Med Trot advice please

[sally678]

Advice appreciated as I feel like I'm searchin for the holy grail in asking my horse for a nice medium trot on the diagonal. I can get it on a circle when we collect, work and then push for medium, but when I try on the straight it all goes pear shape! Any thoughts as to how to ride a good med trot

 

[SaraG]

Do exactly what you do on the circle before you ask on the diagonal.

Use the short side to collect, the corner to really get yourself sitting up but allowing forward, turn onto the diagonal and then let gently the stride out.

I suspect you keep the transitions smooth on the circle as there is no specific point when you "have" to ask for medium. So, when faced with a diagonal you ask for too much too soon and unbalance your horse. Resist the tempatation to "fire" off - and "think" circle, but ride the straight line.

 

[Nosey]

Do you set him up well ie get him nice and straight before asking?
Bit of shoulder in and a half halt before the turn helps my GG and gets her a bit more engaged then I make sure she is v straight then ask.
Also is your diagonal quite long? - if he is not that established yet might struggle with the distance. Could ask for it in a series of bursts of medium for a few strides then back again so he gets stronger and takes the weight more behind so he can push off into medium, and back again.
Sorry might not be that clear thats just how I do it!

 

[Baggybreeches]

I have a horse that does fab medium trot, but I fluff it quite often on the turn away from the long side by throwing the reins at him and letting him lose the engagement, try the half halt and dont make the ask too big!