Well, Video :-D Hit me with the CC!

What a beautiful horse, you're such a neat rider :) my only comment is keep your shoulders back! I do exactly the same :o I lean forwards far too much and then wonder why Bailey is going faster ........... :rolleyes: you two look lovely together though, do you dressage? x
 
First thing I noticed is that you sit uneven in the saddle. You pivot through either the hip or knee (hard to tell from this angle). You will need to do some exercises to correct this or it will come through in the riding ie struggling to get the correct lead in canter. I also felt that you sit quite far back in the saddle- perhaps due to you leaning forwards but it is putting too much weight over the cantle and I wondered if this was why there was a little lack of 'swing' in the trot. She is stunning though! What's the history?
 
shadowboy said:
First thing I noticed is that you sit uneven in the saddle. You pivot through either the hip or knee (hard to tell from this angle). You will need to do some exercises to correct this or it will come through in the riding ie struggling to get the correct lead in canter. I also felt that you sit quite far back in the saddle- perhaps due to you leaning forwards but it is putting too much weight over the cantle and I wondered if this was why there was a little lack of 'swing' in the trot. She is stunning though! What's the history?
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Hmm...Think the saddle doesn't help, as was positive that one stirrup was longer than other despite being on the same hole (webbers so not stretched). But I agree I am probably not even in the saddle, as not convinced I am off a horse :D Have been working on not having one shoulder forwards, but probably now neglecting other areas! Might try longer stirrups tomorrow too as watching back I think my thigh is not sitting long enough, so that might be pushing me back - possibility?

Ponio is 6 years old, but has the equivilent amount of training/schooling that you'd expect a 4yr old to have due to a massive confidence crisis on my part. I still cannot bring myself to canter in the school :o
 
Nice pony :D I think you need to check your shoulder-hip-heel line, and ensure you're sitting straight in the saddle. Other than that, thumbs on top and hands up off the neck and out in front of you (I'm terrible for sitting on mine!), try to give a nice steady contact for the pony to work into.

I don't think the pony's short behind, I think it has usual pony paces and lacks throughness from behind. A lot to like though :)
 
JFTD said:
Nice pony :D I think you need to check your shoulder-hip-heel line, and ensure you're sitting straight in the saddle. Other than that, thumbs on top and hands up off the neck and out in front of you (I'm terrible for sitting on mine!), try to give a nice steady contact for the pony to work into.

I don't think the pony's short behind, I think it has usual pony paces and lacks throughness from behind. A lot to like though :)
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Thank you :)

We have been working on getting back feet underneath - but bless him he takes a 6'6-6'9 rug and he's only a smidge over 14.3hh... he's like a sausage dog :D
 
Haven't read all replies so sorry if I repeat :)

Only things, you look uneven, right side looks more longer then left and poss not sitting in the centre of your saddle - I do it all the time too ;)

Also, try bend with the movement and turning your hips/shoulders/head in the direction your going. It'll help your horse to know where your going too.

Very pretty pony :)
 
Nugget La Poneh said:
Thank you :)

We have been working on getting back feet underneath - but bless him he takes a 6'6-6'9 rug and he's only a smidge over 14.3hh... he's like a sausage dog :D
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haha, mine is the same - his natural swinging, reaching gait just doesn't track up like some horses. My 2 year old over-tracks naturally in the field. Fergs has to be really powering along before he steps up - it's not his working gait! Sometimes you just work with what you've got. Mine does ok at unaff novice (he's a just turned 6 y/old and not done masses of schooling due to lack of facilities and injury last year - so this is certainly not his limit yet!) - it's not the end of the world if they don't have naturally flashy gaits anyway.

Will he stretch down into a long, loose frame in trot? I find that helps mine to power from behind more and when he's loosened up he can offer ok medium work :)
 
I just think something doesn't look
Right at all with his back legs? A lot of tail swishing also. Sweet pony tho, hopefully I'm wrong but just thought I'd point it out. Surprised no one else has mentioned. Maybe it's just me- I have a radar for lameness/unevenness etc!
 
JFTD said:
haha, mine is the same - his natural swinging, reaching gait just doesn't track up like some horses. My 2 year old over-tracks naturally in the field. Fergs has to be really powering along before he steps up - it's not his working gait! Sometimes you just work with what you've got. Mine does ok at unaff novice (he's a just turned 6 y/old and not done masses of schooling due to lack of facilities and injury last year - so this is certainly not his limit yet!) - it's not the end of the world if they don't have naturally flashy gaits anyway.

Will he stretch down into a long, loose frame in trot? I find that helps mine to power from behind more and when he's loosened up he can offer ok medium work :)
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He has flashy paces for a haflinger, but nothing like a 'normal' horse :D and on the rare occaisions he shows off in the field I am not sure it is a pawer I want to harness *lol*

He does a lovely peanut roll on the lunge, but I think my lack of confidence takes over when riding so there is that to contend with.

