An Experiment in the Use of Constructive Criticism

OK as you asked for it!!!

These comments are ONLY based on my opinion and experience and reflect my own issues as after all that is what is top of my awareness!

Dressage - I am NOT a dressage Diva so not qualified to comment. Was a nice test and I would have been happy with that, if any cc, he looks a little "contained" at times but then based on the previous comments perhaps he has to be.

Showjumping - A couple of times (1 to 2 I think) and to the one you had down I feel you lacked a bit of power on the corner and then had to make it up or hold once you were on your line. But other than that a nice round.

XC - I thought you were nice and positive to the double on the turn, water was good and yes you were deep but you gave him the time to get his legs up and work it out - The rest were harder to tell. It looks like you were having fun and he looked confident.

All in all I would think it was a good day out at novice on a 6 year old and your result (I have been and looked!) reflected that! I only hope I can do half as well on my 6year old next year.

Runs and hides for cover and PLEASE disagree with me this is only my personal opinion and would not have been given if not asked for and if most other posters were not "playing"
 
I've only watched the dressage...very nice test for a 6 year old, and of course you are a very nice and well balanced rider.

2 small points for you to consider:

With the medium trot I'd have wrapped him round my inside leg a bit more as you turned onto the diagonal, so that once straight you had the power there ready to push him on.. i.e. you make the most of having him step under on the turn. Atm it looks like you turned, got him straight, and then said "go" as three separate things... hope you can see what I'm getting at here - it's not easy to explain in words!

As other people have said he could be a bit more balanced and through in the canter, but for a 6 year old on grass and in a competition environment it's pretty good ;0)
 
amymay said:
Okey dokey:p

I think you did a brilliant job getting him through the water. He lost a leg a stride in and got too close to the jump out - but he did jump out quite well. Another horse might have fudged it completely - just stopped.

It appears to me that you may ride him a bit defensively, but at 6 I guess he's learning the ropes, and you can't take anything for granted over a fence.

That's all :D
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Thank you amymay, he did buckle a tiny bit into the water but holding for an extra stride seemed to work as I knew it was only a small log out and he could have trotted over it if need be.

I think what you see as "defensive" riding I would call "careful" riding - his next outing was to have been a CIC* so I wanted a confident round to set him up for that - I didn't get to the CIC in the end, unfortunately. :(
 
Not sure If I am "allowed" to join the thread as I have no CC :p , just wanted to say I have really missed your reports so please do keep us informed of your exploits! :D
 
Baydale said:
Hank the Tank is a bit strong, yes, but more in a heavy and on-the-forehand way than ripping the reins out of my hands way. Re the sj, he's also a bit solid laterally; I'm more used to lanky rubbery horses so am having to learn what to do with short solid horses that need softening. The jumping left had got worse and I'm working on his flatwork to sort this as I don't think A frames on fences etc would solve it long-term; he had been treated by the osteopath the week before this event and again the week after. I can't comment on how he's jumped since then as I can't jump at the moment, but he is much better on the flat.

Thank you for your last comment, I hope you're right and I shall endeavour to enjoy the journey. :)
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The odd thing about the jumping left is that as far as I can see on the vid he is straight over the fence. He seems to arrive at the fence on the lhs from a couple of strides out. But - he didn't do it XC on the straight fence going away from the camera.

Does he favour one lead more strongly than the other?

Or is it a security thing, the way some horses hug a wall, he's hugging the wing? (That last comment could be utter moronic nonsense, btw, it was a fleeting thought than ran through my head!:o:D )

Not saying this will help yours, but I had a huge Westphalian horse like this - he was really difficult to wagon. I had to warm up with loads of canter half pass before I could jump him (People thought I was being flash at SJ, but I wasn't!), and I did tons of walk canter and canter squares work to keep him sitting and rideable.
 
SpottedCat said:
I think you've misunderstood the rules of HHO.

1. If you post a picture/video and ask for CC, you won't get much/any, but people will tell you how great you are.

2. If you post pictures/vids and don't ask for CC, someone will feel compelled to give you some 'helpful' advice.

3. Once one person has made a 'constructive' comment, other will feel compelled to do the same, agreeing with the first person, even if they themselves couldn't ride a rocking horse.

