Rising Trot Diagonals

[FlyingCircus]

Just curious, as I have only just learned of Germany rising differently to how we do in the UK...

Does anywhere else do this? Why?

I always thought you "rise and fall with the leg on the wall"...everywhere, haha.

 

[Cortez]

Nope, loads of other countries do it the opposite way (and some don't rise at all - rising trot was known as "le trot Anglais" in France for generations). Really doesn't matter which, actually.

 

[sandi_84]

Love the "rise and fall with the leg on the wall" rhyme But no idea about your question

 

[Pinkvboots]

I always alternate my diagonals makes the horse more supple on both reins and helps prevent them having a weak side.

 

[FfionWinnie]

The point mainly if I remember correctly from PC days, to diagonals is to make sure you don't always rise on the same one (which I do, without fail, naturally!) isn't it? So I don't think it matters to the horse which one you are on, as long as you change it regularly. Having a system like we do when schooling, makes it easier to keep it equal I suppose.

I had a neighbour who is a novice riding one of mine and I am sure she only rises on one diagonal as the mare is distinctly unbalanced when I ride her on the other one, she didn't used to be and improved the more I rode her instead of the novice. Not something I had really considered!

 

[alainax]

Interesting thread.

Do you get marked down in the intro classes of dressage for being on the "wrong" diagonal?

 

[Cortez]

Interesting thread.

Do you get marked down in the intro classes of dressage for being on the "wrong" diagonal?

Yes you do!

 

[blond1]

I was taught that if you sit on the outside diagonal then it frees the inside hind to move forward and step under when you rise. Love the rhyme!

 

[Pinkvboots]

I only alternate them at home schooling or out hacking never at a comp that would look just weird.

 

[Alyth]

It depends on whether the diagonals are named for a foreleg or hind leg......when I started learning from Americans I was quite confused for a little while until I realised the diagonal they were talking about was actually the one I wanted, but they called it the 'wrong' name as they referred to the hind leg, not the foreleg!! And the reason is that the weight of the rider should sit when the inside hind is on the ground.....

 

[milliepops]

Interesting thread.

Do you get marked down in the intro classes of dressage for being on the "wrong" diagonal?

A lengthy discussion between judges on the BD forum concluded that no, providing the horses way of going was not compromised then wrong diagonals were not to be marked down.

Unaff/unlisted judges may have their own views

 

[Spring Feather]

It depends on whether the diagonals are named for a foreleg or hind leg......when I started learning from Americans I was quite confused for a little while until I realised the diagonal they were talking about was actually the one I wanted, but they called it the 'wrong' name as they referred to the hind leg, not the foreleg!! And the reason is that the weight of the rider should sit when the inside hind is on the ground.....

What was the name you heard it called? Our diagonals over here are exactly the same as yours. I'm curious now Incidentally we do get marked down in local classes if riding on the wrong diagonal. At national or international level no we are not marked down.

 

[Alyth]

What was the name you heard it called? Our diagonals over here are exactly the same as yours. I'm curious now Incidentally we do get marked down in local classes if riding on the wrong diagonal. At national or international level no we are not marked down.[/QUOTE

When we were on what I call the left diagonal.....ie sit on left fore/right hind .....the instructor called it the right diagonal .....right hind/left fore!!

 

[MrsMozart]

Am I the only one that can do it fine, but if I read about it or try and think about it mind just for Puft! ?

 

[cob&onion]

I do alot of hacking and its really easy to forget and just do diagonals on one side only, does anyone else have a side thats preferable?! I have to remind myself to change regular!

 

[ShadowFlame]

I've had riding instructors in the past that completely contradict each other in terms of diagonals. Rise when the inside shoulder is forwards, rise when the outside shoulder is forwards, it doesn't matter so don't worry about it.

I gave up the end!!

 

[YasandCrystal]

I always alternate my diagonals makes the horse more supple on both reins and helps prevent them having a weak side.

I do excactly this too. It is imo good practice, but never in a competition.

 

[webble]

Very interesting thread and weirdly what I was thinking about on the way to work. When hacking I always swap between diagonals to keep her even

 

[DuckToller]

I was always taught by old fashioned army type instructor that when riding in an arena you should be sitting as the inside hind hits the ground to help balance the horse, as it is easier for him to carry you that way.

Was also taught to change diagonal on a hack at every lamp post (not much use in a rural environment!) to ensure you don't get into the habit of rising on the same pair of legs every time and building up unequal muscle.

As an instructor, I can spot a 'wrong' diagonal from a mile away, and it drives me mad, but I have trouble explaining it to people as I can feel it so easily and can't believe some people have trouble with telling which one they are on - my own daughter was hopeless for years, bumbling about on any old diagonal bless her - aaargh.

She's fine now, I hasten to add

 

[Foxyt]

Really interesting thread, I don't know the rhyme but have an 8 year old daughter who is learning diagonals, can some one tell me the rhyme for her. I also never knew a rhyme for and arena just the order, the kids love using a rhyme to remember the arena.

 

[Pinkvboots]

A really good one to make a horse really supple is change diagonal every two or four strides while on the wrong bend up the long side or across the diagonal brilliant for making them straighter.

 

[PiebaldRosie]

Nope, loads of other countries do it the opposite way (and some don't rise at all - rising trot was known as "le trot Anglais" in France for generations). Really doesn't matter which, actually.

How interesting!! When I was living in France last year I spent the majority of my lessons being shouted at and couldn't work out why- diagonal was "correct" , as was position (mostly..) Now I know! Hilarious

 

[*sprinkles*]

I've had riding instructors in the past that completely contradict each other in terms of diagonals.

Me too. I was taught a few times by a Russian RI and he told me to ride on the opposite diagonal to my American RI very confusing ..... So I guess, to answer the OP's question it is different in some countries?!

 

[its_noodles]

thats right. they do it differently in mainland europe.
the funny thing is that i never get it...
i change my rising when the instructor says "have u check ur diagonal"...

 

[TandD]

thats right. they do it differently in mainland europe.
the funny thing is that i never get it...
i change my rising when the instructor says "have u check ur diagonal"...

i use to do this!
then my trainer realised what i did
so she would go 'have you checked your diagonal....im not saying its wrong...im just saying check it!!!!!'

 

[Tobiano]

I have real trouble going on the correct diagonal on the left rein. I have worked out that I ALWAYS begin rising on the same diagonal which ever rein I am on, so that on the left I always have to change. So I try thinking 'I will sit for one more beat' before beginning to rise but it still doesnt work! Most annoying!

 

[its_noodles]

i use to do this!
then my trainer realised what i did
so she would go 'have you checked your diagonal....im not saying its wrong...im just saying check it!!!!!'

hahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaa
she said that as well...
well, i change it anyway as i know i have 50-50 chance of getting it right (or wrong)...

 

[monkeybum13]

A lengthy discussion between judges on the BD forum concluded that no, providing the horses way of going was not compromised then wrong diagonals were not to be marked down.

Unaff/unlisted judges may have their own views

Ditto this. I do a lot of writing, a comment may be made but marks will not be deducted just for riding on the wrong diagonal.

 

[JLav]

As there is technically no such thing as a 'correct' or 'incorrect' diagonal it should not ever be commented on or marked down in Dressage.

 

[JLav]

As there is technically no such thing as a 'correct' or 'incorrect' diagonal it should never be commented on or marked down in Dressage.