Last night at Power Ranger and I's lesson, another one of the riders at my stable hopped on Ranger to see if he could get him to canter completely around the (very large) arena. He was successful, and even tackled some of the jumps I wasn't able to get. He later explained that I ride too tensely, and am too heavy in the saddle for my horse, and said I need to have a 'light seat.' I know what a light seat is, and I have accomplished it before, but it's been difficult. Does anyone have any advice for making it easier? I can't seem to get it :/

 Hi pw-rangers,

Two exercises that my trainer had me work on that might help you:

1. I stayed in two-point, with my seat completely out of the saddle, in all of my flatwork--walk, trot and canter. I had to build up to this, but eventually I rode just about the entire lesson in two-point. This made me a much stronger rider. I learned to balance over my base of support while off my horse's back. If I ever felt as if I were going to fall back, I'd grab mane.

 2. My trainer set three small jumps--crossrails to start--side-by-side, and I jumped over them in a serpentine pattern in two-point. Again, I had to focus on staying out of the saddle, but not throwing myself forward and jumping ahead. The jumps were small and the pattern was simple, so I really could focus on letting my horse jump up to me. Again, if I felt I were falling back, I'd grab mane.

 Hope that helps.

 Sandy