How are we looking???

[Roasted Chestnuts]

Ok well I schooled Kia tonight as we have stressage at greenfields a week tomorrow and he has been very good of late!! He does have a tendency to go over bent but is very light when doing it hes just evading the wee swine lol!!!

Any tips welcome!! Am just lengthening my stirrups bit my bit so excuse me feet not used to them so long but feel more secure in my seat

Trotting excuse the fuzziness it was a funny time of night to me using the camera and i made everything blurry :

Cantering this has been our bugbear for a while but we seem to be getting better!!!

Nikki xxx

 

[Peacelily]

I think firstly - what a lovely little horse

I would like to see him using his hind quarters more to bring his back round and will lighten him through his shoulder and not just in his mouth - you say he goes to light and evades the bit - having more from behind would hopefully see him come more into your hands and develop a better connection with you - I think the nicest picture where this is coming is picture 8.

It would be nice to your weight a little more central by fetching your legs more underneath your body - this will also help when you're asking him to work more from behind as you won't get in front of the action so much and should feel like you can drive him forward more.

Your hand position is good but looks a little stiff through your shoulders and elbows - even though they're in a nice position! do you find you get quite tense? The same applies for your back and hips - good position but will benefit from relaxing a little more -

But a very pleaseing picture you two look like you work well together

I look forward to more pictures

 

[Paint it Lucky]

What a nice horse!

I agree with Peacelily. He is working nicely, but to get even better you want to try and get him back on his hocks more and really engaging his backend. Try doing lots of lateral work in trot and gradually make him collect more as he gets stronger. Also try to do lots of different movements to really get him focusing on you and concentrate on keeping impulsion round smaller turns like turns onto the centre line and ten metre circles. He looks very willing and sweet, I'm sure you will do well in your dressage comp!

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

Thank you very much for the lovley comments.

I'm taking all advice on board to try and improve our performance

Kia does twist the head to get out of bending its something we are working on.

I had surgery not that long ago on my back and I find that sometimes I do get tenser especially when kia plays up. Strange I have never really noticed till now!!

Anything else helpful is more than welcome!!

Nikki xxx