Critique my riding? Finally got some videos!

redcascade

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Managed to drag mum down to the stables today to get some videos of me and Red- bearing in mind the last one I got was from June time! Anyway, will post so you can have a look and maybe give me a few tips? My hands are my biggest downfall- my reins always slip and are nearly always too long etc- so today I really focused on them and did quite well I think! Then my second biggest downfall kicked in! Leaning forward- although I think if I raise my hands this may sort itself?
I don't know you tell me! :p
[youtube]r-75JZYH0V4[/youtube]
[youtube]tyx_2lTIeyw[/youtube]
And some stills
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59.jpg

61.jpg

952.jpg

4895.jpg

5926.jpg

Sorry for the overload! :)
Be as harsh as you like, I don't mind
 
I don't think your reins are too long. I hate to see really short reins. You do fix your hands a bit though and they are a little low so the nice line from elbow hand to bit is not a straight one. So relax your shoulders and hang your elbows by your side and lift your hands. That will have the effect of preventing you tipping forward too. But all in all, I think you ride very well.
 
I agree with you about my reins on these videos but usually they're terrible! :p Will definately try that, mum is going to come and film us again tomorrow so I will see if I can improve from today! I'm also having a lesson for the first time in months on Monday so hopefully that'll sort me out! :) Thanks! :D
 
Got to say - he doesn't look 100% sound - very noticeable on the right rein. Difficult to tell as the video is a bit jumpy whether it's just because he's stiff on that rein and resisting, but I noticed it straight away, adn didn't really get to look at your riding as I was staring at him.

He is lovely - my kind of horse
 
The farrier came the other day and took a bit of a nick out of his sole the other day and he was lame for a few days afterwards so probably a bit of lameness left from that. He did feel a bit funny on the first canter but seemed fine to me after that :)
 
I'm sorry to say it, OP, and I hope I'm wrong, but I'm not sure your horse is completely sound :(

It wasn't just me then that thought that?....yes not wanting to sound harsh but he did seem to be bit lame on the right rein in the 1st video...

your riding seemed ok to me....but then I can't comment my hands are dreadful lol
 
stunning horse.

I hate to say it but I'm not sure he's totally sound either. as somethingorother said, it's more apparent on the right rein but having noticed it, I'm not sure he's level on the left rein either.

As for your hands, I think if you shortened your reins, you wouldn't need to hold them so low to get the contact you're after. worth a try? you could put some white tape round where you think you should be holding.

I just noticed that you seem to flex your hands in and your wrists bend (which is what I do just before my instructor yells at me to shorten my reins!!)

You are a nice tidy rider though. I hope your horse is ok.
 
You ride him quite nicely and all in all he works well for you, but my pet hate is tipping forward!! :D

When I was young I was constantly being told 'SIT BACK' a) because if I was on a young horse, I'd be straight off if I wasn't sat down and it had a paddy, b) because your seat is of absolutely no use, if your not sitting down on your bum! You also look quite tight in the shoulders and upper back, so you dont have that softness through the elbow, bringing your hands down.

IMHO I also think that you stirrups are far to short! Pushing you back in the saddle, so you can't use your seat correctly, also making you tip. You should be sat in line with your tail bone with your bum underneath you.

Try some riding without stirrups and some riding without reins (on the lunge if you're not so brave :P)! When you aren't holding the reins, you will feel how much you are tipping forward! and when you haven't got stirrups, your butt will remain where it should be :P.

I like watching you, you ride just like my mother does! I'm going to show her the vid I think! :)

I also think, that he is quite obviously unsound, it doesn't even look like a slight lameness in the second vid, his head is moving an awful lot which gives it away. You say the farrier knicked him, do you know which foot?

Hope too see some more vids, he's a lovely animal :)
 
Nice riding, cant see anything which jumps out at me. Obviously the horse is lame (as you know) The only advice i could pass on would be feel and listen to your horse. To carry on videoing/riding you I assume you didnt realise he/she was lame. If my horse was nodding etc i would know something wasnt right and dismount straight away. Lovely horse and rider combo though, best of luck with your horses recovery :-)
 
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