CC please, am I a novice rider?

[RubysGold]

This video has been posted before but would just like some CC please. My friend keeps saying that I put myself down too much and need to believe that I'm not a bad rider. Am I a novice rider?
Roo kept going behind the bit when I first got her, so have worked on getting it up and its gone too far forward now, so I'm ready to start tucking her back in, (If that makes any sense what so ever)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xO9sfIpBr3I&feature=player_profilepage
When I got my stirrups back I couldn't keep them where they should be, looking at this I've started to draw my heel up :S
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-ZkqaN6f4E
Any CC welcome please
Nickie

 

[ForeverBroke_]

I'm really not very good at CC of any kind, but maybe try putting your hands just a tiny bit furthur apart to make a bit more of a triangle between your hands and the bit?

Just a very small though

You both look great though

 

[Flame_]

You're a lovely rider, don't worry too much about little bad habits, its obvious you have feel and a good connection with your horse. You are never a novice rider, you ought to have way more confidence in yourself.

 

[Booboos]

Your position lookes really good and anyone who can sit up so nicely with no stirrups is not a novice rider at all!!

 

[sueeltringham]

Your position working without stirrups is lovely. You and your horse are really working in harmony and your leg postion is great. You ride really quietly and you should totally ignore your friends -they don't know what they are talking about.

To get her to work more in an outline, I would try and concentrate on slowing her trot a little, with your seat (but still keeping impulsion). Try more transitions walk-trot-canter and use more manouvres which require more bending (10m circles, serpentines). That should help to slow her down and help to get her working from behind and soften.
Don't ever let anyone put you down you have a great partnership and look fab!

Sue

 

[RubysGold]

sue: It wasn't my friend putting me down, my friend was telling me I can ride, and I've been saying I can't.
I will try the exercises you suggested, thanks for the nice comments

Nickie

 

[CBAnglo]

I think you are a nice rider - the work without stirrups was better, better seat, you sat up and better leg position.

I would still class you as a novice though - a non-novice would know how to work the horse more correctly, working him from behind to lift his back and with a deeper neck carriage. You need to carry your hands more - then your horse will relax more through the jaw. At times when his back was really swinging and he was stretching forward into the contact you snatched back your hand. You need to try giving more with the hand to allow your horse to stretch down more.