Getting in time at the trot means applying rein, weight and/or leg aids at the exact moment the horse's hoof is coming off the ground and free to move, as when it is on the ground, the horse is unable to respond to an aid to move that hoof. Below we break down exactly how to time your aids to influence specific hooves at the trot, so you can learn to dance with your horse.
Good timing is the key to achieving accurate, effortless movements that create a harmonious dance between horse and rider. By applying aids at the precise moment a horse can respond, the rider improves communication, balance and overall performance.
Practicing good timing at the trot allows the rider to influence specific hoof movements at the exact moment the horse is physically able to step in the desired direction. This is important not only for turning and lateral work, but also for achieving smooth transitions between and within gaits.
If you haven't yet, read Timing and feel: The key to effective horse training to learn the WHY of practicing good timing, and remember, you can only influence a hoof that is off the ground!
Understanding the trot footfalls
The trot is a two-beat gait with a moment of suspension between each stride. The horse moves it legs in diagonal pairs:
- Left hind foot moves with the right front foot
- Right hind foot moves with the left front foot
This predictable rhythm makes trot the easiest gait for riders to develop a feel for their horse's footfalls. Rising (posting) trot makes this even easier, as a rider on the correct diagonal will sit in the saddle when the horse's outside front foot and inside hind foot touch the ground.
How to get ‘in time’ at the trot
When riding at rising trot on the correct diagonal, you can influence the diagonal pairs at specific moments.
When sitting: The inside front hoof and outside hind hoof are off the ground and can be influenced.
When rising: The outside front hoof and inside hind hoof are off the ground and can be influenced.
Since a rider can only influence a hoof that is coming off the ground, the natural rise-and-fall rhythm of the trot provides the timing needed to apply precise aids at the correct moment.
Let's explore how this applies to influencing the front and hind legs with different aids.
Timing the front feet with rein aids
The inside rein
- Purpose: inside front hoof control (i.e. stepping in to a different/smaller track)
- Aid: opening the inside rein
- Timing: when the inside front hoof is coming off the ground
Example: stepping left on to a new track
- Track left - confirm you are on the correct diagonal.
- Open your left rein slightly just before your seat lands in the saddle (the moment the left front foot is leaving the ground).
- Your horse feels the opening left rein and steps across to the left with its inside front foot (following with the other font hoof)
- You are now travelling on a new track to the inside of the original track.
Common mistake: The horse bulges through the outside shoulder - fix this by supporting with the outside rein.
The outside rein - closing
- Purpose: outside hoof/shoulder control (i.e. prevent shoulder bulging out when turning)
- Aid: closing outside rein
- Timing: when the outside hoof is coming off the ground
Still travelling on a track to the left at trot, the rider is preparing to make a left turn, this time the rider will follow the opening inside rein with a supporting outside rein to control the right foot during the turn and contain the outside shoulder.
Tip: Think of bringing the shoulders around a turn - not pulling the horse around the corner by the head/neck. Indicate your intention to turn with your inside rein then complete the turn with a supporting outside rein.
Example: making a left turn
- Track left - confirm you are on the correct diagonal.
- As you approach the turn, give light direction with your inside hand/fingers to prepare your horse for the turn
- To turn, as you begin to rise out of the saddle, apply a gentle squeeze on your right (outside) rein
- This is when the right front hoof is coming of the ground and the moment the horse can respond to your request by stepping across with that hoof (and so begins the turn)
- Turning by bringing the shoulders around keeps the horse balanced and straight on the line of travel (not bulging out through the shoulders)
So putting this together:
- the rider asks the inside foot to step across with an opening rein as the horse's inside foot is about to come off the ground.
- the rider asks the outside hoof to step across (and controls the corresponding shoulder) by squeezing the outside rein as the horses outside front foot is about to come off the ground.
Note: More advanced horse and rider combinations who have an established effective half-halt from the seat can achieve this with little to no influence from the reins by applying the half halt in the correct timing.
The outside rein - opening
- Purpose: outside front hoof control (i.e. stepping out to a different/larger track)
- Aid: opening the outside rein (while maintaining flexion to the inside)
- Timing: when the outside front hoof is coming off the ground
Example: stepping out to a larger circle track
Imagine riding on a 10m circle and asking the horse to step out to an 11m circle (shoulders/front hooves leading, and not by a leg yield).
Track left, confirm you're on the correct diagonal.
Open the outside rein as you start rising (this is when the right hoof is coming off the ground)
Your horse steps out to a larger track, shoulders first, following the feel of your opening outside rein.
Note 1: Maintain inside flexion to prevent the horse from making a direct turn out on to the new track.
Note 2: A sluggish trot will make this exercise harder. Keep an active trot to help the horse flow out to the new track.
Note 3: Both legs stay at the girth as this is not a leg yield exercise.
Timing the hind feet with leg aids
To get a clear picture of timing the hind hooves at the trot we will look at the leg yield.
In leg yield, the horse moves forward and sideways, crossing its inside legs over its outside legs while remaining straight through the body. In order for this to occur, the rider may need to:
- control leading shoulders by closing the outside rein
- allow shoulders to move across more by opening the outside rein
- ask the hindquarters to step further across by applying an inside leg aid
The shoulder control aspects have been covered in the above sections, so we will look at the timing of asking the hindquarters to step further across below.
Example: more sideways with the inside hind leg
- apply your inside leg slightly behind the girth as you are rising out of the saddle
- this is when your horse's inside hind leg is coming off the ground
Final thoughts
Good timing creates clearer communication and effortless movement.
If this all seems like a lot to process, don't worry! Timing takes practice, and feel will develop over time.
If your horse is not responding to your aids it is helpful to take the exercise back to the walk (or even the halt) and check the horse's understanding and response to basic shoulder and hindquarter control aids.
Last updated: September 2026
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