How NOT to Post the Trot

Posting trot is am important skill for riders of all levels to master. Posting the trot correctly allows your horse to properly warm up and use their back without the interference of the rider.
In the posting trot, the rider lets the momentum of the bounce in the horses' back to lift their bum out of the saddle. The rider supports their weight with their inner thigh and knee and keeps their core tight.
Some common mistakes people make when posting to the trot are:
1. Hands bouncing up and down while posting
2. Lower legs swinging back and forth while posting
3. Landing hard and heavy into the saddle (not cushioning the landing)
For riders of all levels, perfecting the posting trot is an important and ongoing skill to work on. Here are some things to consider:
1. The lower leg should not move: if you look at the leg from the knee down, you should not be able to tell if the rider is sitting or posting.
2. Land softly in the saddle. Think of slowing down the last 10% as you come into the saddle so as not to slap your weight into the horses back.
3. Focus on your elbows, bending and straightening slightly as you rise and sit so as not to disturb the contact in your horses' mouth.
Happy posting!! Work on it this week when your ride 😁😁
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[@danw6014]

As it turns out, I'm pretty good at how not to post. Thank you for another great video!

[@camahtadore7791]

I absolutely love how willing you are to not only explain and demonstrate the correct way to do things, but also the opposite! It is so helpful to see the wrong way in action too.

[@Wildernessadventuresoz]

I’m poster girl for what not to do hahahaha lucky I’m learning better now with new trainer. Being a beginner is really hard there is so much you get wrong and if you practice wrong it gets more wrong. Thanks for this video I can see I’m on the right track with my riding journey

[@tanon2703]

You always have such clear, practical instruction. I will continue to recommend your videos to riders. By the way, your advice on using circles to slow your horse is starting to work for my PRE who thinks he's a race horse. Again, clear, practical instruction. Thanks so much! 🐴👍

[@aspenridgeranch]

I can always tell when Joseph has helped with the video, he has such an artisitc touch! Beautiful 😍 Great refresher on the common rider errors in the posting trot!

[@heatherb4918]

This is the first time I’ve seen and fully understood the correct diagonal. Thankyou!

[@alexkennedy1820]

I love your videos so much. They are very informative. I even take notes. I have my lesson tomorow and I am trying to watch your vids which relate to trot + canter. Thank you so so so much.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Wow!! You take notes?! That’s awesome!! I’m so glad to hear the videos are helpful!!

[@jenniferholme436]

Thanks for these videos- the way you break down both problems & solutions is so helpful!!

[@michaelfrost3705]

Good Job!!! I am a better rider because of this video. I like the horse too.😊😊😊😊😊

[@paolopiccirillo6760]

Thanks Amelia

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

You're welcome Paolo. Thanks for watching, and don’t forget to subscribe to get notified of my new weekly content! Also, if you’d like to really focus on getting your position in the strongest shape to execute your aids, you can sign up for my masterclass on Rider Position here! Enrollment for 2022 ends today at 11.55pm (pst)! bit.ly/3zqBlwR

[@jeniferrinehart1107]

Great tips. I can’t seem to keep my lower leg still....practice, practice, practice!

[@Pyr.0.maniac]

Today was my first time properly posting, so I want to make sure I don't form any bad habits while I'm in the "early stage". This will help a lot 😁

[@jumalmajed]

Thank you so much for your helpful videos 😍🤍🤍🙏🏼. May I ask; if I am riding in a straight line ( in a trail), how can I know the correct diagonal? Or how can I determine where is my external or internal foreleg? Thank you 🤍

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Thanks for watching Jumanah, and don’t forget to subscribe to get notified of my new weekly content! This is a great question. What is a good idea is to decide on the a diagonal based on any slight bends in the trail and change accordingly. This video will also help you for your trail riding! kzbin.info/www/bejne/jXXcdaxrha9kitU ///// I'm hosting a FREE webinar on contact and connection that will really help you level up your performance and connection with your horse! You can sign up here! www.amelianewcombdressage.com/free-webinar-contact-and-connection I'm not sure if you know this but, I've been lucky enough to qualify BOTH of my horses (Harvey and Kensington) to compete in the Dressage Festival of Champions in Chicago, if you are willing and able, even the tiniest donation to my GoFundMe would make a massive difference. You can read more and, (but only if you'd like to and have the capacity!) donate below! gofund.me/2989323b Finally, if you love my content, I’d LOVE it if you left me a review on google! g.page/r/CYIGmCINXFOQEAo/review Thanks so much for being on my page! I appreciate it so much! 😀

[@stephaniesmith5974]

Another great one!! Back to Basics! So ty!!

