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What are diagonals?

By Katherine Blocksdorf, About.com

Question: What are diagonals?

Answer: The trot is a two beat gait. When a horse trots it reaches forward with its left foreleg, and right hind leg, and then reaches forward with its right foreleg and left hind leg—the diagonal legs are synchronized. With a trot there are always two hoofs on the ground and two in suspension. The footfall pattern remains the same whether the horse is turning left or right. At a trot it is the rider that needs to be aware of what diagonal pair to rise or sit on to help the horse balance and flex.

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