The horrid ones second attempt at prelim stressage.

[Abbeygale]

It really did make for exhausting viewing TBH. He looks unfit and bored. I actually feel sorry for your pony as I don't think either of you could have really enjoyed that experience. Going against the grain

Really dont want to say this but i agree, he looks tense and quite unhappy! If he was fitter you would both find it a lot easier and he would be a lot more elastic

TBH having watched it a second time, he doesnt look particularly sound at times :S there is no impulsion and he is very behind your aids. There is potential for a veyr nuce horse but i think perheps get him a little sharper off your aids first.

Really not trying to come across as mean here, honest to god. But unfortunately i do agree with the mark. Sorry!

I wish you every sucess in the future

Why are we pussyfooting FGS. Nice girl but.................

Because it is just unaffilaite prelim But you are right. The horse is not forwards, is ignoring the constant flapping and looks very uncomfortable in all trot work and the 4 time beat of the canter is very wrong. Should really be doing some more schooling and fittening work to make it capable of trying.

I have always admired you Laura, but i am sorry to be so negative, i probably would have marked it lower. And please sort your hands . Sorry its a pet hate of mine!

Yes far too much flapping. A tap with the stick wake him up and get him listening he was totally ignoring everything you asked pretty much as you were kicking all the way round.

I am pretty sure that OP had asked at the beginning of the thread that she DID NOT want CC. You may see plenty of things you don't like and pet hates, but keep them to yourselves. The OP doesn't want to know. Maybe on another thread the OP will ask for CC - but on this occasion she doesn't want it

OP - well done - I watched and admired your pony . Well done xx

 

[Mongoose11]

I agree. Laura, who we all very much like, did not ask for CC but this forum does really irk me sometimes in that there are some instances in that vid that would get absolutely torn to shreds for the sake of the pony if it wasn't Laura riding.

I think Laura has done a wonderful thing getting Herbs back out into the world nonetheless I don't like to see the mouth hauling and constant booting, along with a ruddy great thwack with a schooling stick of any animal.

I think in this case it may be better to say nothing at all but why when Laura could find some really helpful advice if she just asked. Why is it ok to tell her that she did a wonderful job of constantly booting Herbs?

 

[FfionWinnie]

I agree BB. At one point at least he was being pulled in the chops and kicked at the same time. Should we just say oh well he is "horrid" so it's a great job well done.

I do think the folk in the video were unpleasant to be talking like that and they obviously knew Laura was going to be hearing it when she watched the video so it seems they don't have much respect for her. There is criticism, which that was, and helpful advice, which is given with the best of intentions to help all concerned.

 

[charlie76]

Hi Laura, I know you asked people not to cc your video but I also think , as you are looking to compete, you would rather have a bit of help to improve your pony and your marks.
For what it's worth, I don't think he is unlevel , he is just behind the leg, all horses look lame behind if not ridden forward.

You need to have him sharper off the leg, I imagine you we're exhausted at the end! At home, forget about the outline ( you will get it back) and get him in front of the leg. Do hundreds of transitions using as little leg as possible to ask for the upwards ones. If he ignores the light leg aid , give him a swift kick and be ready with the hand to let him go forwards , in gallop if that's what he offers. If he shoots off praise him and let him go before slowly bringing him back into a more controlled pace. Do this as many times as you need to until he is in front of your leg. When he is TAKING YOU FORWARD you will find it much easier. It won't happen over night but if you do this daily he will get less behind the leg and carry you. If he ignores the leg , back it up with a flick with the schooling whip, he must react.

With regards to the contact, you need to have your reins shorter and think about the hands staying either side of the withers. The reason you are moving your hands so much is linked to the lack of forwardness from the leg. The hands need to be still as you are inadvertently asking him to stop and go at the same time.

He could do a super test but his lack of forward thinking is affecting your position and is holding you both back.

As I said, forget the outline, get him in front of the leg , and you will be amazed at how much easier he will be to ride. Once he is forward you can then go back to working on the outline.

 

[majors]

Keep going, enjoy and be proud, mine switches of in doors and pretends he can't move, I end up red faced and swearing under my breath.

 

[Amaranta]

Hi Laura, I know you asked people not to cc your video but I also think , as you are looking to compete, you would rather have a bit of help to improve your pony and your marks.
For what it's worth, I don't think he is unlevel , he is just behind the leg, all horses look lame behind if not ridden forward.

