critique my dressage!

Hello,

I started a thread a few weeks ago.
Now I have new pictures and I'm thankful for some comments and i hope you like my boy ;)

Well, here it is:

At first.: Yes, I know! I should put my arms closer to the body. I know that and I'm trying to handle it, but it's difficult, because my horse has a big problem with going through the neck... My trainer says it's not a big problem and someday I could leave it.
( I hope it's not so hard to understand)

your boy is very pretty! Idont have much to say, but it sorta looks likeyour focusing on sitting sraight and up, that is good, but try to sit in the saddle more... Sit deep but not hard.and just relax, my problem at shows is I stop riding and I sit stiff and my hands stop moving... Haha so the whole thing becomes a wreck. This looks like it could be your problem too, but just relax and ride, enjoy it, focus on making your horse come over his back and stay supple. Then think about looking where your going( looking Down with your eyes is great, but try not to stay there the whole ride ) and ride like you do when your at home. :)

your boy is very pretty! I have much to say, but it sorta looks likeyour focusing on sitting sraight and up, that is good, but try to sit in the saddle more... Sit deep but not hard.and just relax, my problem at shows is I stop riding and I sit stiff and my hands stop moving... Haha so the whole thing becomes a wreck. This looks like it could be your problem too, but just relax and ride, enjoy it, focus on making your horse come over his back and stay supple. Then think about looking where your going( looking Down with your eyes is great, but try not to stay there the whole ride ) and ride like you do when your at home. :)

Beautiful horse! He's looks so light and uphill in that picture. The only thing I see is you look a little stiff in your upper body. It might be simply because you're focusing your eyes on his head. If you ride with softer eyes, if might help soften you body too. What level are you riding?

Thanks for the two comments!
@ MyBoyPuck: Yes... eehm, I'm from Germany and
I don't know how you divide the level in England... In Germany it's:

The simplest tests are the equestrian competitions
This is for beginners of the tournament sport...


E ( It's the first big class you can ride, it stands for "easy")
A (It's a bit harder than E, it stands for "beginners of the higher classes)
L (This is quite challenging, it stands for "Light heavy")
M ( It's really challenging to ride that! It stands for "medium difficult")
S ( That's the hardest class that exists under German equestrian, It stands for "heavy")

At home I train on the L to M level, but some lessons are too hard for my horse, because he hasn't the best predispositions for a top dressage horse. His breeding line is specifically for jumpers. But we have learned the dressage togehter and although he's the best jumper I've ever ridden, he enjoys dressage.. And know we are pretty well together and at this point I would like to say: He's the best horse for me and I would give everything for him! I have learned so much from him... Thank you!
( Sorry, that once had to be!)
( I'm so sorry for my awful grammar, but it's very difficult for me to write correct english )

My horse is also bred with jumper lines - personally I find that these are the horses becoming more popular for dressage because they are lighter, more athletic and compact, making collection easier.
Although your coach doesn't seem too concerned about your arms - I am. Your upper arms are part of your body, if they are loose then that unbalances you and will cause upper body tension because you are trying to keep your upper body still while your arms are moving about.
If you simply keep the elbows by your sides and only allow them to move with your upper body you become more stable and balanced, allowing you to relax in your upper body.
Along with keeping your elbows in - you can further stabilize your body by pushing your shoulders into your hips. This flexes the long muscles along your shoulder blades and down your back which acts to further stabilize your core and back.
While your upper arm is "locked" into your upper body, your lower arm is still able to be soft and move. My horse also has an issue with coming through the neck and I have found that having the arms like railroad tracks and riding up to them has been the best thing to help him.

Good luck!

Hey everyone!

This weekend I started on our last tournament ( For this year) and I'm really satisfied! I'm happy about his dressage, he did it very well! And the jumps were of course no problem for us :)

Here I have some pictures for you , and I want to hear your critique!

Wow those jumps look huge!!

I think you look very good, maybe a little bit stiff in your back, but then you could just be tense because it's a competition...?

Oh thanyou :)