Critique my riding please...

I am not sure a lesson is what they are looking for, the constant instruction is rather off putting and I would really want to see you thinking for yourself but maybe you can cut some out and add some other things later.
cc you ride very correctly and the pony is generally going sweetly, the parts where he is rather forward really need to go.
Try and relax a little more, at times you are slightly behind the movement and your reins are too long, which your instructor never mentions even when he is going off with you she does not tell you to shorten them , it also is not helping that you frequently come round the corner in trot then ask for canter on the approach to the fence it is encouraging him to rush.
The other thing that does you and your pony no favours is the lack of poles to look at, it is harder to jump a single pole well, he would probably be a little steadier if he was approaching a more solid type of jump and you would find it easier to get more of a feel for his stride.
Anyway you are doing well and with some changes to the video should get a good mark, have a look at some of the others on youtube for ideas of what you can add, one last thing keep your left elbow in and it will be easier to get left bend.
 
You are quite a good wee rider so try not to worry too much about your gcse. The main thing for me would be to try and relax a bit more. In canter in particular you bump around in the saddle quite a bit so that would be the main thing I would recommend you work on. You might find riding without stirrups helps you to sit a bit deeper so that you don't bump as much.

Good luck with your exams ;)
 
well i think you have the makings of a super rider!

i would trot a little slower on a gentle contact, balance is everything!! don't shorten the reins, forget about the front end and allow your poney to find his own balance, no pulling back with the hands, in canter ride lots of transitions trot to canter to trot to get his back supple, again no force!! you will find his canter easier to sit to in time as it becomes less bumpy, but in canter allow him to go forward well.
 
Be positive - I don't have my own horse so only have the chance to ride in lessons, I'm not putting all of this in as I have the checklist of 'things to do' so will just be adding a minute or so of this footage for the 'jumping part' of the video (also dubbing out sound-putting music on it) He prefers to jump out of canter but if I try to canter to the diagonal fences he locks on the the fences at E or B so thats why I have to canter after the turn. Also he can be strong cantering on the flat so if I canter before turning for the jump, he can go too fast and (as there are fences at E and B) would have to jump the jump and it could be dangerous.

Lq22 - i noticed that when I watched it, didn't realise I bumped around so much! Ive got footage of me cantering no stirrups with him and Im fine but people have pointed it out to be before and said my stirrups are a bit too short and Im putting too much weight on them instead of being relaxed too.

Tristar - I'll try to work on that, sometimes in trot he is just desperate to canter and I can't manage to get him balanced in trot too well :/

I dont know what to do with my reins as I've been told to shorten them and to not shorten them! Also, I should've mentioned in the main post, that as he isnt my horse I can only really do what my instructor chooses to do in the lesson, and I dont ride him every week.

Also, this was all in a 30 minute lesson so normally my instructor would get me to do lots of circles + transitions with him but in the half hour we didn't have to time (I'm usually in a 1hr group lesson)

Thanks :D xxxx
 
I think you're a smashing little rider. Rather behind the movement at times (as Positive says), and you need to watch your diagonal.

What a lovely little horse too.
 
katie95 said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0J9nvMGXmhA (please read info box)

Need to know my main strengths and weaknesses :) Sorry its quite long, if you go about half way that's when I do a small course and at 12:25 I do a double :) first time jumping 3' !! Thanks xx
Click to expand...
He is fantastic at coming back to trot from cantering!!
If i were you, i would probably not turn then let him leap into canter when he sees the fence, try doing more circles and transitions to trot and walk, that should help with the rushing. if you shorten your stirrups and do some no-stirrup work then that might help make the canter a little less bouncy.
Im not sure, but i think behind the movement is, with you, when you trot you post to the trot a little behind his movement, or a little behind when you should be rising. Please, anyone correct me if im wrong, which i think i am...
(I'm doing a riding GCSE too, is that for PE?)
Overall, you are a fabby rider; I absolutely adore your jump position, and the horse is gorgeous and really seems to listen to you, which compliments how you ride :)
 
Ok Basically you have a very good overall jump position, however it is not that established. At times you are behind the movement - ie you upper body is behind the vertical and at other times, just in front of the fence, you get infront of the movement. To my way of teaching being behind is better than being in front, as long as you are sympathetic with your hands at all times and have your leg on. I felt your trainer tended to teach what to do but not necessarily how...... I do not know you or your trainer but if you want to pass your GCSE or more than maybe it would be worth trying some other trainers ? BHS registered or UKCC. I would have though that there are trainers out there that would be happy to help you progress. Hope that's not too honest
 
