Orangehorse
Well-Known Member
I had a very pleasant 3 days at Chatsworth last weekend and watched a lot of dressage, show jumping and showing, as well as the cross country course.
My conculsion is that successful riders simply ride better than the rest!
I could almost tell when a rider came into the ring whether or not they would jump clear round show jumping or not (I know, I know, it is so easy to be an armchair rider). I also studied the very best riders warming up for the dressage. Their body position is better, how they hold their hands and keep them still, the bent elbows, the way the horses are going comes from the rider.
One horse was warming up, it was very tense and fighting the bit - the rider's arms were completely straight and tight and their body position was slightly tipped forward. Presumably these riders are getting regular instruction, so why isn't this corrected? Others were trotting round with their hands going up and down, up and down - I can assure you that Mark Todd doesn't do that! Overall, the male riders were making a better job than the majority of the women, is that because they have better core strength naturally?
I am now going to retreat behind the sofa, as I will get a lot of flack, no doubt.
My conculsion is that successful riders simply ride better than the rest!
I could almost tell when a rider came into the ring whether or not they would jump clear round show jumping or not (I know, I know, it is so easy to be an armchair rider). I also studied the very best riders warming up for the dressage. Their body position is better, how they hold their hands and keep them still, the bent elbows, the way the horses are going comes from the rider.
One horse was warming up, it was very tense and fighting the bit - the rider's arms were completely straight and tight and their body position was slightly tipped forward. Presumably these riders are getting regular instruction, so why isn't this corrected? Others were trotting round with their hands going up and down, up and down - I can assure you that Mark Todd doesn't do that! Overall, the male riders were making a better job than the majority of the women, is that because they have better core strength naturally?
I am now going to retreat behind the sofa, as I will get a lot of flack, no doubt.