XC tips

L

Lloyd45

Well-Known Member
Joined
19 March 2015
Messages
60
Visit site
Hi can you give me any tips on my riding, I am quite novice XC rider but I love it, my horse is very keen XC, do you think I am pulling to much on his mouth?
 
The video is too short and blurred to really give feedback, I could say you are hanging on a bit but coming downhill on a keen horse that is wanting to go faster is not helping you balance yourself on top, it would be more interesting to see you cantering across the field without approaching a jump as I suspect you are bracing against him in general, your stirrups are probably too long and he is happy to tuck his head in which makes it look worse than it really is.
I think I said on your other thread that I would have you coming in at trot until he is listening and you are more confident/ experienced, just seen the second video which shows you are riding far too long and that is putting you in the wrong place so you are appearing to hang on and ride defensively, going back to some basic position, control work over grids would help immensely, if he is only like this on grass then finding somewhere to train over coloured poles in a field would be useful.
A correctly fitted neckstrap to grab at times is essential with a keen horse.
 
be positive said:
The video is too short and blurred to really give feedback, I could say you are hanging on a bit but coming downhill on a keen horse that is wanting to go faster is not helping you balance yourself on top, it would be more interesting to see you cantering across the field without approaching a jump as I suspect you are bracing against him in general, your stirrups are probably too long and he is happy to tuck his head in which makes it look worse than it really is.
I think I said on your other thread that I would have you coming in at trot until he is listening and you are more confident/ experienced, just seen the second video which shows you are riding far too long and that is putting you in the wrong place so you are appearing to hang on and ride defensively, going back to some basic position, control work over grids would help immensely, if he is only like this on grass then finding somewhere to train over coloured poles in a field would be useful.
A correctly fitted neckstrap to grab at times is essential with a keen horse.
Click to expand...
Thanks for replying, very helpful comments, the videos aren’t great quality. I do need a neck strap.
 
He is a lovely horse!
What bit do you have him in at the moment? i'd just wonder why he is tucking his head in so much over the jumps?
Def stick your stirrups up a ton of holes, it will really help your position and stability over fences. If you had more weight in your heel it would anchor and secure you more. If you put your stirrups up and do loads of trotting holding on to a neck strap in two point position it will really strengthen your position.
 
paddi22 said:
He is a lovely horse!
What bit do you have him in at the moment? i'd just wonder why he is tucking his head in so much over the jumps?
Def stick your stirrups up a ton of holes, it will really help your position and stability over fences. If you had more weight in your heel it would anchor and secure you more. If you put your stirrups up and do loads of trotting holding on to a neck strap in two point position it will really strengthen your position.
Click to expand...
He’s always jumped like that since I had him, he was a grade c showjumper, he can really jump, when I first got him he was jumping 6’ gates to get in with the other horses. He plods around with me most of the time, I can hack him out at the front or the back, horses can gallop passesd him not bothered, he’ll go past anything, he could’ve been a police horse but show him a XC jump he goes up 10 levels
 
Definitely shorter stirrups and respectfully suggest go and have some lessons with an accredited BE trainer as they can make a huge difference and generally have a very extensive"toolbox" of coaching ideas. As he is an ex showjumper I suspect he has had his head winched in with draw reins in the past. Again an experienced coach would be able to help you with that.
 
Thanks all for all your replies, great advice. I will shorten my stirrups and work on my balance and put up some coloured poles in a field and try and get more control in trot and book a ltaly.
 
Does MKEC do any clinics on site? I know that there’s a few riding clubs near me that go there for camps etc (I’m in Bucks, and I think high Wycombe riding club and naphill riding club go there on weekend trips) either speak to mkec to see if they have anything coming up or even local riding clubs :)
 
Yes the videos are from one, the lady was very good but the winds were over 50 mph that day and I couldn’t hear a thing she was saying
 
Clinics are an excellent way of learning as so many things are going on. It is also useful to watch some from the ground as if you are close to the instructor they will often explain why they are doing things. If I remember correctly Nick Turner does clinics at MKEC he is well worth watching/training with. I am fairly sure he has a website if you google him.
 
I just did a weekend camp at MKEC with Ian Wills teaching and thought he was absolutely brilliant. He teaches there every Thursday I think he said.

I was on a horse that goes with a similar low, round head carriage and he had some good tips for getting him more up in front of me while staying in a good position.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top