4. If you have a bit of a clue about riding, and perhaps have a good background at a high level (by which I'm talking Advanced eventing+, 1.40+ or PSG), you probably won't reveal your identity and therefore your comments, whilst accurate, will probably be completely dismissed by the majority since you haven't posted any pictures of yourself on a horse (mainly because you did these things back in the mists of time when the rest of us were not even a twinkle in the milkman's eye ;)).

5. Reports of competitions seem to be less prone to attracting 'helpful' comments than pictures of schooling sessions - no-one yet knows why this is.

6. If there is a high profile, high level event on, rest assured the members of HHO can ride the horses better, make better decisions and generally do a much better job than the pros who are there themselves. The only reason they are riding the sofa not the horse is to give WFP, Edward Gal and William Funnell a chance, it's only fair. They will vocally tell the world exactly what each rider did wrong though, especially if it's Oli Townend, or a young rider on an older schoolmaster horse.

7. If someone does make an observation which is not intended to be CC, but is a genuine query about a method/approach to training, the 'fans' of the OP will immediately assume it is based on a complete lack of knowledge about anything to do with horses, and is entirely to do with jealousy, and the OP is liable to become extremely defensive because the fans have twisted an innocuous comment and discovered nuances even an English teacher would struggle to find. These situations are easily diffused by the OP saying 'you could be right but my trainer and I are keeping an eye on it', but this rarely happens.

8. The truly bad, mad and dangerous vids/pics rarely get anything constructive because the only people who comment are those whose horses are the same, the rest of us are just too gobsmacked that the instructor they use is still making a living.

9. It has become obligatory to end any post with 'not aimed at anyone in particular' or words to that effect. This is the exact same principle used by people who want to say something really horrible and think that prefixing it with 'I don't mean to be rude but....' These people like to phone radio talk shows too, and can often be heard uttering the words 'I'm not racist but....'. They often sound completely rational to start with, but this facade is soon exposed.

10. This is a joke, right? ;)

ETA: Please note the 'probably' in point 4, as I am aware there are a number of people who have done those things and don't mind telling us who they are - but there are quite a few who keep their identity quiet!
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Nail/ Hit/ Head :) :D

More improtantly Baydale, where did you get your riding boots from??? :D
 
Baydale said:
:D That did make me laugh, SC, very funny - and we used to have a lot of fun on here not that long ago, or is my memory playing tricks with me? - but no, my thread is not a joke.
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LOL - I meant my response was a joke, not your thread!:D

ETA: After my exploits last weekend, I'm not CCing anyone!
 
Crikey, I'm feeling brave at the moment I think :o or maybe I'm ill... I'll stick my neck out, cos after watching the videos and the Keysoe SJ round I've noticed something that you probably are aware of, but if not, it might be worth investigating/working on.
That's the disclaimer over :D
1. Dressage - I wouldn't have a clue ;)
2. XC - see point 1, but as you are here to post and I assume the horse still has all its legs, you must be doing something right, no?
3. SJ - IMO, he needs to be more through and go a bit more forward, it's just lacking flow a bit. He also consistently jumps to the left, a lot. I also noticed in your dressage test that your first counter canter was a bit, ahem, agricultural :o As in, you had to work VERY hard to keep him balanced and going. I think the 2 things are connected.

I am certainly not going to advise anything, I'm sure you have trainers for that.
 
Baydale said:
That was my OH videoing and he's hoping that if he does it badly enough he won't get asked to do it again! Shall I buy him a tripod for Christmas? :p
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absolutely, doing it badly just means he needs more practice ;) :) :D

I would like to add that I have missed your reports of the bay bunch over this summer too :).
 
Firstly - I'd just like to say I'm glad to hear you are still out and about doing stuff. I was worried the scilence meant that the horses/chemo/other had finally beaten you! :eek: Good to know your still alive and kicking ;)

OK CC ...errrrm... he appears to jump/bulge left in the SJing, seems most noticable down the triple and the one he had down.

DR - after the tests I pencilled for at the weekend - is bloody brilliant! Sorry you wanted CC erm swished his tail too much?

