Trotting Without Stirrups - A Challenge

We had a lesson on Sunday; shared with 'Lady Jane' and 'Lillian'.

I did a fair amount of sitting trott ... however, I was not happy with it. We filmed it upon my request because I wanted to see my posture and 'Mr F's movements / face. Was he uncomfortable, etc etc.

Afterwards I had a quick glimps at the video and from what little I could see, it was not as bad as I thought it had been.

Lets put it that way: sitting trott is a challenge!

I cannot get the timing right and feel like I am bouncing like a tennis ball! It's not I that I am concerned about, it's 'Mr F's well being that I care about. There has to be a way to make this a smooth affair. 

At the present time it is clear to me that I am way too stiff in my upper body and core. I am trying too hard and thinking too much, which in turn reflects in my body stiffening. And so I miss the timing and rather than being WITH 'Mr F's rhytm, I am trying to follow it, which of course won't work.

I can see this taking a looooooooooooooooong time to sort it out. But I am patient.

Thanks to the internet, there is much information to be found and I watched various videos online. Although most of them showed riders that were equally bouncy and didn't really have a solution that worked for me.

I even made a makeshift 'horse' - a stool with a square top onto which I placed some padding to somwhat similate the back of a horse ... roughly speaking. It's main purpose was for me to learn to lift myself off the horses' 'back' using just my leg / seat muscles. Well once more I am finding new muscles I didn't know I had.

Time will tell ...