He is due for a check on his saddle though so it might be that isn't helping.
 
elsazzo said:
I just think something doesn't look
Right at all with his back legs? A lot of tail swishing also. Sweet pony tho, hopefully I'm wrong but just thought I'd point it out. Surprised no one else has mentioned. Maybe it's just me- I have a radar for lameness/unevenness etc!
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It's certainly possible, and he was tail swishing particularly when asked for more across diagonal. Will long line tomorrow before riding and see if he's the same :)
 
elsazzo said:
I just think something doesn't look
Right at all with his back legs? A lot of tail swishing also. Sweet pony tho, hopefully I'm wrong but just thought I'd point it out. Surprised no one else has mentioned. Maybe it's just me- I have a radar for lameness/unevenness etc!
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I agree sort of...pony is not tracking up as the OP has mentioned. probably needs to build strength in his back. Doesn't look lame to me. I would suggest OP works on lots of transitions and getting trot to a steadier rhythm as is seems he pulling himself along a little.

I like your riding OP...very gentle and subtle..can also see from short vid that you are really concentrating. Maybe relax a little...ask someone to chuck the vid on at random so you are not aware...you may notice a difference.

Hope that helps? love the vid
 
JFTD said:
:D that's what I say about Fergs - he's very flashy... for a highland :o

Wouldn't change them for the world, though :D
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Our old mare when the wind was up her would put Totilas to shame, but then Fat Poneh would be attempting extended trot but all you'd hear rapid fire pony trot and panting :D Like a model and her less model like friend.

Although when I turned him out afterwards today he did his best Arab impression and did for the first time manage the lovely floaty (for him) trot, complete with tail up over his bum *lol*
 
Parker79 said:
I agree sort of...pony is not tracking up as the OP has mentioned. probably needs to build strength in his back. Doesn't look lame to me. I would suggest OP works on lots of transitions and getting trot to a steadier rhythm as is seems he pulling himself along a little.

I like your riding OP...very gentle and subtle..can also see from short vid that you are really concentrating. Maybe relax a little...ask someone to chuck the vid on at random so you are not aware...you may notice a difference.

Hope that helps? love the vid
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Thank you - although I think the concentration was me reciting 'he will not buck, he will not buck, I can do trot, he will not buck' :o
 
lots of comments about your ponio being short etc, but from the video i think much of your problems stem from your saddle.It looks too small for you.You are landing too far back on it when you rise trot...hence why ponio is exhibiting lots of swishy tail.It must be very hard for you to stay in balance.You are having to make such a consious effort to keep your lower leg in the right place and everything else in line,but the saddle isn't helping you do that.Maybe this is why your pony is a little short and choppy in his stride.A good fitting saddle can make a HUGE difference to both of you and may be one of the reasons that you are not so confident to go up a gear and canter?
There is so much to like about this pony and his rider ,i hope you didn't mind my critic and will see it as positive.
 
Marlyclay - the more I watch, the more I agree. It did fit me when I bought it 2 years ago, but have since put on 2 stone of which 1.5 appears to be on my behind :D

I canter on hacks, even jump...just in the school I lose my bottle!
 
Nugget La Poneh said:
Marlyclay - the more I watch, the more I agree. It did fit me when I bought it 2 years ago, but have since put on 2 stone of which 1.5 appears to be on my behind :D

I canter on hacks, even jump...just in the school I lose my bottle!
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I know how you feel,my behind has blossomed as i get older!!. I am also very very tall ,with long legs.My saddles are 18"because of this,otherwise my knees would be over the knee rolls and my butt on the back of the saddle.
What size is your saddle? Your boy looks as though he could accomadate something bigger,may well be worth considering?
 
Firstly, what a nice sensible trot. :)

I was wondering about suggesting you try some schooling without the saddle as I agree with marlyclay, and also without reins to help you find your natural balance point but if he might buck then perhaps this is unwise! :D

I think you are tilting your pelvis and therefore torso/shoulders forwards, and sitting too much "on your fork." Try leaning your shoulders back - get someone on the ground to gently push you back until you are upright, you might feel like you are leaning back. Check that your spine is in neutral - it'll mean you are sitting a bit more on your seat bones rather than your foof :o although untimately you need to find a place between the two.

Keep your hands still - I think your pony's head carriage would be much improved if you kept a soft contact and controlled the speed by slowing your rising rather than the bit as much as possible. In fact, I think you're a perfect candidate for one or two lunge lessons, so you can really get the feel of where you are supposed to be and realise that you don't have to have a rein contact to be perfectly secure :)

Try to focus the pony's education on going off your leg without being nagged - and then stop nagging ;) This will again help you to develop a strong position based on core strength from those core muscles, and help you to not only do less to achieve more, but also to be more effective when you do give aids.

Have you ever done any pilates? I would recommend it, it really helps you to identify and develop all the muscles you use in horse riding, and it would help improve any asymmetry too.

Let us know how you get on, that is one gorgeous horse ridden sympathetically, you two should do very well in any discipline :)
 
Agree with most people but would say try and be more gentle with your legs one of them sounded hard, could very easily be because you in an indoor school as thing echo.
 
Naturally - I might go back to riding bareback, as did this while waking for saddle. Will get the ever suffering OH to film and I will do the same exercise and see if any difference. He has only bucked when being asked to canter and all times he's done it, he hasn't been balanced either through himself, or because if me. Wish I hadn't sold my thick fleece numnah now as used to use that for saddleless riding! Haven't done Pilates, but will get back on the Wii yoga as that seemed to help in the past.
 
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