Critique me and my horses please!!! :)

Please critique us!!!

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The above three is training my mare Love Story. How does she jump? I know my heels arnt down, and yes, Im wearing sneakers :). How do I jump?

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Those ^^^ are from my first show. I know Im jumping bad, but what do you think of Bishop?







And the last ones ^^^ are my second show and Love Story's first show. Once again I'm jumping awful, but how did she jump?

For some reason I couldn't access any of the attatchments you have posted...could you maybe try them again? I'm happy to critique you on the pictures you put on this page, though...

How old is your horse? In the pictures, she looks like she's a little nervous...I'm guessing she's a pretty green jumper. She looks very willing and brave, though. You are certainly helping her, too...you have great focus, are always looking up, with nice soft hands on the reins and a quiet seat. Yes, your leg looks a little weak, but you have a soft release and a calm and confident attitude. I would reccomend doing a lot of no-stirrup work to strengthen your legs and give you a secure position, but for her, experience is the best thing. Keep up the good work and you'll go places!

You have good flow with your horse.

I see that you are gripping too much with your knees, though. As a result, your lower leg is slipping back and you are unable to sink your weight into your lower leg. You are standing in your stirrups with your heels up. This makes for less security in the saddle.

I would do a lot of trot/canter in your jump position focusing on letting go with your knee and learning to hold the horse with the inside of your upper calf. That way you can really sink your weight into the stirrup. Keep your lower leg at the girth, keep your heel down, hold with the inside of your calf, shake that knee loose and you will see incredible changes in your seat and security.

I love your naturally good hands. Many hunter people might comment on the slight roach in your back, but I like it. A "perched" back, that I so often see, is often unable to allow good use of an effective seat.

Again, your flow is really good. When your leg improves, you will be very effective.
Keep up the good work.

What discipline are you aiming for? I train event and jumpers, so my advice may not be very suitable for the hunter ring.


As for the horse, it is very difficult to tell with those photos. Some are taken at the wrong time of the jump, so don't represent the horse well. Also, it is often very difficult to get a horse to jump such low jumps with much respect. They often won't show much effort over the low jumps. Sorry, little advice other than to say her expression is lovely and she seems to enjoy jumping. That makes a HUGE difference in any future as a jumping horse, IMO.

I could only see 3 pictures, but the big thing I noticed it your leg. I would shorten those stirrups a couple holes.

Maybe shortening your stirrups one hole would help? Push down those heels!! =)

Thank you guys... Love Story's 11. Im attepting to turn her into a showjumper :). I'm going to try post the other pictures again, ugh!!

Training Love Story: Once again, yes my heels are AWFUL, and I'm wearing sneakers :)

Yah I think if he ever refuses or stops before a jump you will problably face plant it :) So yahh heels. Super cute horsie!

I like the second set of photos of her much better than the first. In the first set she's just diving over the fences in a long canter stride, with a very loose and uneven front end, in the second, she's actually using her hind end, rounding over the fence and her front end is a lot tidier. Photos 1 and 3 of the second set are the best.

Yes, do work on your heels and do a little work without stirrups to tighten your lower leg. The heels and insecure lower leg are causing you to pivot on your knee and get ahead of her - look at photo 1 in the second set - see how much of your saddle seat you can see? Your crotch should be directly over the center of the saddle at this point in the jump.

The good news about your riding is you have a good release and an enviable flat, relaxed back. Overall the impression is of a happy, relaxed horse and rider. Polish up the rest of your form and you and your little mare will make a nice pair.

Toes up heels down
You need to stay BEHIND the pommel
The horse could use a better release so she can strech her neck out over the jump ;)