derbydevil
Well-Known Member
Just wondering what people think of my position and how I look on Bobby. Only been riding/sharing him for a couple of weeks so we're still gettin to know each other.
Opinions please...
- Thread starter derbydevil
- Start date
soph21
Well-Known Member
you look fine, but your reins are like washing lines!!
sorry just had to say that!! i get told that all the time!!!
sorry just had to say that!! i get told that all the time!!!
Rockchick_uk
Well-Known Member
tighten those reins and heals down!!!!!
LOL he looks lovely.
x
LOL he looks lovely.
x
Smash
Well-Known Member
Shorten reins, keep your elbows bent, lengthen stirrups and get those heels down!
derbydevil
Well-Known Member
We tend to amble along the lanes on the rein buckle (naughty i know!).
Heels need lead weights or glue to get them to go down!!! Maybe stirrups down would help?
Heels need lead weights or glue to get them to go down!!! Maybe stirrups down would help?
Fantasy_World
Well-Known Member
He looks really sweet
wish our cob was that laid back though could do with someone to come and ride him and help reschool him any takers?
Your reins look fine to me though. If you're ambling along and the road is quiet there is no need to have them pulling at the horse's mouth in my opinion.
I can't ride that long with my lad though because he is so long in the neck and even with extra full reins there is not much to spare. Did try those western ones but they were too long though so can't win lol.
Only criticism I have and please don't take personally is that your stirrups look way too short unless you are going jumping lol.
I think I am correct in saying this forgive me if I am wrong but isnt the top of the stirrup meant to be level with your ankle bone when you relax your foot down out of the stirrups?
Or another way to get the length I find this the better option and dead easy. When you let them down before you get on make sure the stirrup will fit under your armpit. Keep your arm straight and reach out towards the saddle. Grab the stirrup with your other hand and pull it so that the bottom end of it touches under your armpit. If it won't then let them down a few holes until it will.
I think I read somewhere that your arms are meant to be the same length as your legs or something like that again I could be wrong and may be wrong, half right or waffling lol.
Anyway give it a try and see how you get on and you should find it works great and your position will be better and you will be able to get your heels down too.
Good luck
Cazx
Your reins look fine to me though. If you're ambling along and the road is quiet there is no need to have them pulling at the horse's mouth in my opinion.
I can't ride that long with my lad though because he is so long in the neck and even with extra full reins there is not much to spare. Did try those western ones but they were too long though so can't win lol.
Only criticism I have and please don't take personally is that your stirrups look way too short unless you are going jumping lol.
I think I am correct in saying this forgive me if I am wrong but isnt the top of the stirrup meant to be level with your ankle bone when you relax your foot down out of the stirrups?
Or another way to get the length I find this the better option and dead easy. When you let them down before you get on make sure the stirrup will fit under your armpit. Keep your arm straight and reach out towards the saddle. Grab the stirrup with your other hand and pull it so that the bottom end of it touches under your armpit. If it won't then let them down a few holes until it will.
I think I read somewhere that your arms are meant to be the same length as your legs or something like that again I could be wrong and may be wrong, half right or waffling lol.
Anyway give it a try and see how you get on and you should find it works great and your position will be better and you will be able to get your heels down too.
Good luck
Cazx
Molineux
Well-Known Member
I would say your top half is fab, your lower leg needs to be longer so I would go down a few holes.
You seem to be at jumping length - as you lower your leg you will find it easier to put your heal down.
Your reins just need a little more contact in the mouth, but apart from that I think you both look great.
Lovely horse
Also riding in wellies will damage your saddle
You seem to be at jumping length - as you lower your leg you will find it easier to put your heal down.
Your reins just need a little more contact in the mouth, but apart from that I think you both look great.
Lovely horse
Also riding in wellies will damage your saddle
the watcher
Well-Known Member
Lovely cob, and you look very happy together.
As with everybody else who has commented on your legs, I agree you look as if you are riding a little short, but the shortness is from your hip to your knee and you need to lengthen from the hip - that will also help to level out your feet.
