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When
riding gaited horses, an English saddle without knee rolls must be used.
The gaited horse must be collected, which means that through the raising
of the mount’s head and the flexing of the neck and jaw, the horse’s
hindquarters are brought under it so that it is more balanced, a state
that enables the horse to change gaits with ease. The rider’s legs and
body are more or less straight up and down, and long stirrups are used
to maintain balance. In
a gaited or pleasure class in horse shows, the rider is expected to show
the horse at different gaits in both directions around a fenced circular
ring. At a trot the rider must post on the proper diagonal, sitting down
on the saddle when the horse’s inside front leg hits the ground and
rising out of the saddle when the outside front leg is down. The horse
must take the proper lead in a canter by presenting the inside front leg
first. Most horses have naturally correct leads and alternate them with
each change of direction. Others must be made to do so by use of leg and
hand aids.
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