This is definitely a thinking sport.

My 10-year-old daughter J.'s equestrian vaulting lesson. She's working on her basic seat. Feeling the seatbones and the "triangle". Opening her hip flexors. Not too much forward. Not too much back. Lengthening the spine. Pointing the toes. Engaging the abs. Strengthening the leg on the horse. Being still while the horse starts and stops.

She did leg passes to the inside and outside of the circle. The position of the head is up and over the shoulders. Like there's a round ball beneath the chin.

Working on how to come up to the knees on the horse. Using the arms and the abdomen and the swing of the legs while visualizing where the knees will be on the horse's back.

There are so many things to think of!