Standing at the canter fixed my jumping seat!

Yesterday's lesson was pretty fun since it almost completely entailed standing at the trot and canter. When I was getting into two-point, or jumping position, previously, I was leaning over too much. D had me get straight up out of the saddle at the trot, then lower myself but not actually sit down - what she calls the "hovering posting trot" so that I could get used to how my hips are supposed to feel as I open them. It took me a few tries both ways to get standing at the canter, but suddenly it felt much easier to balance! At which point going over a ground pole was just a small psychological addition to the challenge.

I got to ride Colonel today, who is everyone's favorite because he's so easy going. With him, it was really important to keep my reins short and keep his stride in check because he stretches out more and more as he canters around the ring.

One thing I do need to work on is my common sense when sharing the ring with others who are doing totally different things. I was on the rail cantering clockwise around the ring and someone was cantering counterclockwise on a 20m circle and we met as I was coming off the short side. I was thinking left shoulder to left shoulder, but I guess since she was circling and I wasn't it would have made more sense for her to cut in. In any case, I got confused, we both ended up trotting, and she got the brunt of the teasing because she was a more advanced rider and was "supposed to help me" :) I thanked her later for nothing in particular other than taking the blame.