Can you have a look at this and let me know what we are doing wrong

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horsegirl

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and how to stop?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKFeGPQGuUI

Any comments about my fatness or my horse's ugliness keep to yourself anything else I'm all ears. Any comments about my ears, keep those to yourself :)

I have my thoughts but don't want to bias anyone so will not say anything atm

I know I am rising quite high, she's quite bouncy
 
More weight in the heels should 'anchor' you down, meaning that you move less within your position and you don't rise so high. Perhaps shorter stirrups would help with this?

What bridle/bit are you using?
 
Was going to ask what bit are you using as doesnt look comfortable in the mouth and tight in the poll/across the back (of course that is just IMO and I am no specialist :p!). I would be doing more long and low to warm up and cool down (if you dont already), lots of flexing and bending and transitions :).
 
What about seeing if you can find an instructor who teaches in combination with the Alexander technique? I think it's a matter of rebalancing you, rather than trying to tweak with bringing heels down or fiddling with stirrup lengths. I think if you could get help with your core balance a lot of good things would follow.
 
I am no where near experienced but from my humble view for yourself, pause the video when you are at the base or your trot and again at the end when you are walking, draw a line from your head straight down, try lengthening your thighs which in turn will bring your legs more underneath you (this requires a lot of focus).
Also (this is not the best explanation) when you mount take a moment to settle and then bring both legs forward (as if you were adjusting the girth) and feel your seat bones into the saddle, now keeping them there bring your legs slowly down... then try and focus your energy through your seat for forward movement and bear down (feels like pushing for a poo without going) to slow, remember to breathe and keep your hands soft.

Sorry if that was scrambled - I will try and remember what I was taught to get my position working the best for me.
 
Ditto Apricot, maybe rise your stirrups a hole, I'm all for ride long, live long, but stirrups are too long. Other than that, can't find fault, and you are not fat on the horse!!!!!!!
 
I find from watching that i wouldnt worry about the head carridge at the moment, you need alot more leg as the horse isnt forwards and more weight in the heels, do lots of figure eights and before the corners leg leg leg and slight squeeze with inside rein then the horse should find its own carridge.
Just moref forwards, and heels dont worry about carridge the horse will find its own once forward and slight squeezes.
:) hope that helps
 
Tinypony said:
What about seeing if you can find an instructor who teaches in combination with the Alexander technique? I think it's a matter of rebalancing you, rather than trying to tweak with bringing heels down or fiddling with stirrup lengths. I think if you could get help with your core balance a lot of good things would follow.
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I agree with this. Your seat doesn't seem very secure and until it is it will be hard to balance her and work her fully. You seem more passive, her action controlling your seat rather than the other way round. But I don't mean to be negative, she's a nice horse and seems happy and willing to work for you.
 
gugglebum said:
I agree with this. Your seat doesn't seem very secure and until it is it will be hard to balance her and work her fully. You seem more passive, her action controlling your seat rather than the other way round. But I don't mean to be negative, she's a nice horse and seems happy and willing to work for you.
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No I agree it isn't, I haven't ridden much for a few months and I'm used to riding a much smoother horse :)
 
Shorter reins and shorter stirrups. I think overall picture is quite nice. Do you have regular lessons? if not,this is the way to go to improve you and your horse. Good luck and enjoy her she looks a lovely sort
 
Sorry, it was quite difficult to see because of the quality of the video - which might be down to my poor reception, rather than your film.
Your horse doesn't seem to be quite tracking up and does swish his tail quite a lot, especially at the beginning of the clip. Both of these things are often a sign of discomfort. Your stirrups look to be too long which causes you to bounce about a bit on his back, which could be causing discomfort.
It would be useful for you to video the horse on the lunge and watch carefully to see if he tracks up, then compare with the ridden video. I hope this helps. By the way he looks a nice sort.
 
She doesn't seem all that comfortable in her mouth, is the bit a loose ring? Some horses don't get on so well with them, one of mine does not like a bit with any movement, his response is similar to hers, moved him to a standard single jointed D ring that sits quieter in his mouth and he is so much happier. What about trying something like a single jointed eggbutt, but with inset copper or sweet iron? Monty Roberts does an expensive (£30 ish? but it looks the right sort of thing) eggbutt snaffle that might be worth a go? It gives her more opportunity to lean but if you ride her forwards with your seat more and lighten your hands it may encourage her off the forehand. I've heard that Myler bits are good too for a horse with a wider mouth and a tendency to be heavy in the hands (is she welsh?) but have no experience with them myself.
 
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horsegirl said:
She is quite long backed so struggles with this
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Sorry I've just realised your horse is a mare!
My ID is very long backed (she could apparently accommodate a 20" saddle) but since she recovered from her back problem, she tracks up well, even now, when she is nowhere near fit. One of her symptoms of muscle wastage was her inability to track up.
 
Apricot said:
She doesn't seem all that comfortable in her mouth, is the bit a loose ring? Some horses don't get on so well with them, one of mine does not like a bit with any movement, his response is similar to hers, moved him to a standard single jointed D ring that sits quieter in his mouth and he is so much happier. What about trying something like a single jointed eggbutt, but with inset copper or sweet iron? Monty Roberts does an expensive (£30 ish? but it looks the right sort of thing) eggbutt snaffle that might be worth a go? It gives her more opportunity to lean but if you ride her forwards with your seat more and lighten your hands it may encourage her off the forehand. I've heard that Myler bits are good too for a horse with a wider mouth and a tendency to be heavy in the hands (is she welsh?) but have no experience with them myself.
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This is what I have noticed. She is IDxTB The bit has copper roller bits in it and is single jointed but she evades the bit. She either goes round with her head in the air or as in this video she tucks her head in so it is very hard to take up a contact.
 
