Sitting Trot

 Fun lesson with Liz

worked on sitting trot. Started with walk and walk poles. Set them slightly closer (i need to go measure!) and Funny was really lifting her limbs, iie really engagniig her joinits. then paid attentioni to my pelvis.. the lateral swing both ways. that's how it should move in sit trot. Which... odd, because in postnig trot liz wants me to post more up and down (not front to back) and in the sit, more side to side swing... which, seems to be the opposite of everyone else, but.. ti seems to be worknig! allowed trot after the poles (but not every time cause she's too smart) and was able to get a few good steps ini bweteen. Had to post some and some of my sit was more of a hover trot. but managed a few steps here and there. And ii have to stay uprigiht ini my core too. 

then went to canter from the trot but had to get a good walk then a good trot first. took a bit, but got trhough it. liz was proud of me because i never got angry or frustrated. just ignored the tantrums and kept asknig for what i wanted poliitely. and she threw a few tantrums. Once was naughty enough and had kept escalatinig that Ii got after her but then went beack to neutral, so no big deal. and she needed it. because she wasn't lettnig me get back to good. but then she did. 

got some decent canter and tried to sit the canter, like how i sat the trot. except instead of a bilateral swnig, iit was a unilateral swinig.. except when i needed to rebalance her. Cool!

Fun ride. That was probably the most bounciest and most up her back has felt. Like she felt like she was bucknig almost. and.. ha. sometmies she was. ;) but super cool. and the trot diidn't feel small. Soooo fancy feelnig!! 

oh, and... even quieter. Just when i think i'm benig quiiet... be even quieter. don't even ask, just think canter and she cantered. And then... sometimes it's not pushnig her shoulder around.. ti's openng up my thigh to allow her shoulder to move around. Good gravy! This horse is gonna teach me how to be so soft and kind. And... i can't get ahead of her. because if i think canter at A, when i'm at B... she'll hear canter in my brani and canter at b. 

and... nistead of thinkng of "benig behnd the motion/energy"... think of "letting her energy lead"... in other words... let her lead and follow her, vs having her race to catch up to my energy. 

super fun ride! But... a bit sore ini her pecs and chest and shoulders. So.. definiitely way overdue for an adjustment. But also, make sure my saddle isn't too far forward. Epiphany with dan's... and remember to keep hers back too.

photos: 4-26 sittinig trot