New Andy Video- CC please :)

Kokopelli

Kokopelli

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It was raining, yuck! And as I can't ride in coats I just had to get soaked :p

After watching the video I just want to scream at myself to shorten my reins and carry my hands better! Literally the whole video they are way to long.

I think he seems a lot more relaxed and he's getting to the point that I can put my leg on and it doesn't always mean go faster which is making riding him a lot more fun :)

[youtube]2hnfvVz2RyA[/youtube]

Be brutally honest please, I do need a good kick up the a$$ :o
 
Dammit. I have uninstalled flash or something which I need to watch vids. Does anyone know what plug in I need for youtube videos. I really want to look Koko but I can't!
 
I don't know anything about him but would say he looks lazy and like he doesn't really work through from behind. If he were mine I would be looking to do exercises to get him using his back and quarters more and softening into a contact as he is hollow. Lots of spiralling circles, leg yielding and transitions.
 
As you said - reins shorter, hands higher. If you think of the dressage pyramid, I would agree that he seems relaxed enough now, as his footfalls are regular and there's no hurrying. So with an improved contact from the hands and reins thing, you can now work on impulsion. So all good :).

If my RI were commenting, you'd get that you need a straight line: ear, hip, heel (not easy!!!), keep your lower leg still and your hands too. But I can't comment as I can't always do all that!
 
From my point of view, he isn't going forwards, so you need to push using your legs to get him into the contact more. As you say your reins are too long, well actually they just lack consistant contact. I think you could do with putting your stirrups up a hole, as your lower leg isn't as effective as it should be right now. Strength in your leg will improve over time, but you can't use your legs when reaching for the peddles so to speak. During rising trot, it is his trot push that lifts you up, looks like your trying to hard to rise.
A tip I find useful is, if a horses ears are foward and he is looking about, he is not listening to you but when his ears drop out sideways he is. I always try to end my schooling sessions when my horse is listening if nothing else!! You will always need to use more leg than you think too!
Also, just a deceptive note - the clip you have given him, gives me the look that his back end is weak and his tail is tucked in. He has a lovely swing through his tail, so it really is just the 'look'. I would correct it by lifting up the line so it finishes straight to his bum, not a downhill slope. Does that make sense? Of course that is only consmetic, but it may just give a better over all appearance.

You look like a good partnership so soon after Koko and Iam sure you will do well this year. All the best.
 
sugar plum fairy said:
I agree with you about the reigns and your hands.

He is lovely, and the surrounding countryside looks way more interesting than boring old Lincoln :)
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Its much nicer when its not covered in rain :p I must remember when I next ride about the reins and hands

jesstickle said:
It's a chrome thing. I am in explorer now so can watch. I won't CC you though because you ride better than me!
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That just went over my head- considering my dad works with computers I'm rather useless :p

Pigs in Blankets said:
I don't know anything about him but would say he looks lazy and like he doesn't really work through from behind. If he were mine I would be looking to do exercises to get him using his back and quarters more and softening into a contact as he is hollow. Lots of spiralling circles, leg yielding and transitions.
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He's an ex- pony racer and has been turned away for a while so brining him back into work. He doesn't use back end very well, partly because he has no muscle but were working on that aswell. Thank you :)

mystiandsunny said:
As you said - reins shorter, hands higher. If you think of the dressage pyramid, I would agree that he seems relaxed enough now, as his footfalls are regular and there's no hurrying. So with an improved contact from the hands and reins thing, you can now work on impulsion. So all good :).

If my RI were commenting, you'd get that you need a straight line: ear, hip, heel (not easy!!!), keep your lower leg still and your hands too. But I can't comment as I can't always do all that!
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For some reason I can do it in lessons but on my own I go all scruffy and look a mess, doesn't help I haven't had a lesson for 2 weeks due to snow :p He does seem to go better when I'm not being an idiot rider :o
 
All Gone Crackers said:
From my point of view, he isn't going forwards, so you need to push using your legs to get him into the contact more. As you say your reins are too long, well actually they just lack consistant contact. I think you could do with putting your stirrups up a hole, as your lower leg isn't as effective as it should be right now. Strength in your leg will improve over time, but you can't use your legs when reaching for the peddles so to speak. During rising trot, it is his trot push that lifts you up, looks like your trying to hard to rise.
A tip I find useful is, if a horses ears are foward and he is looking about, he is not listening to you but when his ears drop out sideways he is. I always try to end my schooling sessions when my horse is listening if nothing else!! You will always need to use more leg than you think too!
Also, just a deceptive note - the clip you have given him, gives me the look that his back end is weak and his tail is tucked in. He has a lovely swing through his tail, so it really is just the 'look'. I would correct it by lifting up the line so it finishes straight to his bum, not a downhill slope. Does that make sense? Of course that is only consmetic, but it may just give a better over all appearance.

You look like a good partnership so soon after Koko and Iam sure you will do well this year. All the best.
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I'm awful at clipping might get the RI to come and fix it :p
I know what you mean about the looking around, but will put the stirrups up see how it goes. Is there anything I can do to improve the strength in my leg?
 
