Practice Posting to Become a Better Rider

Clinton Anderson from Downunder Horsemanship has developed a way to train horses, regardless of their past problems or traumas. It all begins with training the owners so they can gain their horses’ respect and understand how to properly control them. Join Clinton on his weekly endeavors of tackling some of the most challenging situations with problem horses, and problem owners. This week, we watch as Clinton shows us how to practice posting to become a better rider.

During this episode, Clinton aims to help his viewers learn some ways to become a more proficient rider. While he reinforces the idea that practice is the most important way to achieve this, there are a few different techniques that can be implemented. For one, try to ride as many different horses as you can. This helps you gain a better understanding of how to navigate different temperaments while in the saddle. 

Clinton also tells us that learning how to post – going up, down, up, down, in time with the horse – is one of the best ways to develop your balance. Posting is the ability to rise to the trot (to go up and down) on the diagonal. Many English riders have better balance than Western riders because they post a lot and have better balance in the saddle as a result.

One thing to keep in mind is that if you’re taught how to post the wrong way, it can be difficult to correct later on. Clinton tells us that the best method is to just try and keep things simple. The trot is a two-beat gait and when you post, you’ll be going up and down with the horse’s diagonal. Instead of trying to match your up and down with the horse’s feet moving up and down, count out loud as the horse is trotting. Up, down, up down, 1, 2, 1, 2. What our mouth says, your body does. Speaking the rhythm out loud will help you get into the rhythm a little easier. The key is not to overthink it.

While you might feel a little silly at first or embarrassed, it’s the fastest way to develop your balance and become a better rider. You’ll probably be a little discombobulated at first, but just try to keep focusing on the up, down, up, down. The faster your horse trots, the faster your beat will be. When you learn to balance and really post well on a horse, every other aspect of your riding will get better. If you’re disciplined enough to practice, you’ll save yourself years of frustration. It’s amazing, but something as simple as learning how to post will make a tremendous difference if you just give it a chance.

At the end of the day, if you want to be a better rider, all you need to do is ride. All day, every day. Riding as much as you can is the only way you’re going to get better. Learning how to post isn’t really technical. It’s not that hard to do, but you need to be disciplined enough to go out and do it. Practice 20 minutes a day, five, six days a week for six weeks and you’ll be amazed at how much better your balance will get. 

To learn more about the Clinton Anderson training method, become a member of the No Worries Club, or to get information on any of the products seen on our show, head over to our homepage and download the Downunder Horsemanship app today! If you’re interested in getting accelerated results, let a Clinton Anderson Certified Clinician bring the Method to you!