Videos of me schoolin and practising dressage.

charleysummer

charleysummer

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my girl has been lame and i gave her two weeks off (she had a really nasty kick whilst fighting, then got sore on her front leg due to putting extra weight on it) so this is the second time schooling since her break, so constructive crit welcome :) one vid is just of me schooling and the other is the Prelim 7 test, (i hope- because i had to try to remember it as i forgot my sheet !) I know in the dressage practise she wasnt too keen on coming down to a walk on the long rein... but yes any crit welcome, on how she looks, weight, movement and my riding etc,

schooling
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4Cs8uo7CMc&feature=channel

Prelim 7
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1fe62MpJ84&feature=channel
 
Wow, I envy the stability of your lower leg :) Lovely horse, seems to try very hard for you!

I'd say your hands seem to be a bit unstable - in schooling vid it is visible that you give her a little jerk in the mouth every time you rise in trot. I think if you keep your hands more stable she'll find it easier to go in an outline.
Also, in prelim video she her trot is veeeeeery rushed - try half halts to make her listen and slow down. Sometimes when you think "Oh I'm riding a test!" it can make you nervous which your horse will def pick up on, so make sure you're relaxed and she will find it easier to relax too! Good luck with everything!
 
It's a bit tricky because the ground is so uneven, but I'm not sure that she's quite sound yet to be honest?

Have you had a vet look at her?
 
I've only watched the first video and I agree with Bedlam that she doesn't look quite level? If she feels OK then maybe it's the ground

Lovely horse :)
 
thankyou for the replies, yes the ground is quite uneven! but it has taught her to balance better i think, how do you mean uneven? where?

and no the vet didnt, my farrier told me she was lame on the front (i hadnt noticed as id been paying so much attention to a very swollen back leg) and he advised not to ring the vet as there was nothin ghe could do b ut charge the earth for telling me to rest her- so my parents and i followed his advice.
 
Charleysummer, I think you and your neddy make a lovely combination :).
As others have said she 'gives a nod' sometimes (looks like a little dip then raise of the head) which could be due to either the ground or tenderness. You need to trot her up on level surface and see if she does the same thing. If she does it means she is trying to alleviate weight (and therefore pain) from that leg and she needs further treatment.
As for the riding, well I wish I could ride as nicely as you when I was young. I was only into happy hacking (taught me to stick on mind!).
Can I suggest you slow the trot very slightly (think impulsion/energy, not speed). In the test try to take the time to show your neddy off, not rush through it asap ;).
Then allow yourself to widen your hands a little and raise your upper body so you feel that you take a steady but still flexible contact. This will mean you can make your steadying aids very subtle and also make you very aware of keeping your hands steady as you rise (think rise from the hip, not the whole upper body).
Just a few pointers but otherwise, Good Luck :).
 
Thankyou for the comments, i have tried to slow the trot a little with half halts but she then seems to fall away from the contact a little and drops what outline i can get her in! i guess i'm loosing the impulsion to track up and work through the back when im doing this?

I'm suprised that you all think i'm riding nicely i havn't had a lesson in- well it must be a year and the few times i did, it was always focused on the pony and not me! (which is bad i know, which is why i stopped with the instructor- then never got round to getting another one :P)

I had bin trotting her up regulary while she was lame and she seemed fine when i did so hopefully its just the uneven ground- just got to get her even less rushed now as i have to do the test at a show and shows are normally -jump round clear as fast as possible!-

bit of a challenge :D
 
charleysummer said:
Thankyou for the comments, i have tried to slow the trot a little with half halts but she then seems to fall away from the contact a little and drops what outline i can get her in! i guess i'm loosing the impulsion to track up and work through the back when im doing this?

I'm suprised that you all think i'm riding nicely i havn't had a lesson in- well it must be a year and the few times i did, it was always focused on the pony and not me! (which is bad i know, which is why i stopped with the instructor- then never got round to getting another one :P)
Click to expand...

Yes, you are right, as you apply the half halt she may feel like she loses some of the impulsion but what she's actually losing is speed. Try making yourself rise and sit a little slower (think of a horses stride) to slow her and not let her set the pace with you following.
Natural riders do not always need lessons to teach feel. What you may need is some help to refine your feel and make your next step up :)
Good Luck.
 
i schooled her today and i slowed the trot a little with my voice and tried to slow the rising but its quite difficult with her ive found ! and subtle half halts, but remaining quite 'forward' (as in impulsion) through out my body- she rounded nicer and slowed and lengthened.. but then continued to whizz round a little ;p so i suppose its going to take a bit of practise but i think i know what to ask for now, i'd just been concentrating on gettin her working through the back and calm in canter really as she used to be a bit of a panicker and run away alot.
 
wow! He is going so nicely considering it is the 2nd time u rode him after rest.
I would agree with other comments that you tend to jerk back every time u rise. what may help though is having thumbs on top and shorten your reins so you have a firmer more consistent rein contact so you aren't grasping fresh air before you half halt :)
with rising, instead of going up and down, i rock my pelvis forward. imagine you want your head to stay at the same level even when you are rising, if that makes sense.
You have a lovely position :)
 
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