What Is Posting on a Horse? How to Do It and Helpful Hints

Step 2: Try It at the Walk

Once they can stand up on their stirrups and stay standing, I have them try and do it as the horse walks with one hand down on the horse's neck for support, using the other hand for steering the horse.

Once they can stay standing and walk the horse, change direction, all without sitting back down or pulling back on the reins, now we start working on the posting itself—the standing up and sitting.

You can encourage them by telling them that we are just making sure that they can hold a centered position while lifting up out of the saddle, and that if they can stay standing, then posting will be a piece of cake.

You can also excite them by telling them that being able to stand in their stirrups with a straight line from shoulder to hip to heel is the beginning of not just learning to post, but also two-point position. Two-point is what we need to do in order to learn how to jump, so by learning these things, you are well on your way to learning new and exciting things.

Step 3: Stand Up and Sit Down

Now that the student can stay standing up using their secure lower leg and proper position and not their horse's mouth, I have them stop their horse again. While standing still, I have them try to stand up and sit again—"up, down, up, down." We talk about how you need to raise your body up and ease your seat back down in the saddle gently. We aren't going for the jackhammer effect. I want them to understand that they are using their muscles and body control to lower themselves down into the saddle, not slamming down.

Once they have the hang of it while standing still, then try to do it at the walk. Reminding them again about the importance of lower leg position and also keeping their hands still. If you rely on your hands to pull you up while posting, your horse will think that you want him to stop and you will have a hard time getting him into a trot.

Step 4: Try It at the Trot

Once your student can post while standing still and while walking, without pulling back on their horse's mouth, they are ready to try it at the trot. Remind them that the trot is going to be bouncier than the walk, but that we were going to use the horse's momentum to help lift ourselves off the saddle.