picture challenge.....overbent vs correct....Dressage 101 for amateurs

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So if I could hijack slightly and pick your brains. . . . . This is my daughter and my "mum's safe hack" today.

He's never had to work in an outline before and she's never ridden a horse that works in an outline, so not a good combination. After lots of hard work and teenage hissy fits (from both of them - the black and white piccy of the giraffe is exactly like him in a mood) this is where she's got to in her lesson today.

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That is pretty spot on progress IMHO.
 
Thnak you both - that's made me very happy!

I CANNOT get my daughter to believe in herself and the horse has been so awkward for her but I thought that picture was pretty good for where they both are.

Thank you again - I wasn't sure if I'd missed something dreadful.
 
If I can ever achieve this, I will be happy...

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My horse is just NOT going to ever be and *up and in front* horse because of her conformation, so I wish to achieve the above!
 
maniscorse, I think they are making good progress, although I would probably ask her to lift her hands a little and use half halts for engagement rather than trying to hold the outline as she is at the moment (but we all ride and teach differently)
 
This is a really interesting post
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May I hijack for a mo too?
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Comments please , I won't be offended
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Thank You

p.s we are happy hackers
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What a fab thread!

I've always found it very difficult to imagine George ever working uphill and correctly with his poll at the highest point, due to his breeding and size putting him on his forhand.

Our most recent pics are beginning to show a glimmer of hope though, and I feel this was the MOST correct he's ever gone (shame I'm not on board
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Very few people I see riding, even those doing well, actually have their horse in what looks a correct outline to me, but I know now how difficult it is to achieve and so understand why.
 
I know near nothing about this, I know my coloured doesnt ride in the correct head but he is happy enough in his slightly upright look. What I could never understand is at higher levels the horses seem to be much more overbent that the horses at lower levels, its odd to me.
 
Jazz, the horse is working how it feels, you are not really *riding* him/her. More contact and more leg, you need to work the horse up from behind into your hand, but if there is no hand to be ridden into then you are never going to achieve roundness
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Lovely lovely clip - I thought the music was rather apt too
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I think part of the issue is that people believe classical dressage has become unobtainable (or perhaps it has??). Almost like its been elevated to something that a select few practice and for the rest of the mere mortals its just not possible. Thing is... there are lots of good classical riders knocking around but most keep themselves to themselves because their methods get tarred as outdated (amongst other things) so the knowledge doesn't get passed on.
 
Thank You
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This is an old photo, I think she was 5 here so it must be about 8 years ago, I must get an up to date one and compare!
 
Sam,

George is working beautifully. No, his poll isn't quite at the highest point but Georges is riding him longer to allow him to develop to be able to work up more.

Some of the rollkur advocates argue that working a horse up as per the classical ideal is too demanding on a horse's physiology... but a good classical master wont always be riding the horse up like that.

In the first pic Georges is showing a giving of the inside rein and your boy is responding. It's vitally important that people realise there comes a point where you have got to give the rein back... it's the way forwards in developing self carriage.

He's progressing beautifully and he's in very superb hands with that trainer
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So what about these?
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The bay's neck is bent slightly to the outside as he was looking at the jump cups on the side. He finds flatwork hard, mainly because he is 19 and an ex-racer who has hacked all his life untill last year. I have changed the bit (3-ring) to a loose ring french-link and he moved his entire head/neck with a simple squeeze of the rein, so changed to a hanging cheek, and I'm not too sure about bitting him anymore. How would you ask him to work from behind and come down? What exercises would you use? Or what bit?

The piebald is very green, and only goes like that when you work hard LOL! What do you think of him? What would you do to help him improve?

The skewbald dawdles an awful lot, and is very sensitive and needs constant supporting with my legs as she is forever trying to swing her quarters.
 
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Welcome to the fascinating world of competitive dressage. If you work out the answer to that one, please inform the rest of us
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this has got me wondering now - am I right in thinking that as you move up the levels, the horse's outline becomes much more collected and upright (in its appearance) ?

What sort of marks would you get if you turned up for a novice doing this (did a google search for prix st.george) Am i just being pedantic?

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Sam,

George is working beautifully. No, his poll isn't quite at the highest point but Georges is riding him longer to allow him to develop to be able to work up more.

Some of the rollkur advocates argue that working a horse up as per the classical ideal is too demanding on a horse's physiology... but a good classical master wont always be riding the horse up like that.



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That's been the biggest learning curve for me. To actually trust the forwardness to create the shape. Georges literally rides forward until G's topline lengthens and then begins to drop into an outline, then he harnessess it at THAT point.

It was amazing to finally watch very clearly a horse being ridden leg to hand - the penny dropped.

I'll try and get a video clip off the DVD of the first session we had with him. You can really see it starting to happen
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Cosmo_Sam he is LOVELY! The first pic illustrates quite a lot of perfection for me.

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*blushes*

It's very difficult for me to get my head around, as for 3 years every time anyone asked about my horse I was embarrassed to say the dressage word tbh - you could tell they thought I was stark raving mad!!
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He reminds me so much of our George, he tries so hard despite his build and goes far better than most of the horses around!!
 
KatB he is just so gorgeous! looks like he's coming on really nicely, I'll be pleased when mine will just work in a nice baby outline!
 
while we are putting up pics...sorry this one is long distance, i hadn't quite grasped zoom! late developing 7yo DalesX

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earlier this year..she has more recently progressed further and is ready to compete at novice now (showing nice self carriage when the reins are given in canter)
 
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