Videos: improvement?

Horses24-7

Well-Known Member
Joined
21 December 2010
Messages
580
Location
Midlands
Visit site
Hi all I post a few weeks ago for some cc with my boy. I have been working on him getting him working more uphill and over his back, can you see an improvement?

A few weeks ago-

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/katiestott/dcb874fd.mp4

This morning-

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/katiestott/758e2813.mp4

Weve just moved up to elementary doing out first test a couple of weeks ago with 60%

Any pointers greatly received! Also as you can see from the end of the last vid we never get a square halt! Any tips?!? X
 
ok, im going to be brave and comment first, I think that you actually look more tense in the recent video and it looks to me (its quite to see as its quite dark) like you are concentrating on holding his head in which is resulting in him not working into the bit, more sort of behind it and as a result his back end isnt underneath him and he is sort of 'lolloping along' if you see what I mean. His canter has certainly improved but I would say that to get it even better, forget where his head is and work on forewards and up, the head will drop naturally and his underneath will push him forewards rather than lollop along. I wouldnt trot for so long in one go, I would do a lot of transitions to sharpen him up and increase response/impulsion. Lots of walk to trot, trot to walk, walk to canter etc.
 
If the first video is 21/2
I prefer the way the horse is going more than the recent one I have to say!
The horse looks to be behind the bit/evading the contact and you look to be legs tipping back/body tipping forward BUT the video is quite dark and it could be making it look deceptive
Would also agree you are def holding the horse more in the second video!
your obviously willing to work on these things though :) which is lovely to see :)
 
Thanks for the comments- after the first video I booked in a lesson and basically she said I needed to shorten my reins and ride him a lot stronger, and ask a lot more of him as she said he was very flat. I think it's the shortening of the reins that's tipping me forward?
 
I have to say, I dont agree with shortening the reins, though I do sort of agree with riding him stronger, as in really pushing him foreward with more 'oomph' but yes I agree, the shortening of the reins seems to have made you more tense so probably making you tip foreward.
 
I can see that you are trying to get him to lift in front into a more Novice/elem outline but it is causing him to come behind the vertical in almost all his work. In the leg yield when he starts to step under more then he does lift his shoulders and come more correctly into the contact.
I would do loads more transitions in and out of paces also within each pace as well as some from walk to canter concentrating on him reacting to your legs, allowing him to lift in front as you go into the next pace, dont worry if he sometimes goes above the bit, better that than behind, he will learn to carry himself better once he is more in front of you. The halts will improve when he goes forward to the hand, you do look like you may be being tipped forward by your saddle, this does not help especially in canter.
 
Top