You need to have him sharper off the leg, I imagine you we're exhausted at the end! At home, forget about the outline ( you will get it back) and get him in front of the leg. Do hundreds of transitions using as little leg as possible to ask for the upwards ones. If he ignores the light leg aid , give him a swift kick and be ready with the hand to let him go forwards , in gallop if that's what he offers. If he shoots off praise him and let him go before slowly bringing him back into a more controlled pace. Do this as many times as you need to until he is in front of your leg. When he is TAKING YOU FORWARD you will find it much easier. It won't happen over night but if you do this daily he will get less behind the leg and carry you. If he ignores the leg , back it up with a flick with the schooling whip, he must react.

With regards to the contact, you need to have your reins shorter and think about the hands staying either side of the withers. The reason you are moving your hands so much is linked to the lack of forwardness from the leg. The hands need to be still as you are inadvertently asking him to stop and go at the same time.

He could do a super test but his lack of forward thinking is affecting your position and is holding you both back.

As I said, forget the outline, get him in front of the leg , and you will be amazed at how much easier he will be to ride. Once he is forward you can then go back to working on the outline.

^^^this is brilliant advice

The pony is capable of doing a very nice prelim test once he is forward, he has good rhythm, but at the moment you look like you are working an awful lot harder than he is and your hands are way too mobile, as a judge I found them very distracting and at times you were giving conflicting aids.

I do think that you have done a wonderful job with him but please don't turn down constructive advice when it is offered, if you want to do dressage you have to remember that the judge does not know the back story and, quite rightly, has to judge what he/she sees on the day.

 

[Shysmum]

Lots and LOTS of transitions - very short and quick - should really help.

 

[jjflash]

I am pretty sure that OP had asked at the beginning of the thread that she DID NOT want CC. You may see plenty of things you don't like and pet hates, but keep them to yourselves. The OP doesn't want to know. Maybe on another thread the OP will ask for CC - but on this occasion she doesn't want it

OP - well done - I watched and admired your pony . Well done xx

Completely agree I think you did wonderfully! Dressage isn't just for the perfect, surely it should be fun aswell and anyway things can only get better! Lovely little pony

 

[ozpoz]

I agree. Laura, who we all very much like, did not ask for CC but this forum does really irk me sometimes in that there are some instances in that vid that would get absolutely torn to shreds for the sake of the pony if it wasn't Laura riding.

I think Laura has done a wonderful thing getting Herbs back out into the world nonetheless I don't like to see the mouth hauling and constant booting, along with a ruddy great thwack with a schooling stick of any animal.

I think in this case it may be better to say nothing at all but why when Laura could find some really helpful advice if she just asked. Why is it ok to tell her that she did a wonderful job of constantly booting Herbs?

Well, yes, that crossed my mind too.
If it was my lovely little pony, I think I would do a bute trial just to eliminate pain as a possible reason for his lack of forwardness. He certainly doesn't sound level in the video.(sorry)
This is not a critiscm, more an observation

 

[Delicious_D]

There is some wonderful advice o this thread. Take it as a positive.

Thanks to HHO I started to really look critically at the issues that were being highlights again and again and I have to say, it saved me and delicia. Unlike yourself, delicia was injured but it was so subtle at first it took some very knowledgable people on here raising the issues for a bigger picture to start to form and we caught it just in time.

But, if I was anyone else, the video wouldn't get some of the responses you have. You cannot ask just for nice comments. That's not a true reflection on life. I know, I learnt the hard way.

 

[holeymoley]

Great advice from charlie76 . Once you've got him forward you really need to concentrate on your hands - the pony cannot take a contact when you're constantly throwing them all over the place. I noticed your left hand seems to be around about your chest


Edited to add- before I just briefly watched the first part of video. I've just watched it again and I agree with poster which said it made for uncomfortable viewing- I'm a bit shocked at your transition to canter! Well done for completing the test, but you must get the pony off your leg. Dressage is after all about obedience and harmony between horse and rider.

 

[justabob]

Completely agree I think you did wonderfully! Dressage isn't just for the perfect, surely it should be fun aswell and anyway things can only get better! Lovely little pony

Unhelpful post. She has had the best advice on here to help her have *fun* with her dressage, I also notice that the OP has not responded to anything that is not telling her how really well she has done with the *Horrid One* a name I am sure he does not deserve.

