Flatwork Critique

Any tips?? Thanks :) ( note: one of my first times working with a double bridle haha)

* will post a trot pic after

You seem to be riding on your bottom rein quite alot. Also something doesnt look right about the double,


Infact I'm fairly sure your reins are not attached correctly. Unless its the photo. You seem to have no rein attached to the bradoon on this side??

I don't know if its just the way your picture was taken or the angle or what but it looks like your legs are a little it to far forward. Remember you need a line from your ear to your shoulder to your hip to your heel. You look great though, beautiful horse

Close your hands and don't look down :) looks good though!!!

Thumbs up. Look up.

:) agreed beautiful horse.

In regards to the shoulder-hip-heel line, I think that you are pushing your heels down, which is sending your lower leg forward. I am assuming that you want a dressage focussed critique. If that is the case, you don't need to push your heels down. Let them fall down on their own. I used to have the same problem, my lower leg went forward because I was forcing my heels down so hard.

Also, your back is nice and straight, but your shoulders seem a little hunched forwards. They need to some up and back a touch. Try lifting them up, pushing them back, then letting them drop. That is where they should sit while you are riding.

The way ur holding the reins you should switch them.. you have them backwards

There are many different ways to hold double reins. She's actually holding them the way I like to ride with double reins.
Are you riding upper level dressage, OP? If not, may I ask why the double?
The horse looks short behind, as if the major focus is on the headset, so his hind is just lagging, being forgotten about. Horses have to be ridden back to front. It also looks like you're 'jet-skiing'; bracing with your leg to pull with your hands. Does the horse have a hard mouth?
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There are many, many different rein holds for the double bridle. The one shown in the OP's picture is correct, but not ideal for her riding level.
What is the point of riding in the double? I'm assuming you're trying for Juniors? In any capacity, to save the horse's mouth while learning with two reins, attach both reins to your snaffle bridle and hold them that you snaffle rein is between your ring and pinky fingers and the curb rein is between your middle and ring finger. This lessens the effect of the curb marginally and is the most common rein hold for juniors and amatuers who do not yet have an understanding of the double.

As far as your position - check your saddle fit. I think the cantle needs to be raised to allow you to sit more towards the front of the saddle and your stirrup lengthened gradually by two holes in order to allow your leg to relax downward around the barrel and fall in the correct ear-shoulder-hip-heel line. You also need to greatly expand your chest, push your shoulders back and look up with a balanced head. The horse follows your head and if you're looking down - he is on the forehand.
Finally, to correct your kinked wrists, you need to drive your shoulders and elbows into your hips and keep the whole upper arm beside your upper body. The soft contact comes from a soft elbow and wrist and feeling hands. A kinked wrist is not soft. Keep your wrists straight, with the pointer fingers more towards the front of the horse than the pinkies, and keep your fingers soft. Shorten your reins until you have contact - don't pull back until you have contact.

Good luck!

Anabel, yes there are different holds for double reins but what I can see from that foto is that 2 reins are connected to the bradoon on the off side and non on the near side and 2 reins are connected to the weymouth on the near side and non on the off side.

You can hold double reins differently but they should always be attached to the bits in the same way. Ie one set of reins on the bradoon (attached at both sides not on one side) and one set of reins on the weymouth (again attached on both sides not on one side only).

I stand to be corrected but that is what I see in the photo. An incorrectly fitted double bridle.