA: I was taught to sit with the inside leg, so I guess that makes it rise with the outside.

[SmartAlex]

I was taught to follow the outside front leg... unless there's a show photographer... then you switch so you won't be airborn for your photo (Saddle Seat photographers almost always catch the outside leg at the height of the stride. It makes the front end look bigger. So if you switch, you will be nicely seated for you portrait). In Saddle Seat Equitation, the outside diagonal is the correct one.

ETA: with this horse I always post the outside front diagonal. He is MUCH easier to bend around a turn if I sit with the inside hind.

[GrayTbred]

"Rise and fall with the leg on the wall."

[Wellspotted]

I was taught outside fore, long ago when hunter-jumper was called forward seat.

But I wonder why aren't riders taught feel from the first? If it's all about developing one's seat, why not teach riding from your seat from the first?

[mg]

But I wonder why aren't riders taught feel from the first? If it's all about developing one's seat, why not teach riding from your seat from the first?

You know, I know a person who has been riding for over 20 years and teaches lessons and still cannot feel her diagonals (by her own admission!!)

[Muffin]

Well, there went the idea that it was a discipline thing! Interesting about the saddle seat and the picture opp.

Good question about feel... do you think all riders can or have the ability to? I see so many people look down, and I assume it's something they habitually do, and they just haven't tried to feel their diagonals (or, nobody suggested it to them!).

[Laurierace]

Rise and fall with the leg on the wall!

[SmartAlex]

In England, I think they post the inside diagonal? Instead of the outside.

[Sannois]

Rise and fall with the leg on the wall!

This~ And I still teach this!.

[fordtraktor]

I used to teach up-downers and frankly I have taught it a lot of different ways. Outside leg, inside leg, side to side/feeling it, at the walk, from an established trot, pick one and fix it if it's wrong, pick it up right away...whatever seems to click for a particular student. Sometimes with kids especially you have to experiment a little, as different people learn differently. As long as you find a way that helps someone feel it and then learn to be consistent, it doesn't matter.

[Wellspotted]

In England, I think they post the inside diagonal? Instead of the outside.

No, I think that's just with driving cars.

But check out the H&H forums, or some youtube UK vids to be sure.

[Renae]

Rise and fall with the leg on the wall.

I teach and ride saddle seat. On many saddle seat horses you can eaily see their knee when trotting, so being up when you can see the horse's knee is very easy!

Recently had to reteach an adult rider who had been taught to watch the inside shoulder by a hunt seat instructor, and perhaps it was just this rider, but she didn't really know her diagonals. Teaching her to look at the outside shoulder has greatly improved her ability to tell her own diagonal.

Feeling your diagonal is ideal, but I would rather a rider take 5-10 seconds to glance with their eyes and be sure of themself then waste a whole straightaway trying to feel.

[Wellspotted]

No, I think that's just with driving cars.

But check out the H&H forums, or some youtube UK vids to be sure.

Just checked out 3 British Dressage videos on youtube, all 3 were rising with the outside fore.

[Tha Ridge]

Outside, Hunter barn.