[@ARIAVIALLE]

Thank you.

[@magdadaek1826]

Thank you for this video :) are you planning to create another one about the sitting trot? I know that you have one already, but it would be super helpful if you could create another one talking about the pelvis :) I've seen some people saying that sitting a trot is like running, some people say about running (or cycling) backwards, but I cannot understand what exact movement should I be doing...

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Yes! Will do!!

[@magdadaek1826]

@@AmeliaNewcombDressage thank you! Much appreciated

[@izzyoliffe1996]

Magda Dałek go look at the KZbin channel called CRK training. they have some great videos and they really helped me when i was first starting to learn how to ride.

[@magdadaek1826]

@@izzyoliffe1996 thank you, yes I know them and watch very often :)

[@jordanwhite5470]

@@izzyoliffe1996 But Amelia is much better at explaining, AND her sitting trot is much better than Callie's.

[@cindynoble2037]

Wish I had a photographer brother😄Thanks, Amelia🐴🐴🐴

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Yeah, I'm so lucky to have such a great brother!!!

[@elizabethfitzgibbon6804]

You and Joseph have the exact same smile!

[@prettylittlerider1642]

My feet tend to move a lot like yours but I figure that was just moving with the horses motion. Is this correct or something I should I be working on making them very still?

[@barbiezumbro5686]

What about someone with bad knees? What you were doing...on the couch...would make me not able to walk the next day because of knee pain.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

That's a tough one! Knees are a vital part of posting and sitting the trot effectively! Maybe a shock absorbing stirrup?

[@teresawort9124]

I have seen riders that sort of stand in the stirrups as they rise up. Horses head is up & horse is hallow.

[@thetwostisers1614]

So when I post my lower leg moves but not back an forth. Is goes relaxed in the sitting beat to stretched down into my heel in the vertical beat. Is that bad? Also what muscles do I use is the posting trot??? I’ve always wondered this.

[@SpookyBat]

same for me im curious about this too

[@thetwostisers1614]

Pop Crush hey I don’t do that anymore. I never changed anything. I think it jut takes practice and building muscles!

[@SpookyBat]

@@thetwostisers1614 I just started riding again after a long time so thats good to know! I'll just keep at it 😄

[@debistevens3238]

Can you give any tips for "feeling" the correct diagonal when I originally start rising? I am almost always spot on on the right track, not so on the left. A quick glance down (big no-no) and I have no problem fixing it. I also feel that "twisty" feeling you are talking about, most of the time when I am on the wrong diagonal. I am not a beginner and this is an issue that has plagued me for a long time. Thanks much for your videos, they have helped me to improve so much!

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Hi Debi! Sometimes, depending on the horse, you do have to take a quick glance down to check and that is ok. I sometimes have to check depending on the horse!

[@mcrcequestrianakamoonchase9143]

Amelia, I love your vids, and I love that you are putting out this stuff on the basics to help people. I do have to say that I cringe and close my eyes when you demonstrate how to do things wrong, though. Visual learning is such a powerful thing and I try to only watch excellent riders. I never watch fail vids or people who have bad horsemanship, because I worry that will sink in. That is why I won’t watch this vid, even though I pretty much watch all of your vids and subscribe to your channel. Just something to think about. Plus, I cringe for the horse when you show something the wrong way. 😜 It’s much more powerful to consistently demonstrate excellent riding/horsemanship and I think your lovely position is something to aspire to.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Hmm. Thanks for the input and yes, I see your point! But I think a lot of people are making these mistakes without realizing they are doing it! So demonstrating it can be helpful!

[@-_jr_-903]

Amelia Newcomb Dressage , yes I find this pretty useful, it helps me to understand my mistake mostly on your How not to canter video :)

[@magdadaek1826]

Definitely in showing a wrong way a lot of people can see themselves...

[@HikesForHounds]

I notice you are letting the horse push you up rather than standing up and down in the stirrups like I think I was taught to do in hunt seat years ago. My horse does not always trot with enough impulsion to push me up enough so I either stand up and down in my stirrups while I squeeze her forward or I risk landing on her back to heavy like the sack of potatoes.

[@dianehoffmann7948]

Amelia, why is my back so sore, after my second week of beginning lessons? Is it that I'm not used to using back muscles that are required when posting? I'm in my 60's, returning to riding after a very long lapse. It's very painful, I must be doing something wrong. Your input, please! Thanks, Diane

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Hi Diane! It’s hard for me to say without seeing you! Make sure the saddle fits you and that your stirrups are the correct length!

[@anniesshenanigans3815]

my second lesson today. ugh. don't get it.

[@belindanolan4582]

It will come. Riding is about feeling. It takes time.