Help please :)

I am not a dressage expert but do coach a couple of people SJ several points just from watching and do bear in mind I wasn't there and it is difficult to see from a video.

Firstly, I am not a personal lover of flash nosebands,to me it seemed tight on the horse and if the noseband is too tight, then your bit will not be effective and it is quite possible for the horse to be resisting the noseband so check the fit.

She is tense through her back and neck, hence the head tossing when she is meant to be doing free walk.

To me your hands seemed a little high in parts, this will have a different effect on the bit and will act on the corners rather than bars of the mouth which could again cause resistance. She looks to be evading the contact by being slightly behind the movement her hocks are'nt coming under as much as you would expect.

This is just my opinion, you have a lovely horse who is doing very well so keep up the good work.:)
 
I too am no good with this type of thing and was watching it thinking one day my boy will be able to do a test as good as you tee hee
Here's a bump anyway
k
 
I have to disagree that your hands were too high! I would actually have liked to see your hands a bit higher, with more bend at the elbow, they did look a bit straight to me. Overall a very nice picture. I find the instruction 'carry your hands as if you are carrying two coffee cups' useful. A dressage instructor I know has people carrying a tray with two glasses on while they are on a mechanical horse and you must not spill :D
 
I agree with YorksG (?) I often use the two cups visualisation, but I say tea! I found it a rather pleasant test, room for improvement, but far from a disaster, and as there is no such thing as perfect I hope you were pleased with it.
As for suggestions, I would see if you can get a few lunge lessons so you can think about you, whip those pedals away to get a deeper seat, longer leg, then to finish your torture, go hands free and get your hands as independent as you can. No matter how good a rider you are a good lunge does your riding wonders, well I think so!
 
Thanks to all those that replied :)

Irishlife - interesting you mentioned the flash, it is actually loose when he has his jaw relaxed and then only comes into action when he starts to open his jaw, when it becomes tight, maybe he is resisting this action? I will try holding my hands a bit lower, I have a left hand with a mind of its own which is why i hold them that bit higher, so I can keep checking that they are level :) I am finding it very difficult to keep him soft through his back in his walk, he is definately a lot better than it was but still a long way to go! :)
Thank you :)

Yorksg - That is fast becoming another bad habit of mine! I spend so long concentrating on my hands that I forget about my elbows; I am going to write "elbows" on my forearms to remind myself :) lol with the tray! I ride sometimes with a piece of cane between my hands, to keep them level :) Will try that again :)

Oscar162 - thank you, I was pleased with it, lots of room for improvement but I am getting there slowly :) Will see if YO will give me a lunge or long rein :) I do tend to ride without stirrups as well if I am on my own, so keep going with that :)

Thanks all :)

Must also say that at the moment I only ride him the day before an event as am at uni! :p
 
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