 

[Delicious_D]

I am pretty sure that OP had asked at the beginning of the thread that she DID NOT want CC. You may see plenty of things you don't like and pet hates, but keep them to yourselves. The OP doesn't want to know. Maybe on another thread the OP will ask for CC - but on this occasion she doesn't want it

OP - well done - I watched and admired your pony . Well done xx

Im sorry, i really dont want to be mean but how did you admire that?

The rider was unbalanced, uneven in their rise, flapped and hands all over the place and the horse dead to the leg?!

As much as the OP has been through, she isnt the only one. She may not want to know but i dont see how blindly patting her on the back and congratulating her for a job well done (lying) is going to benefit either the horse or rider?

As for my pet hate, i was being nice about her hands, tbh i was utterly appauled watching that video and didnt think the horse was schooled enough to be there. OP save your money on enterence fees, get yourself a good trainer and train your horse and yourself more correctly. Gettin 50% @ prelim imho is just not good enough. Sorry!

 

[Delicious_D]

Unhelpful post. She has had the best advice on here to help her have *fun* with her dressage, I also notice that the OP has not responded to anything that is not telling her how really well she has done with the *Horrid One* a name I am sure he does not deserve.

The only thing horrid was the riders mixed signals! Jabbing it very harshly in the mouth, flapping and smacking the whip into canter! Mis-use of the whip is wrong IMHO....

 

[justabob]

The only thing horrid was the riders mixed signals! Jabbing it very harshly in the mouth, flapping and smacking the whip into canter! Mis-use of the whip is wrong IMHO....

They complain about jockeys using the whip, no race horse would have felt the like of that thwack with a schooling whip. Poor pony, unfit, confused and hot.

 

[Delicious_D]

They complain about jockeys using the whip, no race horse would have felt the like of that thwack with a schooling whip. Poor pony, unfit, confused and hot.

I must say, ive never known an indoor arena is be stuffy in December!

The difference re: jockey whips and dressage whips is jockey onces are padded. Have you ever tried hitting yourself it a dressage crop? It bloody well hurts!

I do get the feeling, however, all of this falls on deaf ears....as we are not congratulating Laura on her fab prelim results

 

[Abbeygale]

Im sorry, i really dont want to be mean but how did you admire that?

The rider was unbalanced, uneven in their rise, flapped and hands all over the place and the horse dead to the leg?!

As much as the OP has been through, she isnt the only one. She may not want to know but i dont see how blindly patting her on the back and congratulating her for a job well done (lying) is going to benefit either the horse or rider?

As for my pet hate, i was being nice about her hands, tbh i was utterly appauled watching that video and didnt think the horse was schooled enough to be there. OP save your money on enterence fees, get yourself a good trainer and train your horse and yourself more correctly. Gettin 50% @ prelim imho is just not good enough. Sorry!

The OP originally asked for no CC and for people just to admire her pony. I admired her pony. Yes I do think that there is plenty to work on, but this wasn't the place to offer CC as OP didn't want it on this occasion. I'm sure as and when the OP wants CC then she would ask.

Everyone has their own difficulties to work through with their horse / pony, but sometimes you do just want to congratulate yourself for getting to a certain point. Which I took from her post that this was what the OP wanted to do.

Sometimes I have been out on a horse and got 50% in a test, but I may still be pleased with that at that time, just for the fact of getting through the test. People have different goals and ambitions, and some plan to take bigger steps than others at any given time.

I'm just saying that maybe the CC should be left for a thread where the OP asks for it

 

[Delicious_D]

The OP originally asked for no CC and for people just to admire her pony. I admired her pony. Yes I do think that there is plenty to work on, but this wasn't the place to offer CC as OP didn't want it on this occasion. I'm sure as and when the OP wants CC then she would ask.

Everyone has their own difficulties to work through with their horse / pony, but sometimes you do just want to congratulate yourself for getting to a certain point. Which I took from her post that this was what the OP wanted to do.

Sometimes I have been out on a horse and got 50% in a test, but I may still be pleased with that at that time, just for the fact of getting through the test. People have different goals and ambitions, and some plan to take bigger steps than others at any given time.

