Diagonals

[Pippity]

I can feel when I'm on the wrong diagonal but I don't understand why.

Each side of the horse is making the same movements, so why can I feel a difference? Is it purely to do with the balance and bend on turns, or is there something with the gait itself that I'm missing?

Sorry if I'm asking a blatantly stupid question!

 

[dianchi]

Just to confuse matters, in Germany you would be in the right diagonal

Its the perceived balance in the bend and aiding the horses weight distribution.

 

[webble]

Do you mean you dont understand why its wrong or why you end up on it?

 

[Pippity]

Its the perceived balance in the bend and aiding the horses weight distribution.

So when going in a straight line, I shouldn't be able to feel a difference in the diagonal?

Do you mean you dont understand why its wrong or why you end up on it?

I mean, I don't understand why diagonals happen. If the horse is making the same movements on both sides of its body, why does it feel more comfortable to sit as the outside shoulder comes back, rather than as the inside shoulder comes back?

 

[webble]

So when going in a straight line, I shouldn't be able to feel a difference in the diagonal?



I mean, I don't understand why diagonals happen. If the horse is making the same movements on both sides of its body, why does it feel more comfortable to sit as the outside shoulder comes back, rather than as the inside shoulder comes back?

No you shouldnt feel the difference in a diagonal in a straight line IF it is a truely straight line and both you are your horse are straight. I used to find my mare would through me onto one diagonal more than the other out hacking and that one felt more even than the ther. This was all before she got her back sorted and one side of her pelvis was slightly ore forward than the other

 

[Pippity]

Brilliant! Thank you, everybody - I've got much more of a handle on it, now!