Can you see a difference?

[MizElz]

Honest opinions please! I've not been able to compete recently, due to a number of reasons, but I've just been trawling through our videos from this year, trying to figure out if we are actually getting somewhere...bearing in mind that neither of us are actually 'made' for dressage; we still have our showjumper tendencies, even if we havent jumped for 3 years! It hasnt been an easy transition, but I would love some honest opinions as to whether all the work I've put in this year has actually paid off at all...

Our trot...

Our rather nasty canter...

Please be honest! As I can't afford instruction at the moment, I'd love to some opinions regarding what I should really be working on at home! Thankies!

 

[Ahrena]

Wow her trot has become a low rounder, and her canter looks a lot less "resisting" if that makes sense.

How come you stopped jumping her, out of interest? Post more piccies of her, she's stunning

I love her

 

[MizElz]

Aw thanks Ahrena!

Its so hard to know where you are when you dont get to see yourself! I know I have felt an improvement, especially in her trot, but the canter needs a lot of working on!

We stopped jumping after we had a bad fall, both of us.

Such a shame, as it was our best year, we were both on top form! But we were having a lesson over grids, and she took two elements of a bounce on at once, landed on the second element and somersaulted onto me. Pretty nasty! I got back on and jumped a cross pole with a broken hand, but we never really got back to where we were, and I ended up crying my eyes out with fear everytime we set off to go jumping.

So I packed it in, and have forced poor old Elz into dressage! (She loves it really!

)

 

[sara_l]

You can deffinatly see an improvement. Her self carriage has improved, she is holding herself more, and looks like she is leaning on you less

 

[Ahrena]

God that does sound very nasty! Don't blame you for losing your confidence. At least you didn't do any lasting physical damage.

 

[Taboo1968]

There is a definate difference in the trot, but in the pics of week four she seems on the forehand.... The canter seems better too and definately more uphill than the trot.... Now for the constructive critisism (spelling?) You need to sit more on your seat bones as in all the pictures you are perched forwards which wont help things... and if I was standing in the middle of an arena supervising I would ask you to lift your hands as they are held very low..... (buts that only my view, everyone's is different)
And anyone is built for dressage.... keep doing what your doing.... compare the difference in test sheets to see what needs working on and if you cant currently afford instruction, after the test, see if you can speak to the judge and ask for tips on how to improve the parts you are having problems with.... Is there not an experienced friend around that could help you out for now?

 

[mickey]

This is what I see;

Week one, trot - you look like your hands are low and you are perhaps forcing her head down, possibly creating some tension over horses back? In week 4 trot you don't look so stiff in your hands and although she is on the forehand, she is more submissive and relaxed over her back.

In all Week 1 pictures you are forcing your heel down.........In the week 4 ones this is increbidbly improved.

You do have a tendency to tip forward.....and I think this is putting you in a position where your lower leg swings forward to compensate in trot.

The canter pics (week 4) look more uphill than the trot pics at week 4. I think the canter looks OK, looks balanced, perhaps a little rounder but if you are competing say at prelim you don't want the head and neck over flexed (well same at any level actually).

 

[B_2_B]

i think you both look better

 

[Cop-Pop]

It def looks like you've made some improvement. I don't blame you for stopping jumping after ur accident - I stopped for a while too but luckily I've found an excellent riding school with a perfect dobbin that doesn't care if I'm jumping with my eyes closed or open