Most of it looks very good. I agree you are rising quite high but your hands look good and your horse is still in the head and on the vertical. Just one observation - your saddle looks a tad far forward to me - just a little. Taking it back slightly would free up your mare's shoulders more.
 
The thing that struck me most was that the mare is towing herself along on the forehand. You'll probably find that exercises to strengthen her back and get her hocks under her would omit the leaning far more than a bit ever will.

She needs to be far more independent of your hands, and you need to be far more independent in your seat. Also, are you sat evenly? You appear far more stable through the left side of your body.

I'd pop your stirrups up a hole until you feel able to relax your muscles down around her properly, and I'd be doing lots of stretching exercises (the horse, not you) and transitions to encourage her to find her own balance.
 
horsegirl said:
No I agree it isn't, I haven't ridden much for a few months and I'm used to riding a much smoother horse :)
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ah I see, sorry I'm new and don't know who's who & whats what yet! A bouncy horse takes a lot of getting used to after a smooth one, doesn't it. Much harder work until your muscles adapt. But on the plus side when you get back on the smooth one it feels like heaven!
 
All excellent advice, keep it coming. I have only had her back for a couple of weeks and I don't think she had done anything for 2 years.
 
gugglebum said:
ah I see, sorry I'm new and don't know who's who & whats what yet! A bouncy horse takes a lot of getting used to after a smooth one, doesn't it. Much harder work until your muscles adapt. But on the plus side when you get back on the smooth one it feels like heaven!
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It does indeed, I have got into bad habits with fixing my hands rigid and too low and I am not used to having to use any leg.
 
horsegirl said:
All excellent advice, keep it coming. I have only had her back for a couple of weeks and I don't think she had done anything for 2 years.
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Well that certainly explains a lot! Long and low, trot/walk transitions, shortening and lengthening whilst maintaining rhythm... all of those things will help both of you to get back on track. There's no rush... better to do it right now than have a lot of problems to fix in a few months.
 
Many horses find single jointed bits uncomfortable.
I would try her in either a french-link or a mullen-mouthed bit. You could get a few from a bit-bank and see which she prefers. Some work without stirrups would probably benefit you both.
 
horsegirl said:
This is what I have noticed. She is IDxTB The bit has copper roller bits in it and is single jointed but she evades the bit. She either goes round with her head in the air or as in this video she tucks her head in so it is very hard to take up a contact.
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Ahh I have one with the same breeding, VERY strong horse but capable of good dressage so we keep him in a snaffle, only consistent schooling and strengthening lifts him off the forehand, and he does have his occasional unstoppable moments... Is she strong or just leany? If leany, school her in a headcollar or halter or bitless, until she is responsive off the leg and does sharp transitions/leg yield ect with no fuss, don't worry about where her head is until she can work properly through her back and bum. Once she really springs into her transitions (a walk to canter is a good indication of this!) go back to using a bit, and starting to worry about her acceptance of it. This shouldn't take too long, a few weeks?

I would definately ditch the copper roller bit, she either dislikes the movement or the metal. I'm lucky to have so many horses, I have a massive collection of bits, if she were mine I would try and figure out whether it is the rings, the movement or the metal that bothers her, I suppose I would try a single jointed D ring and a loose ring french link and go from there. Because she is so similar to mine, I would be inclined to go for the D ring, quite a thick one, and perhaps use Bit Butter? I've heard it's good stuff for encouraging acceptance of the bit and a relaxed jaw.
 
It looks nice enough, just a bit idle. She's not really going forward off your leg, she's just keeping going, and it looks like you're having to push her on just to get that much.

I'd be asking for more, with spurs or a schooling whip if she ignores the leg. Lots of transitions, walk to canter is particularly good for getting them sitting back and working from behind - and in general canter work is quite good as it is much harder to fake working properly and should expose any problems much more clearly.
 
Lovely horse and you are doing a good job but if you have only had her 2 weeks after 2 years with little work you need to think fittening work before you ask her to school because her muscles will just not be able to support what you are asking and you will only get both of you into bad habits. Will she hack? If yes, take her out for fittening on a hacks for a couple of months and concentrate on having her in front of her leg without worrying too much about her neck outline. At times you do look like you are niggling a bit with your leg and she is ignoring you so use spurs or a whip to have a more immediate effect and then leave her be until you need to correct again.

When she is fitter, start work in a much longer and lower outline to encourage to use her back but insist that she remains in front of your leg and off the forehand.
 
I agree with Michaelequine. I would suggest pushing her forward down the longside and then collecting and shortening the stride on the shortsides. She needs more impulsion, when you touch her with your leg she should go forward. Ideally she should really "sit down" and drive forward from behind. Also think you should shorten your stirrups a hole or 2. It'll give you a bit more security and help you balance. I'd also say don't worry about her head for the moment, she could look like a giraffe and it'd be fine as long as she's tracking up and going forward. All that being said, she's a gorgeous girl :D
 
Get a saddle on that fits both of you - and you'll find that the results speak for themselves.

But - apart from that - not much wrong with that at all. You do need to work on your legs (you're turning out from the knee and thigh) but lunge lessons will sort that out. I wouldn't put your stirrups up - as it won't solve the problem.

Pony was in a lovely rhythm.

Just seen that she may not have worked for 2 years (or schooled for 2 years??). So go easy.
 
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