Critique my mare and me

my Apendix Quarter Horse, most of these pictures im in pajamas barefoot riding.. yes I know not good, but wasnt riding with correct posture but go ahead and give me some things that you see. as for my girl shes perfect to me but would like to know your opinons.

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I'm not sure where to start. I don't like the tom thumb bit that you are using. Your hands look fairly light in the photos, but your horse is still behind the vertical. You should be going on a very loose rein if you are using a shank bit and you are not. I would also like to see your hands come up some - more above the withers than out to the side of the withers.

That is what jumped out at me too. Way too much contact for that bit. Your poor mare is way over flexed. You seem to be very consistent in this too. Too much contact and over flexed. Your gorgeous mare does not appear to appreciate it either.

Why exactly would one post photos of them riding barefoot in their pajamas and then ask for a critique of them? Wanting to start a train wreck?

glad to see you all are very friendly around here! as for the horse being over flexed she is still learning the headset thing and sometimes over flexes her head. She has a hard mouth working on softening it.

Either your photographer has bad timing or over flexed seems to be the norm. If she is consistently over flexing you need to try a different technique to teach her a head set. (Though the term head set makes me cringe.)

Putting a shanked bit in her mouth and cranking on her until she is over flexed will not soften her mouth.

I see that too.

She's giving you her face but you're not giving her anything. Even if she is just overflexing on her own you should take all pressure off the reins.

Ok so my mare has the same issue with overflexing and I ride in a simple snaffle and I am about to try a french link. I ride with little contact and she does this and she doesnt want to relaz and stretch her head down

def too much contact. WHY would you put a harsh bit on a hard mouthed horse to begin with?? you can very easily get her head up, push her forward through it, simple as that. dont ride barefoot, its dangerous and your heels are up they should be down. I would never be around horses barefoot, my old train used to tell us we would get worms from it lol, idk if thats true but i really dont like shit between my toes. On a lighter note, she is very pretty, and has a nice trot!

She's gorgeous!