Left lead right lead

I got to work on the canter a lot on Katie in my last lesson.

I usually find it difficult to ask her for the right lead, but this time it was clicking for me. We could switch leads by going into a few steps of trot.

We worked on me standing for two seconds and sitting for two seconds in the canter. I didn't really succeed in fully standing. I think my legs aren't really in the right position when I stand up (more forward), so it's more like a half seat.

Also, when I sit down, it's not soft enough and Katie would break into a trot. I'm thinking this means I need to maintain a light seat in this exercise.

We did a little jumping and went over a 2'6" standard a couple times, but it wasn't hugely successful, we couldn't get over the middle of the jump. I still call it a minor success because I used to be unable to get over a jump with her at all. She refuses if there is any leaning forward on my part at all.

She also requires being fine tuned in my aids. If I ask for a canter, but then keep asking too much, she will start bucking. I'm learning to sit up more when that happens, but my instinct is to grab mane, which means leaning forward.

Leaning forward is consistently my issue. I think I still do it in my trot to canter transitions, as well. I guess I have a fear of being left behind and losing my balance that way. I guess I have to let myself be behind the motion and then fine tune from there if I want to make progress - lesser of two mistakes?!

Corrections for no stirrup

In yesterday's private we worked on trotting without stirrups, and I realized why it's so hard. I thought I could just relax my leg down the side of the horse, but apparently that isn't the right position. I had to put my hand on the pommel to pull my seat forward, let my leg hang long, but then I have to make sure my leg is lightly touching the horse, from my knee down to my heel. This meant my toes were still up, like the stirrup would position them. It also meant I had to use muscles I never use. I couldn't do it for much more than 5 minutes, and with a lot of readjusting by grabbing the pommel.

This is the sort of thing that would be great to work on during practice rides!

...

I'll be traveling for work 5 days a week for the next month.

Sigh.

We also worked on keeping a rhythm at the trot and canter and going over crossrails/2' verticals. I cantered longer than I think I ever have on the rail (ok, sometimes I cut some corners) and was actually doing it long enough to find a rhythm. My left leg really slides around, though. Which just makes me think that no-stirrup work is really valuable!