As for the loose rein, I don't have a view on that since I learned to ride western before I ever rode english style so I always ride with a loose rein - as long as you can take control it isn't a problem. You could bend your arms a little and take your elbow back, that would help to keep you balanced and central in the saddle, you could then take up a little more rein if you wish to appear more 'correct', but still have the scope to stretch forward and give.
The main thing is to have fun. As long as you are safe and in control everything else is just finesse.
As with everybody else who has commented on your legs, I agree you look as if you are riding a little short, but the shortness is from your hip to your knee and you need to lengthen from the hip - that will also help to level out your feet.
As for the loose rein, I don't have a view on that since I learned to ride western before I ever rode english style so I always ride with a loose rein - as long as you can take control it isn't a problem. You could bend your arms a little and take your elbow back, that would help to keep you balanced and central in the saddle, you could then take up a little more rein if you wish to appear more 'correct', but still have the scope to stretch forward and give.
The main thing is to have fun. As long as you are safe and in control everything else is just finesse.
JM07
Well-Known Member
shorten your reins/bend your elbows/lengthen stirrups a little
apart from that, you both look relaxed and enjoying things!!
apart from that, you both look relaxed and enjoying things!!
Cahill
Well-Known Member
dangle your legs down as long as poss and the bottom of your stirrup should bang on your ankle bone.thats a good starting point.
saddle looks a little small.
him nice,how big is he?
saddle looks a little small.
him nice,how big is he?
flyingfeet
Well-Known Member
Not heels down everyone - try and point your toes up instead! This creates less tension in the muscles than forcing heels down.
Buy some proper boots though, as you have no support on your ankles!
Buy some proper boots though, as you have no support on your ankles!
Weezy
Well-Known Member
I think you are gripping with your thigh and knee and this is drawing your lower leg and heel up. I agree with CotswoldSJ, its toes up rather than heels down, just sit with your eyes closed in a secure place (someone can hold the horse) and try and relax and imagine your body sinking down through the leg and ultimately the heel without pushing the leg into that position...you are aiming to plug yourself into the horse so to speak, so you need to have a relaxed leg that falls away from your hip around the horse (SO much easier said than done!)
However you pass one test with 100% - look up and forwards
Your head is set perfectly, relaxed, carried and forward.
However you pass one test with 100% - look up and forwards
Ravenwood
Well-Known Member
Your horse looks a really genuine and happy sort.
Is there any chance you could try some different saddles? It doesn't look like this one fits you very well. Perhaps one that is longer in the seat and a better shape to fit your legs, although it does look as if you are kicking him on in the picture, your knee is a bit too high.
Is there any chance you could try some different saddles? It doesn't look like this one fits you very well. Perhaps one that is longer in the seat and a better shape to fit your legs, although it does look as if you are kicking him on in the picture, your knee is a bit too high.
Gentle_Warrior
Well-Known Member
you look good, just a few little pointers.
Heels down, lower your stirrups by a hole or to,
have a bend in the elbows
have a contact on the reins
and thumbs on top
not that I can talk !!!!!
Heels down, lower your stirrups by a hole or to,
have a bend in the elbows
have a contact on the reins
and thumbs on top
not that I can talk !!!!!
sallypops
Well-Known Member
i agree with cahill and ravenwood see if you can find a better fittin saddle for yourself it'll help your position and you will feel more relaxed and just basically the same as everyone else toe up heels down bend your elbows, reins i am a bit bad for riding at buckle end on hacks lol! lovely horse btw!! have fun!!
482739
Well-Known Member
lovely lovely horse
derbydevil
Well-Known Member
He's 15.1hh and as round as a barrell!!! and i'm 5'2"
Have lengthened my stirrups one hole today and felt much more secure - thanks guys!
Can't change saddle as i'm sharing him so it's not upto me!
Footwear is a problem! I know i should ride in joddy boots as i cannot find a pair of longs boots wide enough to fit! But i do think i look silly in joddy boots
Have lengthened my stirrups one hole today and felt much more secure - thanks guys!
Can't change saddle as i'm sharing him so it's not upto me!
Footwear is a problem! I know i should ride in joddy boots as i cannot find a pair of longs boots wide enough to fit! But i do think i look silly in joddy boots
Capriole
Well-Known Member
wear some chaps with jod boots then you wont feel silly