POSTING DIAGONALS

In versatility ranch horse competitions, you can boost your score by posting during the extended trot

- HEIDI NYLAND MELOCCO

Do western riders need to post-and know their diagonals? Yes! Posting helps your horse's back and keeps you from bouncing when you're covering ground out on the trail or around the ranch. In versatility ranch horse competitions, riding at the extended trot is part of every pattern. When the gait is called for, you have the option to stand or post the trot.

Here, trainer Cody Crow helps you understand why posting on the correct diagonal can help boost your ranch riding scores. Plus, he helps you learn to post and how to make sure you're posting correctly to help your horse stay balanced and look great.

"Supposedly, trotting on the wrong diagonal doesn't count against you in the ranch horse classes," he explains. "However, eye appeal is everything, and any judge will know what the correct diagonal is. If you make sure you're posting the correct diagonal, you're putting out the polished image that you're after."

POSTING FOR BODY BALANCE