How are we looking? CC *Vid*

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rachelha

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I am looking for CONSTRUCTIVE critisism on me and my horse :)
(NOT the halt/walk to canter transitions as they were just for us to have a bit of a break from working hard and i know everything about them is just awful!)
I know i sit too heavy most of the time and that i hold my hands too low and look down :(
And she is very strong so often she looks to be awkward in canter, but shes just wanting to go faster! This is slowly improving.

There is also a jump at the end, i'd like CC on that too please, we've only recently started jumping properly and she has only just turned 6!

http://youtu.be/Tv2bOBw5ZX4
 
Lovely horse with really nice paces and you ride her really nicely! From your comments about your riding I was expecting a bit of a disaster on the video to be honest, don't sell yourself so short, you ride her really well.

As for CC, loads to like, you might want to try some work without stirrups to open your hips and bring your legs back more but that's the kind of thing everyone has to work on all the time.

The walk to canter is the only thing I didn't like much to be honest. She was hollow in the halt and hollow in the canter so I am not sure if that will help her, but perhaps I am missing the point of the exercise. Sorry I don't know anything about jumping so can't comment on that!
 
Thankyou very much :)
It was just to keep her attention as she was getting bored of schooling, it was her first time doing these transitions so definitely needs a lot more work! She isnt the greatest at staying soft through transitions so i'll work on that from now on :)
 
She might enjoy some pole work, F used to really like that when he was younger. I would put 4 poles down in a square and either go over two of them in the diagonal, or circle a 10m circle around one, or do a larger circle on the outside of all of them, or weave in and out of them, etc.

She will find transitions easier as she gets stronger (she looks fab for a 6 year old though), but it might be easier on both of you if you work on walk to trot and trot to walk first, then trot to canter and canter to trot and then walk to canter, canter to walk.
 
Agree with above about lower leg, when you come to a halt you seen to push your lower leg forward and lift out of your seat, try sitting back. I also use my thigh to help to stop my boy, when i squeeze with my thigh it means slow down and balance. Also remember you need to have some leg on when you halt, this will also hopefully help with your lower leg aswell as to help stop her hollow.
I personally wouldnt be doing halt to canter just yet but concerntrate on halt to trot etc. and then do some walk to canters. Try getting her walk really active, almost like she is desperate to jog and then ask for your canter transition and will help her to bring herself under abit more rather than running into the canter.
She generally looks lovely but a little on the forehand sometimes in the trot, lifting your hands will help with this.
The jumping looked fine but was quite hard to tell when you dont have a full speed jump aswell as your slowed down video
 
Thanks for the advice :) any tricks for getting her off the forehand? she used to be REALLY bad with this but is a lot better than she was although obviously not perfect. if you lift your hands she pulls down harder :( transition work it is then :) I am going to try and get some lessons on her as think its me that needs most work!!!
 
Hi

I have to agree with the above comments. A lovely horse with a lot of potential, you also ride her very nicely.

I won't comment on the walk canter transitions as you asked us not to, so ignoring them the two thing that stuck out to me the most was your lower leg. Work without stirrups will definitely help improve this and having a better lower leg position will allow you to wrap your legs around her more and guide her outline with your posture rather than your hands, which in turn will also help lighten her together with the transition work which has already been suggested as well as by holding your hands slightly higher.

In terms of the jump it is hard to say as it was slowed down and only one to comment on. However, I'd like to see her use her neck more. Try doing lots of trotting poles, trotting into fences and doing grids to help her use herself to the best of her ability.

There is definitely a lot to like and you've done a fab job so far!! I think lessons would be a good idea and of course, what we all need, lots of work on position! Doesn't matter what level you're at, most problems can be solved by working on position!!

Good luck!

Bea
 
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