A Lesson Learned Deux

Here is a lesson I've sadly, somewhat recently learned, and this one is probably so silly - in fact, when I realized I was doing it, I was like DOAH! (think Homer Simpson).

Many horse shows have photographers. The photographers stand in the middle of the show ring, snapping pictures of each horse and rider as they TROT by. I think sometimes they take candids and get nice canter shots, but usually, they try to capture the horse with its' ears up, as it trots past.

In the Morgan shows (that's all I know), the photographer also snaps a few pictures of the 1st place horse. After the placings are called out, the winning horse will stay put for some pictures (sometimes standing still with the ribbon/trophy first), then they will perform a victory pass. The rider (if it's an english discipline) trots the horse around, trying to make their horse look as good as possible.

In my limited experience with the victory pass, the horse is usually amped up and very anxious to exit stage left with the rest of the hosses. I think winning must be a show horses' worst nightmare - but again, I digress (I hate that word). Anyway, as the rider trots his/her horse around - they post to the trot (we're talking english here). I never thought much of it, and almost always posted on the correct diagonal - rising while the outside leg is up. This is the result of one of those pictures.


Notice I am rising on the correct diagonal. The photographer snapped the picture with the outside leg up, which is standard. I just looks better in the pictures if the rider is sitting.

It turns out that when you are victoriously trotting for your photo, you switch diagonals (to the wrong) for a prettier presentation. That way you're sitting in the picture. Most photographers try to capture the horse with their outside legs up - I don't know why.

Thinking back, now I know what my trainer J was always trying to mouth to me during some of those victory passes - sometimes she got aggressive.

MMAMMAMAMGNOL she'd loudly whisper with a few quick hand gestures thrown in.

"WHAT?"




Turns out she was saying D I A G O N A L~





Ohhhhh - I get it!


this isn't me - but it's an example of what TO DO when you win :)
Oh what a feeling! Smile graciously and sit the wrong diagonal!

Now that I know this - I sometimes play it fast and loose. I switch diagonals in the regular class. I'll see that I'm about to pass the photographer, and bam - I'll sit a beat. Then I switch back. I'm an old pro of about 1 year. Really though, I felt so stupid - even the very young walk trotters knew that little ditty. I don't know where I've been all these years - but there it is.



Contro and I - I'm on the correct diagonal - the photographer captured this shot with the horses' left leg up so I look nice with my butt in the saddle.



Editor's Note: This is a very poorly written post indeed. If you happened to have read this and have made it this far - I will clarify the entire post in 5 pretty little sentences.

Through my years of equitation, I know the correct diagonals. I can tell if I'm on it without looking. I just didn't know until recently that during the victory pass, you should switch your diagonals to the wrong for a prettier picture. It seems most Morgan photogs. snap the shot when the horses outside let is up. Thanks for bearing with me ;-).