How do you ride a transition??

[PonyRiders]

Hi everyone
Bit of a easy question I know, but today a novice friend asked me how I ride my transitions into trot and back down to walk. Initally I thought it was a silly question to ask, she has been riding for 6 months and surely she has been taught how to do this. I then realised I couldn't actually explain how I do them
I just automatically do them without even thinking.

So my question is, how do you ride from walk to trot and trot to walk? in the easiest way of explaining possible.

Thankyouu

 

[Amy567]

It's simple, but really hard at the same time! haha.

I would say, trot to walk, sit in the saddle with my weight in my heals so that I sit slightly deeper in the saddle, then pull the reigns slightly to ask for a downward transition.

Walk to trot, nudge the horse, lighten my seat slightly so she know's I want trot, not just a fast walk (I do that by standing in my stirrups slightly, literally, half a cm between bum and saddle, which can be difficult for new riders) and then the first few strides, sitting to make sure I'm on the correct diagonal and my horse is balanced, and then to rising trot

About as simple as I can make it I'm afraid

 

[Amy567]

I also squeeze my thighs slightly to decrease shoulder movement and it's a much smoother transition, in the downwards transition