I'm just saying that maybe the CC should be left for a thread where the OP asks for it

Oh i agree re: the goals etc. My goal is to get delicia around a walk and trot test by the end of the year. Will it happen? Who knows, ill look stupid but i dont care, no one knows what we both have been through.

My issue is why should we be told to admire her horse? Sure we would admire it if it was correct? Yes everyone has difficulties but the OP isnt a child and doesnt need molli-coddling. The op might not what CC but if you post on a forum video or pictures, you will get it. Its a forum, not a democracy, something i had to learn very quickly. Every poster is entitled to their opinion, and if the OP only wanted praise, maybe she shouldnt have posted on here but kept it for facebook and everyone in the 'know'.

 

[Lolo]

Im sorry, i really dont want to be mean but how did you admire that?

The rider was unbalanced, uneven in their rise, flapped and hands all over the place and the horse dead to the leg?!

As much as the OP has been through, she isnt the only one. She may not want to know but i dont see how blindly patting her on the back and congratulating her for a job well done (lying) is going to benefit either the horse or rider?

As for my pet hate, i was being nice about her hands, tbh i was utterly appauled watching that video and didnt think the horse was schooled enough to be there. OP save your money on enterence fees, get yourself a good trainer and train your horse and yourself more correctly. Gettin 50% @ prelim imho is just not good enough. Sorry!

Gosh. You are a reformed character, aren't you.

An achievement is when the person sets themselves a goal and then manages it. If it's not to your amazing standards you can beggar off, it's still their achievement. I'm quite glad I don't know you tbh if you think like you do in your last sentence- one of my proudest moments was getting 57% in a prelim. I don't give a damn if that is unacceptable to anyone else. It was the achievement of my year and I still feel proud of it, 4 years later.

In terms of Laura's riding, yes, there's scope for improvement. Huge improvement. But wow, she is trying very hard to manage it and I have no doubt she'll get there and do very well. Herbie is a little sod, and they have had serious ups and downs and Laura has quite low confidence in herself. I don't think this thread, posted to share her happiness about her achievement, is the place for this analysis of her riding. If you wish to criticise someone (you like doing that) then I am happy to post some videos of myself- loads to get stuck into there But please take it off this post. All you're doing is upsetting someone who already has a low opinion of herself.

Which is funny, because I distinctly remember you going off on one for similar reasons. Empathy may be needed here

 

[holeymoley]

I don't think anyone's being deliberately mean towards OP, I just think its a bit difficult to lie and give positive comments when the OP has a lot of obvious points that need worked on.

Like I said- well done for going and completing the test but I couldn't say 'you both look fantastic' because it all looks very messy and uncomfortable.

 

[Delicious_D]

Gosh. You are a reformed character, aren't you.

An achievement is when the person sets themselves a goal and then manages it. If it's not to your amazing standards you can beggar off, it's still their achievement. I'm quite glad I don't know you tbh if you think like you do in your last sentence- one of my proudest moments was getting 57% in a prelim. I don't give a damn if that is unacceptable to anyone else. It was the achievement of my year and I still feel proud of it, 4 years later.

In terms of Laura's riding, yes, there's scope for improvement. Huge improvement. But wow, she is trying very hard to manage it and I have no doubt she'll get there and do very well. Herbie is a little sod, and they have had serious ups and downs and Laura has quite low confidence in herself. I don't think this thread, posted to share her happiness about her achievement, is the place for this analysis of her riding. If you wish to criticise someone (you like doing that) then I am happy to post some videos of myself- loads to get stuck into there But please take it off this post. All you're doing is upsetting someone who already has a low opinion of herself.

Which is funny, because I distinctly remember you going off on one for similar reasons. Empathy may be needed here

Achievements should ALWAYS be seen as just that, achievements. Were not my earlier posts more supportive?

I get enough critisim and can critisise back, there is nothing wrong with that nothing is mean nasty but more constructive. Dont we all want to achieve and improve?

 

[Lolo]

I don't think anyone's being deliberately mean towards OP, I just think its a bit difficult to lie and give positive comments when the OP has a lot of obvious points that need worked on.

Like I said- well done for going and completing the test but I couldn't say 'you both look fantastic' because it all looks very messy and uncomfortable.

