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Rise and Fall

Horse and Rider

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Spring 2025

A foundational understanding of diagonals can propel your young rider to new levels, including preparing them to lope on the correct lead.

- BY SHYANNE SMITH, WITH JENNIFER PAULSON

Rise and Fall

Even if your child never sits in an English saddle, learning diagonals early in their riding education sets them up for success in so many ways. Here, I'll explain the step-by-step process to teach diagonals—without looking—and how that leads to teaching the child to lope off on the correct lead.

What's a Diagonal, and Why?

Riding on the correct diagonal means rising and falling with the horse's outside-front leg as he trots. It can make it easier to ride an extended trot and allow you to drive the horse forward to extend his gait.

Your child might think learning their diagonals is tedious and boring—they might even wonder the point of it all. Explain to them that this sets them up to be ready to lope safely and correctly. Every child wants to lope, so that's the reward for learning diagonals!

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