What Are Diagonals in Horse Riding?

What Are Diagonals in Horse Riding? 

If you’ve spent any time learning to ride, you’ve probably heard your instructor call out, “Check your diagonal!” For many riders, understanding diagonals is one of the first technical skills they learn when progressing beyond the basics. But what exactly are diagonals, and why do they matter? 

To understand diagonals, it helps to first understand how a horse moves at the trot. 

The trot is a two-beat gait where the horse moves its legs in diagonal pairs. This means: 

• The near (left) foreleg and off (right) hind leg move together. 

• The off (right) foreleg and near (left)hind leg move together. 

As these diagonal pairs alternate, the rider feels a natural up-and-down motion in the saddle. To make the movement more comfortable for both horse and rider, many riders use a technique called rising trot. 

What Is a Diagonal? 

When riding in rising trot, the rider rises out of the saddle for one beat and sits for the next. The term “diagonal” refers to which pair of legs is moving when the rider rises and sits. 

A rider is considered to be on the correct diagonal when they rise as the horse’s outside shoulder moves forward and sit as the inside hind leg and outside foreleg come back toward the ground. 

While this may sound complicated at first, most riders learn to identify the correct diagonal by glancing at the horse’s outside shoulder. If the shoulder is moving forward as you rise, you’re generally on the correct diagonal. As this skill is refined, a rider can develop to know their diagonals just by feel.  

Why Do Diagonals Matter? 

Correct diagonals aren’t simply a traditional riding rule, they serve an important purpose. 

1. Helping the Horse Stay Balanced 

When a horse travels around an arena, particularly on circles and corners, more weight is naturally placed on the inside hind leg. By riding on the correct diagonal, the rider helps reduce the workload on that inside leg and allows the horse to maintain better balance. This can be especially beneficial when schooling young horses, improving flatwork, building strength and symmetry, and riding horses returning from a break. 

1. Improving Rider Effectiveness 

Riding on the correct diagonal also helps the rider to move in harmony with the horse. 

When you’re on the correct diagonal: 

• Your balance is improved. 

• Your aids become clearer. 

• You are less likely to interfere with the horse’s natural movement. 

• The horse is often more relaxed and willing. 

Over time, consistently riding correct diagonals can contribute to a more balanced and effective partnership. 

When Should You Change Diagonals? 

Any time you change direction, you should generally change your diagonal. For example, if you are riding a circle to the left and then change rein to the right, the correct diagonal will also change. Many riders perform a simple “sit-sit-rise” sequence to swap diagonals smoothly without disrupting the horse’s rhythm. 

Interestingly, experienced riders will sometimes intentionally ride on the incorrect diagonal for short periods during training. This can help identify weaknesses, encourage straightness, and improve a horse’s overall balance when used appropriately as part of a structured schooling program.