How's my riding?

My instructor tells me to lean more forward, but I think if I do it will be to much.

You are sitting strightly upwards and that's good.
I think you should have longer stirrups. A bit, at least. And try to get your heels more down. If it hurts, you can practise and make your muscles there longer by exercises (putting your heels down on stairs, chair,...) And on the second picture I have a feeling you are a bit flying Try to hold with your upper legs. I think you're not riding for lond time and I can assure you taht MY beginnings were much more terrible

Yeah, we made my stirrups short because I needed to use a spur.

I think your heels should be down more. Other than that, I think you're good

position looks ok to me but your stirrups need to be longer! even if you need to use spurs, just move your legs but don't shorten your stirrups- this can make you unbalanced.

I don't think you need to lean more foward, you are sitting straight up and that is good. Maybe just work on putting heels down. By the way, the horse your riding looks so nice and clean!

I think having a solid position is more important than being able to use spurs, I really think you need much longer stirrups so you can lengthen your body out and stretch your weight through your heels. It doesn't look like you are sitting in the ideal part of your saddle.

Also, does the saddle fit you guys okay? The pommel looks a bit too low.

Serisously for flatwork i would drop those stirrups about 2 - 3 holes.

If you are jumping, or working on jumping position, yea, rock forward on your crotch more. This will put you more in the center of the horse, and make your seat lighter. And if you are doing flatwork(no jumping position work) you COULD drop your sturrips a hole or two, but using a shorter sturrip will help you have a lighter seat.

We have the same boots!!!!! I love my fatbabys!!!

What type of english riding are you wanting to do? It does make a difference. Hunter? Western style HUS? Dressage? Combined training?

Did an instructor tell you to shorten your stirrup so short to use spurs?? Really? Is there another, maybe more knowledgeable, instructor you can use? Shorter stirrups will make it HARDER to use spurs.

You position looks like a good start. You need to RELAX your arms, though. Actually, work on relaxing everything....seat, legs, back and arms. Just let your body feel how the horse moves and let your body move along with it.

I wish you were close to me. I would give you a couple of free lessons to help you get started. Good luck!!