I thought we had good session then I saw the pictures! CC please!

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Sunny08

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My horse is 4 years old, been broken since april and she is a really nice girl. She always tries and I am really pleased with her. I thought we had a really good schooling session today, she felt like she was working from behind, rounding down... etc. I do have remind her constantly of what to do but only in a 'she is a baby way'! How do you think she looks for her age?

What I am depressed about is my riding in these pictures! It seems to have totally gone to pot and I am concentrating so hard on her my riding is terrible. Can anyone cc the following pictures for me (both me and my horse!)? I know I have curled my wrists in, and my weight is to far forwards. I need to work on my position. I am riding her in a 16in close contact jumping saddle, as it fit really well but looking at the pictures I don't think it is helping and I need to get a 17in GP saddle instead?

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2660322&l=ac0e987cc9&id=707351492

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2660319&l=1c1e56ccd5&id=707351492

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2660320&l=0780815960&id=707351492

P.S. Please ignore the wrong trousers!
 
I personally don't think you look bad at all!
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Love your horse!
 
I don't feel in a position to CC but I'd like to say I can sympathise! I know how you feel. I also have a 4yo and I too find that I'm concentrating so hard on working on him that I forget about me! I feel like saying to everyone going past 'ignore me! I can ride really, I'm just having a blip'
 
Well, you can't be doing much wrong as your horsey looks like she is going very nicely, especially for her age.
To be hyper-critical (and i know bog all so feel free to ignore me) I think that you could do with another inch on your saddle. I think your mare is quite short coupled, so i would get a fitter up to have a look.
Your arms seem to come out away from your side (i do it too)
you need more bend in your arms and keep them closer to your side. turn your hands over so your thumb is on top.
Hard to see from a couple of stills, but i think you are being a bit hard on yourself, I think you look like a nice quiet rider.you have her looking lovely. Very pretty wee horse. What are your plans for her.
 
It really got me down earlier as I used to be complimented on my position and it seems to have gone to pot. But yes I agree I totally concentrate on her and you find yourself opening up your hans further than you would normally or giving your hands etc to help them as they are babies. In all the photos you can see I am loking down at her which is tippng me forwards!

P.S. Thanks littlesoph that makes me feel mch better!!!
 
Thanks chestnuttymare I have brought her on since a two year old with a vague hope of low level eventing or show jumping. To be honest as lon as she is happy, healthy and we are doing our best I am not that fussed - though secretly I would love to get to pre-novice BE and she has an amazing jump!
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Well she is lovely, I am sure you will go far together. I agree with you, as long as they are happy and you are both enjoying it all, then that is the main thing. Good luck with her.
 
Very nice horse, I think you are being very hard on yourself, she is going nicely and looks happy and relaxed.

These exercises are useful if you have no one to watch your position (apologies if you already know them
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1. Feet out of the stirrups, both legs in front of the saddle up on the shoulders, you can really feel your seat bones in the saddle, grab underneath of thigh and bring each leg out and back and down. Seat is nicely tucked under and thigh flat and leg dropped.
2. Rotate lower leg away and back keep toe pointing forward (clockwise for right leg, anti for left) so everything is wrapped round the horse.

3. Stick your schooling whip up perfectly straight behind you from the saddle and try to bring as much of your spine into contact with the whip. Close shoulder blades round whip. Hat touches the whip (chin in). Head is carried on a neck that is 'stacked up' rather than dropped forward (watch that chin!).

3. Circle arm back and just let it hang, bring lower arm up to take the rein - straight line down the outside of your arm, elbow, wrist, rein. Watch for breaking at the wrist. thumbs carried on top with a schooling whip under them if they are really naughty.

In picture one and three your shoulders are following the horse's shoulders well. However, picture two your inside shoulder has come forward and is no longer aligned with the horse's, you could be compensating for a wobble or a bit of falling in maybe? Quite a lot of bad habits are picked up when the rider tries to help the horse by easing their position when in truth that is exactly the moment when you have to keep the correct alignment and say to the horse "come on, pick me up and carry me" (if that makes sense).

Long reply
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It would cheer you up if you could see my riding today
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Sorry I can't see the pics but do make sure that you're not to hard on yourself - I have always been tld concentrate on getting your horse going well first, then worry about yourself
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Lovely ned hun and going beautifully. You asked for comments: something odd is happening with your elbows and wrists. Try to think of your arms as extensions of the reins (or vice versa). Let your elbows hang softly at your sides and you should then have a straight line elbow->wrist->reins -> horse's mouth. And your thumbs should be on top of the reins. Only teensy things hun and you aren't interfering with her way of going - it will just give you a more elastic contact with ned's mouth xxx
 
you don't look too bad at all!

probably the only thing i would say is it looks like you are trying to have nice soft hands (which is right!) but you are doing it by opening your fingers and opening all of the angles in your arms.

you need to try and drop your elbows and hold your hands proudly in front off you with closed fingers- a good (but rude) analogy my old instructor had for open fingers was that i looked like a virgin holding a pair of willies!
 
You both look lovely.

I think you just need to 'thrust the bust', which will bring your shoulders and elbows back, you already know about the handlebar hands!

Also, try not to look down!

Anyway on a 4 year old its more important to sit quietly and stay soft and balanced. Your obviously doing this as she is looking lovely.
 
Firstly.......LOVING the girl, she's gorgeous
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Secondly....welcome to my world. Currently schooling/bringing on a very 'laid back' (i.e. comatose) and green 13.3hh Highland for my daughter.

Nil out of 10 for style ( me) but ponio coming on nicely and thats the main thing.....
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