You don't have to watch, you've probs had enough of me and my long videos haha but I've almost put together nearly all of my final video now - what do you guys think? I know some of the words are out of sync , the total video is about 17 mins but maximum it would let me upload on youtube is 15 so splitting it into 2 parts messed up timings for some reason. But here you go!
Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZDehAhSnf0

Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhWFl...=youtube_gdata This is just untacking really but I think he looks cute haha :3 xxx

---------------------------------------

I've had a couple of people mention about the cantering after the turn, thats what my instructor told me to do so I couldnt really do anything different :/ but thanks :)

A lot have said Im behind the movement so I'll try and work on that :)

Jules :) no great advice thanks :) Im very happy with my instructor atm, I have 2 different ones and both are great - as this was a half hour lesson with a lot to fit in I think we were sort of just concentrating on getting the footage than properly teaching if you get me?

Normally when Im in a group jumping lesson for 1 hour I manage to get a lot more circles in etc to get control :) xxx
 
Also, dont know how much of the thread you've read - but he's a school horse so I cant really do lots of work with him regarding rushing etc xx
 
Well, I think your trot is great, and your position is good. However, your motion is rather wooden. You let the horse carry you through rather than have any say yourself. Which is fine in the school. The horse knows what to do and you allow the horse to do it without restriction. This means you can learn the bits you need to.

Your canter is stiff and hollow, yet light somehow which suggests the horse is just going through the motion, though the movement seems unrestricted. Your back is very inflexible and your hips move as one unit, whereas they should be independent.

Your jumps are very good though, they look fluid and full of confidence. Your balance is good. Perhaps if you relaxed more, it will come together. :)
 
Thanks tallyho, what do you mean by i dont really have any say myself? And how can I improve it? Thanks :D I know, i think i was just a bit nervous with the filming as im not normally as stiff as I am on here x :)
 
Hi Katie,


I only watched the first video and in general very tidy so well done. But you did ask for constructive critisism so:

1. in canter try to relax your hips and back more so you can really sit to the canter, follow the movement and "polish" the saddle with your bottom - you bounce a bit.

2. in canter try and allow / follow the movement forwards with your hands to allow the horse to go forwards.

3. Your whole leg needs to move back from the hip to bring your shoulders, hip bone and heels into line- this will help with getting behind and is a suppleness/balance pproblem- so as your lower leg gets infront of that line you will have a tendency to get behind the movement.

4. in trot try to keep a stiller hand- they move up and down as you rise so try to relax your shoulders and any tension in your elbow to elliminate this.

5. in trot try and "soften" your rise- allow the horse to throw you up then just sit back down gently- don't rise so high out of the saddle.

6. When jumping keep your eye on the fence all the way around the corner to the fence- you seam to do what most do which is turn the corner then look at the fence- need to focus on the fence all the way around the corner- NEVER take your eye off the fence- as soon as you land start looking at the next fence, better still look to the next fence when still in the air from the present one.

7. Going over the fence don't lean forwards too soon- you dump all our weight on the horses shoulders if you do and thus make it hard for the horse to leave the ground- just sit up all the way in and wait till the horse starts to jump before you fold fowards.

8. As you go over the fence allow forwards with your hands more- to allow the horse to streatch it's head and neck out - your hands are just staying still.

9. In general in walk, canter and over a fence allow/follow the movement with your hands - the horses head moves back and forwards and back so your hands must follow or you will be effectively applying the break. In trot the horses head is still so your hands should be still.

10. At times you get the horse too close to the fence - you bury it so it's harder for the horse and it wouldn't be able to jump a bigger fence from that close- looking at the fence all the way around the corner will help you judge that better with more practice.

11. I notice at you walk across the diagonal you are nagging with your heels much- don't - squeeze with the inside of your calves or nudge instead- get the pace you want and then stop nagging or the horse will become dead to the leg.

12. I also notice at times you raise your heels and scrub the horses sides to get fowards movement- always keep your heels down- it improves the security of your seat and balance- just the one nudge or squeeze and insist the horse stays in the pace you asked for. Sharpen it it with a tap of the whip if it dosen't - so you don't need to nag to keep it going. You must basically say- "I told you to go at that pace- stay at that pace till I tell you to do something else" - tricky if this is not your pony but try.

13. To land on the correct canter lead for the next fence tell the horse by looking in the direction you plan to go after you land whilst still in the air- this action will slightly shift your weight to that side and the horse will know what the plan is and should with practice land on the desired leg.

14. Sometimes you have a slight tendancy to hollow your back and push your bottom out behind you- sit on your seat bones and keep a straight back- heels in line with your hip bone and shoulders- you will feel like you need to be a contortionist but with practice your body will learn.

In general very well done. I was nit picking but if I was teaching you that is what I would be saying to help you improve and get even better.

Hope that helps.
 
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