Desperate for some constructive criticism - please be gentle with me!!

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millreef

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Thanks for reading this post because I'm due to take my stage 2 riding in two weeks time and I'm panicking. I've been working as hard as I can for three months on this exam and I have two video's I would really appreciate you looking at. The first was taken in March and the second taken this week. Can you see any progress??
I'm an older rider and work full-time in a "proper job", so I can only get out to the stables after work or at weekends. I've been riding three to four times a week.
Please just let me know;
1) Can you see any improvement?
2) Do you think it's BHS stage 2 standard?
3) Is there anything I can do to improve before my exam on 17th May?

First video is here -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzs_mFEm2EU
Second one is here -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofB_pivoK78

Obviously I'm the lady rider with the blue body protector

A packet of Monster Munch Pickled Onion crisps for anyone getting this far:)
 
In answer to question 1, a massive YES! Your seat and balance are much improved. I'm really am no expert, but can see a few points that my instructor would comment on, if it were me riding.... keep your head up, and lift hands slightly and keep a bend in the elbow to give a straight line bit/rein/hand/elbow. I carry my hands too low with straight arms..... but have no idea about exams. Well done though!
 
i have mine on the 25th im nervous!! studying my ass off, i hope i can remember all the theory!!
you look good to me :) only thing i would say is shorter reins and hands a bit more forward they like correct riding remember lol but i think you should be good!!!
good luck!!
 
There is definitely an improvement... You are sitting much deeper in your seat rather than being slightly perched on top which appears to be tipping your forwards in your first video. Your aids are less noticeable in the 2nd video and your hands are much quieter and your elbows more flexible...

Its a very good improvement... Well done you :)
 
That's a massive improvement! Agree you need a little more contact with the reins and your feet are pointing a bit east and west but you should be fine. Best of luck.
 
Crazydancer said:
In answer to question 1, a massive YES! Your seat and balance are much improved. I'm really am no expert, but can see a few points that my instructor would comment on, if it were me riding.... keep your head up, and lift hands slightly and keep a bend in the elbow to give a straight line bit/rein/hand/elbow. I carry my hands too low with straight arms..... but have no idea about exams. Well done though!
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Thanks jeeve - and Crazydancer I agree with your comments because that is what my instructors keep shouting!

Dandycandy said:
i have mine on the 25th im nervous!! studying my ass off, i hope i can remember all the theory!!
you look good to me :) only thing i would say is shorter reins and hands a bit more forward they like correct riding remember lol but i think you should be good!!!
good luck!!
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I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you - I did my theory 22 years ago!
 
lea840 said:
There is definitely an improvement... You are sitting much deeper in your seat rather than being slightly perched on top which appears to be tipping your forwards in your first video. Your aids are less noticeable in the 2nd video and your hands are much quieter and your elbows more flexible...

Its a very good improvement... Well done you :)
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Thank-you I really appreciate it. I actually cried during this later lesson because I was so frustrated with my riding and it wasn't until i compared it that I thought it was different. The tipping forward thing was helped by some comments on a previous post.

Slightly Foxed said:
That's a massive improvement! Agree you need a little more contact with the reins and your feet are pointing a bit east and west but you should be fine. Best of luck.
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Do you think they will pick up on this? Is it a sin for the Stage 2? I know I do it but I really need to stop -it's just retraining myself everytime.
 
I f i was your instructor i would be very proud of you, your seat is 10x better. your softer through not only your hip and back but your leg. Keep up the good work, enjoy your stage 2. On the flat i don't think you will have a problem, have you a video of your jumping?:)
 
The horse in the second video has draw reins on tho, hence the better outline than the horse in the first video. I certainly wouldnt advise riding in draw reins to practice for your stage two. However your position is definitely better and you are sitting deeper in to the saddle. Make sure you look up and your reins are short enough with your hands slightly more forwards.
 
frustrated said:
I f i was your instructor i would be very proud of you, your seat is 10x better. your softer through not only your hip and back but your leg. Keep up the good work, enjoy your stage 2. On the flat i don't think you will have a problem, have you a video of your jumping?:)
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Thank you so much - here is a video of my jumping but it's a couple of weeks old. Since then I've done a course of 9 jumps a couple of times.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGst5h97XV8

Tempi- thanks for the feedback too. I agree that draw reins shouldn't be used but it's company policy at this particular riding school (they had a lot of German instructors and it's a legacy of that I think).
 
The improvement is amazing. I remember you first posting about it and was very interested because one of the people I teach has the same problem with canter and I seemed to be getting nowhere helping her to improve. Can you say what bit of advice/instruction helped you the most? Or was it just down to practice?
 
You look loads better, well done! I would just say keep your hands up and forwards more, as well as still, you still look to be wiggling the bit from side to side a lot, though less apparent in the second video coz of the draw reins, i suspect once they're off the wiggling gets more noticeable again. Good luck!
 
Wagtail said:
The improvement is amazing. I remember you first posting about it and was very interested because one of the people I teach has the same problem with canter and I seemed to be getting nowhere helping her to improve. Can you say what bit of advice/instruction helped you the most? Or was it just down to practice?
Click to expand...

Yes I remember you saying! I got a book called 100 common faults and how to improve them (Or something like this), I sit on the saddle at the start of the ride and pull both my legs away from my saddle so that my bum goes underneath. I then ride in this position and if I feel I'm rocking again I reposition myself. I also got my son to film me and when I look at the video I can see what I'm doing wrong. I must say though, I did work incredibly hard. It's cost me a fortune!

PonyIAmNotFood said:
You look loads better, well done! I would just say keep your hands up and forwards more, as well as still, you still look to be wiggling the bit from side to side a lot, though less apparent in the second video coz of the draw reins, i suspect once they're off the wiggling gets more noticeable again. Good luck!
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Thanks - Gosh you lot are really spot on! Everything you and the others have said have been things which my instructors are constantly telling me. I really need to remember them when I ride.
 
Your jumping is looking good. I would like to say though that i would like you sitting up more between fences, and make sure you look up not just over the fence but after, look for next fence straight away and keep your eyes on it. GOOD LUCK let every one know how it goes:)
 
Chalk and cheese from one to two... so much better The one thing that stuck out to me is turn your toes in!!

Good luck with your exams...

BnBx
 
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