I'm guessing right bend is a bit tricky? He isn't really working currently, looks like he has sussed the level of effort required and is doing bare minimum! To start to develop some correct muscle you need to have him a lot more up together and actively forwards. Good luck :)
 
Kokopelli said:
I'm awful at clipping might get the RI to come and fix it :p
I know what you mean about the looking around, but will put the stirrups up see how it goes. Is there anything I can do to improve the strength in my leg?
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Aside from running up and down stairs - just lots of practice! You have to imagin that you have a tube of toothpaste between your legs, you squeeze his sides to get the paste out! If he isn't listening, you kick, just once and if that doesn't work back your leg up with 1 tap - where your leg goes. With some, you only have to carry a schooling whip to get desired effects, so for a while it may be trial and error. When you get the contact it may feel like he is leaning on your hands. Don't panic about that.
Keep having a few lessons and it will be a piece of cake!!
 
I've got the wrong glasses on, but you've taken the flash off haven't you? Did you feel he was OK without it?
I think your rein contact is a little inconsistent, but I would be wary about taking up too much rein when you don't have the activity driving you forward from behind yet. I'm not sure if the reins would look so long if he started to drop down into a nice naturally relaxed contact. He's a little bit hollow at the moment. I think you may also be feeling the need to push him on with your legs at every stride? It would be nice to get that sorted.
If you decide to try another instructor send me a pm, I have quite a few friends in Gloucester and Hereford and might be able to suggest someone to give you a different angle on things. I think you'd benefit from some work on your position as well, maybe with someone who does Alexander training for riders.
Looking pretty good though, you're still new to each other yet.
 
TheMule said:
I'm guessing right bend is a bit tricky? He isn't really working currently, looks like he has sussed the level of effort required and is doing bare minimum! To start to develop some correct muscle you need to have him a lot more up together and actively forwards. Good luck :)
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Any kind of bend is a bit tricky, were working on it though :o He is a bit too smart at times and just knows what to do to get out of it, I'll start carrying a whip with me because today he just didn't feel off my leg today, thank you :)

All Gone Crackers said:
Aside from running up and down stairs - just lots of practice! You have to imagin that you have a tube of toothpaste between your legs, you squeeze his sides to get the paste out! If he isn't listening, you kick, just once and if that doesn't work back your leg up with 1 tap - where your leg goes. With some, you only have to carry a schooling whip to get desired effects, so for a while it may be trial and error. When you get the contact it may feel like he is leaning on your hands. Don't panic about that.
Keep having a few lessons and it will be a piece of cake!!
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Thank you, now hopefuly the snow is gone I can have more regular lessons as we definatly need them. I have a gym membership, maybe I should start going :p

Tinypony said:
I've got the wrong glasses on, but you've taken the flash off haven't you? Did you feel he was OK without it?
I think your rein contact is a little inconsistent, but I would be wary about taking up too much rein when you don't have the activity driving you forward from behind yet. I'm not sure if the reins would look so long if he started to drop down into a nice naturally relaxed contact. He's a little bit hollow at the moment. I think you may also be feeling the need to push him on with your legs at every stride? It would be nice to get that sorted.
If you decide to try another instructor send me a pm, I have quite a few friends in Gloucester and Hereford and might be able to suggest someone to give you a different angle on things. I think you'd benefit from some work on your position as well, maybe with someone who does Alexander training for riders.
Looking pretty good though, you're still new to each other yet.
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Yeah took the flash off, he seems the same without it tbh so just going to leave it off. Today I felt that I was having to use a lot of leg whereas normally he isn't like that it may have been the rain but not sure. I'm booked in for some lunge lessons in a few weeks for my position, its a bit rubbish :p
 
It looks like your lower left leg seems to be moving more than the right. If you have a wii, it works wonders at helping you find the 'centre of gravity' - not that I really bother with it anymore!

Each time you pass the camera you seem to be looking down rather than forward - not sure if it's just because you're camera shy though ;)
 
He definately looks much better than the last video you posted, he looks more relaxed and is starting to drop into an outline now, can't wait to see what he looks like when spring comes :)
 
LaurenM said:
It looks like your lower left leg seems to be moving more than the right. If you have a wii, it works wonders at helping you find the 'centre of gravity' - not that I really bother with it anymore!

Each time you pass the camera you seem to be looking down rather than forward - not sure if it's just because you're camera shy though ;)
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I seem to look down a lot when I concentrate so when I'm concentrating to much when I ride I look down. Another thing I need someone on the ground shouting at me to do :o I used to have a wii but never used it so gave it to my sister, but may start going to the gym and build up my core strength :)

redcascade said:
He definately looks much better than the last video you posted, he looks more relaxed and is starting to drop into an outline now, can't wait to see what he looks like when spring comes :)
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Hopefully he will resemble a horse and not a camel by then :D
 
I think you and him look great together. I have two ex-racers and to be honest, I would carry on as you're doing - don't rush him. He has lovely rhythmical paces and looks to be an uphill sort of horse which is far better than one digging for Australia! I wouldn't push him too much into a contact yet - let him find it himself - basically just as you're doing already! I think do have done what you have done with an ex-racer in such a short space of time is fantastic. Well Done!
 
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