will anyone be so kind as to...

[SarahRicoh]

constructively criticise my video please.. only problem is i cant upload on a mobile so only way you can see it is on fb

my name is sarah louise poole and picture is a coloured pony-videos called crepelo.

iv had him about two weeks-hes a 14.3hh,11yr old ish gelding whos competed bsja but been really screwed up. doesnt trust,has bolted,rushes/stresses in his work and has no basic schooling but i love him to bits and im workinv really hard on learning to ride him/improve myself and him!!

problems i see: balance using hands
rise too far out of saddle
leg too far forward(although saddle doesnt help as very forward cut)
hands move alot

any cc on him or me please and ways to improve?!

thankyou

 

[team barney]

First of all, your pony is a very handsome chap

Regarding the riding, I'd concentrate on your hands at the moment, they seem to be the most obviously problem to me. You need to soften them and work on keeping them stable, when your hands get hard your pony tenses through his neck which is leading him to throw his head every so often.

I'd recommend having regular lunge lessons and doing lots of work (on the lunge) with no reins or stirrups, it will help you develop an independent seat and improve your balance massively.

 

[SarahRicoh]

thankyou thing is i cant have lunge lessons on him but i might be able to on another horse... if i drop the reins or relax he rushes off so its a fine line but i definitely agree there a problem with my hands haha.. thankyou for that and thankyou for saying hes handsome any ideas to keep them still and relaxed?

 

[team barney]

It is a bit of a catch twenty two, if you try and relax you will probably end up more tense.
Soften your wrists and your grip, practise keeping your hands balanced whatever you are doing, not just riding.

As he is prone to rush off I'd try and desensitise him to that by giving one rein at at time then both together, only in walk to start with but it should help him not panic so much when his reins are dropped.

If you are using your reins as balance I'd also recommend working on your core strength, that should help you stay in balance easier. Do you have access to either a balance board, hula hoop or pogo stick, I have found all useful for building up stomach muscles/core stability.

 

[SarahRicoh]

i did have a hula hoop haha.. il try dig it out i have been trying to give one rein and it works until hes really wound up.

thankyou

 

[SarahRicoh]

bump

 

[Lolo]

One thing you have to be so careful of is not to punish him when he lifts his head by hooking with your hand- you do it several times in the video when he starts leaning hard to the inside. Letting go of the rein is more productive in this case as he needs to accept the contact and to do that he needs to trust it won't hurt him.

He looks very smart in your jumping photos of him, you're very lucky.

 

[BSJAlove]

hes a lovely horse, however your position isnt that stable. your legs are in front of you and your hands are really close to your body so id put your stirrups up a hole and use alot more leg. He seems to be traveling in to the ground and not particually working from behind. However hes a lovely boy and its not easy riding hot tense horses.

 

[SarahRicoh]

i agree my legs are very forward-not making excuses but saddle doesnt help .. thanks guys. going to try to drop my contact when he throws his head but its so hard because it goes against instinct...
thankyou i love him to bits already

 

[SarahRicoh]

bump

 

[SarahRicoh]

Bump

 

[SarahRicoh]

Anyone else?

 

[splashgirl45]

sorry cant see pics as im not on facebook , if you are having probs with your hands have you thought of using a neck strap and just holding it with one finger (just on 1 rein) so your hands stay stiller....i had a similar problem and this helped me to be aware of where my hands were....

 

[SarahRicoh]

This has been suggested but too me neck straps are too far forward so if i hold them somehow i end up leaning forward and it just feels arong

 

[SarahRicoh]

*wrong

 

[splashgirl45]

you could have the neck strap very loose or alternatively you could tie a piece of cord to the d rings as you are not using it to hang on just to link finger through....

 

[intouch]

Try just resting your little fingers on the withers or front of the saddle, make sure they stay there as you rise to the trot. THis might help with trot. http://youtu.be/6WfEjdk0gKs

 

[intouch]

Having just found the video - your hands are quite steady, it's your balance that's affecting his way of going, he's behind the vertical, on the forehand. Watch the clip in the previous post, it will help both of you - and if the saddle's to blame, get one that fits both of you!