XC - he doesn't seem to be bulging left when he jumps XC except coming into the water where, as mentioned, he seems a little hesitant but comes out confidently. is the vids are in course order you can see that once he gets over his initial enthusiaum he settles down and listens to you far more and the patnership looks really good!
Oh bugger criticism criticism mmm in keeping with the spirit of the forum at the moment lets see he looks tense, unhappy, and is being pushed to fast ;)
 
Saratoga said:
Dressage test was good. Trot work lovely, nice and forward with cadence. Canter work a little tense at times with contact varying, possibly due to not quite having the strength and balance yet on grass. Walk could be bigger and more relaxed, but correct.

SJ was again a nice round, video a little hard to see but I think you do what I do - help the horse off the floor a little too much, causing the horse to have a moment of inverting. He looks like he covers a lot of ground, and would get a little unruly if you let him :) Nice rhythm.

1st XC vid looked a bit quick to me, and he looks a little gawpy at the water. But nice positive attitude from both of you.
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Thank you, Saratoga. He has a poor walk and I think I made a conscious effort to work harder on it about a fortnight before that event. :o It has, and will, improve further but is never going to be a walk I get 8's for. Re the varying contact issues, he does this thing where he shakes the bit in his mouth as you can see in the free walk; if I have his attention 100% (I can manage this for 10 second stints... :rolleyes:) I can stop it happening, but it seems to be habitual rather than an evasion or something pain-related. I'd welcome your thoughts on that.

SJ - yep, I so want to jump clear that I try to lift half a tonne of horse up.:o Tbh, he wasn't trying particularly hard at that height and has such confidence that his casual attitude becomes apparent in his technique, not helped by my lack of technique as a rider. I'm not averse to jumping a few huge fences to make him less complacent and sharpen him up a bit. :p

XC- I was putting my foot down as I thought I'd like a rosette, then remembered I'd got a CIC coming up and went a bit more carefully in the latter parts. I've not really put my foot down much with him so even I was surprised at our bullet-like speed early on. :eek:
 
Baydale said:
SJ - yep, I so want to jump clear that I try to lift half a tonne of horse up.:o Tbh, he wasn't trying particularly hard at that height and has such confidence that his casual attitude becomes apparent in his technique, not helped by my lack of technique as a rider. I'm not averse to jumping a few huge fences to make him less complacent and sharpen him up a bit. :p
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I know the feeling well, my event boy is exactly the same. Doesn't even start thinking until it gets to about 1.30m. I have try and get him to 'have one' in the warm up to get the brain cells going and him trying a little bit more. When he starts to get complacent in the ring I too try and lift him off the floor :o

Funnily enough he jumps a lot better BS when I don't care how many he has down as long as he takes some responsibility for the job :rolleyes:
 
A little off thread but, your words "casual attitude" got my attention.

My mare is very casual over a fence once it has been jumped once or twice, jumps but taps them. She is only 5 and we have stuck them up to 1.10m a few times to make her pay attention which works but I don't want to jump big all the while - any tips??
 
Well I'm not qualified to give constructive critism sooooooo.........

Mine are......

wobbly camera.... cameraman needs more practise :D or a tripod
is it me, but do the dressage arenas look the wrong shape:rolleyes:
it has been too long since your last report (and yes I know you have a good excuse):D

Ok.... that is all I can think of...... still enjoyed the video's though as usual:D
 
Only going to comment on the dressage as these days I like all 4 feet on the ground!

I thought the test was nicely ridden and the horse looked happy and calm throughout. Trot seems to be the strongest pace but the medium could have been better prepared as I am sure there is a really nice one in there, if you can put in a couple of strides of sneaky shoulder in/fore in the corner before the diagnonal, this often helps, do try and be sneaky about it though! Walk seems to be his weakest pace it lacks purpose in the medium and he needs to stretch more and be more consistant in the free. Watch his quarters in canter as they seem to curl to the inside (could have been the angle of the video though). Very nice halt and rein back though!

Oh and you need more bling to be taken seriously:D
 
Lovely horse, in the dressage he's not really tracking up in trot but what he does have is a fabulous rythm in fact I would say excellent rythm.

In the first canter back to the track he was very unbalanced and all your weight went to the left as you tried to help him, as someone else said this probably reflects jumping to the left, is he as much as he should be off your left leg?

Lots of leg yeilding etc on the right rein to push him and make him listen to your left leg aids and take the right rein.

lovely horse and you are obviously a very good competent rider.
 
Ive missed your reports too and Im really not qualified to give CC at all!!

