[Sancho]

Ok I am trying to do alot of trot work to build sancho up a bit. But he is getter board so how do I do Diagonal trot??? I know with my old horse he would just do it and flying changes but sancho is still learning everything.

[Cavalier]

I don't understand what you mean? When a horse trots, his legs work in pairs diagonally...eg o/s hind and n/s front move together.

[Moostang]

Do you mean leg yields?

[Lindsayanne]

yeah, I'm confused too. Do you mean extending down the diagonal of the ring?

[Cavalier]

I think Sancho got confused and means some type of lateral work like shoulder-in or travers??

[AQHA_Gizmo]

Oh boy am I a ditz...I thought she wanted to do a posting trot....I was going to say, that doesn't help build muscle up!

[steeledancer]

However, it is neccessary to post on the correct diaganol (or to work both diaganols evenly) to build muscle evenly on your horse. I agree though, I don't think this is what Sancho is referring to. Sorry, I can't help you, as I, too, am in the dark as to just what you are looking for.

[Sancho]

Ok I mean when say in a rectangle arena I am in one corner and I want to trot to the other side of a corner. I do not want to trot straight to it (horse facing other side) I want for him to cross his legs over if you know what I mean.

here is a quick picture I done.

[Cavalier]

Are you referring to half pass? Unless your horse is highly supple, educated, can work in collected gaits and has other established laterals, then he will not be able to correctly half pass.

I think you may mean leg yielding. If you are on the long side of the left wall of the arena, you can apply left leg and as the horse walks forward he moves off the pressure to your leg. Its sort of a sideways, forward movement, mostly forward but moving off the pressure at the same time.

I suggest you get some lessons with a dressage instructor if you want to commence lateral work but don't know how to.

Go to www.efanational.com and you can download a list of qualified instructors...next to the instructors name and contact details it will say if they are a general, eventing, sjing, dressage, driving, vaulting whatever instructor...try find one that has a level 1 or 2 dressage additional to the general level.

[Lindsayanne]

Originally Posted by Cavalier

I suggest you get some lessons with a dressage instructor if you want to commence lateral work but don't know how to.

Ditto! that's like, impossible to explain how to do if your horse has never done it before. - but pretty elementary if you were working with a dressage trainer. Take 3 or 4 lessons, it can't ever hurt to try new disciplines! Good luck!