Also experiment with standing up two beats, rather than sitting two beats, to make the change. Many riders find it easier to maintain their own balance and rein contact when doing the former. Be sure to practice it at home until it's second nature before trying it in a show. And remember, the more smoothly you can change your posting diagonal, the better impression you'll make on the judge.
Based at her Sunrise Stables in Fort Davis, Texas, U.S. Dressage Federation (USDF) gold medalist Whit Watkins has trained with Olympian Hilda Gurney for 20 years. In 2008, she swept the USDF Region 9 Championships with four wins: Open Second Level, Second Level Freestyle, Open Third Level and Open Fourth Level. Whit's students range from 3-year-old children to seniors in their 70s, and from beginners to FEI-level riders. She also teaches across disciplines, sharing her dressage expertise with Western, polo, trail and event riders.
This article originally appeared in the June 2009 issue of Practical Horseman magazine.