Love the dressage (I wish my tests looked like that) especially loving your hands Im trying to master that at the moment!

As others have pointed out he jumps to the left, and I can see why he knocked that fence he just lost the canter a little but a great rhythm!

X-C looks fab very confident!!
 
Another here not remotely qualified to give CC so I won't, but also wanted to say that I have really missed your competition reports too and hope they resume next season.

Oh, and I definitely agree with the CB comment, having been owned by a TB x CB mare with "attitude" for the last 14 years.
 
PooJay said:
I don't trust this thread!

but oooooh what a pretty pony :D
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That's very sad, PooJay, I was hoping we could get some joy back into CR by exposing myself but maybe it's too late to rescue it from livery-yard-dom. A sad state of affairs if that is the case. :(

Pretty ponies also need to make some effort towards earning their keep. ;)
 
siennamum said:
When you jump the double of rolltops on a sharp left hand turn, he goes left and for a minute you looked like you were left behind, he definitely turned faster than you did. I am disgusted. Keep up with your horse.












(not really, looks really fab)
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:D Sorry siennamum, I nearly missed this! I think the expression you're looking for is "the proverbial off a shovel". You're not joking about me not keeping up, but more of that later.
 
Baydale said:
Please please please be critical. It's not that I want a free lesson as I do get plenty of training, so cut the cr@p and niceness and just get to the critique please. ;)
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Ok, wish I was brave enough to jump like I did when I was younger, so no cc there from me! :D Well done

Dressage, nice test, I would never want to do dressage on grass, although you probably had studs in?
Well done :)
 
broke_but_happy said:
Agree with Caledonia RE Jup trying to take charge a bit, also when you came across the diagonal for the first lot of medium trot steps, the corner between A and F looks like it could have been set up a little better.
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Good point, b_b_h, I think I may have been so focused on getting him round the short side with his eyes off the monster between F and A that I forgot what was coming. :o
 
On my phone so can't quote, but...

'I was hoping we could get some joy back into the CR by exposing myself...'

Best line in the CR ever! :D

I don't CC on here and not going to start now, but Jup and Mally are sooooo alike in more than just looks! I really must get you to shout at me at some point if you have a spare moment!
 
dressagecrazy said:
I can only comment on the dressage as im to much of an old wuss now to jump. However i did used to event in my youth & enjoyed it, age & fear got the better of me after a nasty fall. I dont think it's fair to comment though on something i dont do, so i wont & wouldnt.

I thought the dressage was good, nice rythm & balance. Possibly a little wobbly to the contact at times, but tbh thats to be expected when doing dressage in an open field with horses zooming around everywhere & the thought of XC in a horses head.

The only other thing was me personally i would of tried to balance & bring him back slightly more in the corners before the medium trot's. But they certainly wernt bad at all. I hope ive been constuctive & passed the challenge of making a tit out of myself lol.:o

Lovely horse & lovely riding, but you already know that:):). Hope your well.:)
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Thank you, dc, he is a lovely horse but I need to up my game as my riding is barely marking time, never mind moving forward!

I seem to have lost my medium trots along the way as he used to do them better, or perhaps they felt better but weren't really through and were just light in front and flicky-toed - must go and look at some earlier vids to find out. I think I was trying to gain marks for his trotwork as I knew I'd lose lots for his walk and/or any cheeky moments, but all it did was make it look a bit frantic. :rolleyes:
 
Baydale said:
That's very sad, PooJay, I was hoping we could get some joy back into CR by exposing myself but maybe it's too late to rescue it from livery-yard-dom. A sad state of affairs if that is the case. :(

Pretty ponies also need to make some effort towards earning their keep. ;)
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:D they do? try telling that to my big round (very round) brown beast who most definitely thinks otherwise atm!

I would comment if i was qualified to comment, but i'm not. I did my very first (and only) practice ode this year....all 1ft 6 of it and came 4th. I am proud of it as there was more than 10 in the class and it was our first "event" together :D.....however, proud as i am i don't feel it appropriate to comment on eventers who do as you do, jump higher than 2ft6, manage to persuade their pretty ponies that water is safe, fun and no monsters live in there and actually get to these events.....

I can't give cc - all i know about eventing is that it's WELL scary and you lot are WELL brave :D
 
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