Shout out to Deborah from My Examined Life who mentioned in a comment that difficulty keeping the half seat at the canter can be helped by other gates and even bareback. My trainer was of teh same mind and yesterday our lesson involved EVERYTHING at the half seat. Okay, not everything, but walk, trot, canter, up and down transitions, circling without letting my butt touch the saddle. At one point, my puny muscles got tired and my leg started to swing back by the end of the lesson. I felt bad because it looked like I wasn't learning, when I was totally getting it. The middle of the lesson was awesome though, but then, I was riding Joy! Joy will keep cantering if I keep my leg on, and I'd be interested to see if I get another chance to do the same on Tank, who would prefer to slow down rather than keep going.
Also, there was snow falling off the roof and spooking the horses. Joy just sort of stuck her head up in surprise, but kept going going. She's a no-fuss, do-her-job 14hh pony, while the 17hh warmbloods and OTTBs were losing their shit and one dumped a student. I know, it's dangerous and not funny...but I just love old ponies for this reason :D
Also, there was snow falling off the roof and spooking the horses. Joy just sort of stuck her head up in surprise, but kept going going. She's a no-fuss, do-her-job 14hh pony, while the 17hh warmbloods and OTTBs were losing their shit and one dumped a student. I know, it's dangerous and not funny...but I just love old ponies for this reason :D
thanks! i think i might have responded to that comment... i've been doing a lot of flat/grid work lately and they're seemingly simple enough to grasp in terms of "canter here, trot here etc" but it's SO NOT EASY! even the more advanced riders have been doing those lessons because it helps to improve their riding. and the simple grid work is not so simple... i actually like doing it more than jumping... :P
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