But no one asked you to lie, or even comment? How about "Aww, don't you both look smart. Bet you'll be doing really well once you're a bit more confident about taking him out" or even "Isn't he cute? He can't be that horrid really!"...

 

[Delicious_D]

But no one asked you to lie, or even comment? How about "Aww, don't you both look smart. Bet you'll be doing really well once you're a bit more confident about taking him out" or even "Isn't he cute? He can't be that horrid really!"...

No but they did ask for positive comments only.....

Many people on this forum suffer with nerves, myself included! I've posted videos and been torn to shreds, some constructive....some interesting but i wont go there.

What means you have the right to dictate who can reply and how? Im not being vindictive just curious.

 

[Mongoose11]

But no one asked you to lie, or even comment? How about "Aww, don't you both look smart. Bet you'll be doing really well once you're a bit more confident about taking him out" or even "Isn't he cute? He can't be that horrid really!"...

Lolo, but if anyone else posted this video there would be people up in arms about the jabbing, kicking while hauling, great big smack into canter...... Whether they had asked for Cc or not....

Laura the dedication you show your pony is beautiful but nothing wrong with taking some gentle advice. I hope you aren't upset by the comments, I think many of them are fair x

 

[Lolo]

Achievements should ALWAYS be seen as just that, achievements. Were not my earlier posts more supportive?

I get enough critisim and can critisise back, there is nothing wrong with that nothing is mean nasty but more constructive. Dont we all want to achieve and improve?

Actually, no, we don't. Funnily enough, if I post something and say "No CC thanks", I mean that no, I don't want any CC. I actually have no interest in improving my riding at all- I don't cause any pain or damage when I ride, and the horse is healthy and happy. Which is quite a big deal IMO- beyond that, it doesn't really matter unless you want it to.

The pony in question is fit, healthy, and not one for suffering in silence. He has a lovely home where he is doted on and goes on lovely long hacks and occasionally trundles out and does some low-key competing. He has a pretty idyllic life if you ask me...

And I'm pretty hardy and take crit well. I don't flounce, hold massive grudges or even little ones. But some posts in here would have really upset me. It's why I'm quite wary of posting stuff of my sister in here as I hate the idea that people will rip into her unfairly.

 

[Delicious_D]

I think it is brilliant that the OP does care for her pony and clearly has invested a lot of time and love into the horse. I also agree hearing the people filming talk about the OP was horrid and would have upset me, but i was told a while ago on here if oyu post pics or vids, you are inviting comments, and you cannot control these.

 

[Lolo]

No but they did ask for positive comments only.....

Many people on this forum suffer with nerves, myself included! I've posted videos and been torn to shreds, some constructive....some interesting but i wont go there.

What means you have the right to dictate who can reply and how? Im not being vindictive just curious.

But you've always opened yourself up to criticism, asked for it and then done what you've wanted with it. I believe you should respect what people ask. So she said that no, she didn't fancy anything other than positivity, and therefore we should either respect that or GTFO

And I also reckon that's why things go wrong in here, BB. Maybe I'm too 'meh', but thi isn't a welfare issue- it's a 2 minute test, where the rider needs a bit of polishing... She knows her issues. What she wanted was a bit of a self-esteem boost and I don't see the issue in giving it.

 

[Delicious_D]

Have mine been welfare issues then lolo - or is it because i simply dont gel with certain members that leaves me open to more critisim?

 

[justabob]

I don't think anyone's being deliberately mean towards OP, I just think its a bit difficult to lie and give positive comments when the OP has a lot of obvious points that need worked on.

Like I said- well done for going and completing the test but I couldn't say 'you both look fantastic' because it all looks very messy and uncomfortable.

Well said holeymoley, its a shame that the OP just has to have a pat on the back everytime she shows us toe curling videos of her tests. She is not a teenager but a young woman of 27. Most of us have confidence issues in life, the difference is that most of us keep it to ourselves. She has had really good advice on here but IMO she really does not want to hear it. I do think that the pony is very unhappy, if anyone else had posted such a video, they would have been told to get some lessons.

 

[justabob]

But no one asked you to lie, or even comment? How about "Aww, don't you both look smart. Bet you'll be doing really well once you're a bit more confident about taking him out" or even "Isn't he cute? He can't be that horrid really!"...

That is what most of the forum have already said, I find it silly to pander to a grown woman.