How have I improved?

Hey HF. I've been riding for around 9 years. I have been riding with my coach and doing 3-Day Eventing for just over 2 years. Looking back on my riding I realized that I have learnt and accomplished so much more in the past 2 years then I had in all the other years of riding. I wanted to know what you guys thought. How have I improved over all these photos? I'll post some past and present ones.

October of 2008


October of 2008


August 28, 2009


November 21, 2009 {Note: we were doing 4 jumps on a circle, the whole pic looks wierd to me for some reason}


May 2, 2010


June 6, 2010


August 28, 2010


September 19, 2010


Sadly I have no photos more current then that last one, soon I'll get some more. Personally I feel my leg is better, I used to have a terrible chairseat. I feel my hands are also better. They're less flat then they used to be.

Your leg does look a lot better....it still looks like you're either jumping ahead of your horse or over-jumping, but that is also better than it was before. Good improvements!

I noticed a lot of progress, especially the latest ones. Though the jumping pictures, lower your body closer to the horse's neck, but keep your diaphragm up. You are far too much out of your seat, if the horse was to stop, you'd go flying.


In this picture you need to release a bit more, you are pulling on his mouth, which will make it harder for him to land properly. Try to stay behind the pommel as well, it looks more professional.

Your seat when you are not jumping is excellent, though.

HUGE improvement on the flat. Over fences, you've fixed the main points that stuck out to me but I think you still need to lower your upper body over the horse's neck. Don't quote me on it, though. In the 2008 pictures on the flat you look to be using the reins for leverage, and in the recent pictures I see a huge improvement in finding your own balance and not relying on the reins for that. Good job, and keep up the good work!

Thanks guys. Yes I am very proud of my flat work. My jumping however I really need to work on. I do tend to jump ahead of the horse and come out of the saddle A LOT. Its something I'm working on especially with the young horse I'm now riding.

I noticed that your jumping position is an entire body lean waaaay far forward, it shoild be an apper body slight lean and bend you knees,

I agroo 100% with mysterious heart- WELL worded too! I think the focus for you know should be staying "natural". Do you try to hard to achieve that jumping seat? A "natural"seat is one that you don't think about doing, you just slightly lean, and release. You butt should barely come 4 inches out of the saddle . That will increase your overall skill as wellthat is needed to reach for the higher fences.
Here in this picture it shows you how neat you can look. Uniform and proffessional. The only thing is, even she is lacking a proper release. Hope that helps!

Flat is good, but jumping you look like you are standing in your stirrups, try to keep your hip angle closed and more of yourself over the tack instead of in front and on the neck.

Overall I think your position on the flat work is pretty good.
And I agree with everyone else about your jumping position, instead of thinking about standing up in the stirrups, think more about pushing your hips back & your hands forward a little. That way you don't end up infront of the pommel, and you give more release with yours hands. You'll find you feel a lot sturdier that was aswell. Keep your heels down aswell, it'll help with balance :)

Your flat position looks very nice. Your jumping needs a little work, you look much too far out of the saddle. Try to shape your body so that it is similar to that of the horse when he/she is jumping it will improve your overall appearance and make you much steadier. You might also want to try to center your weight over your horse, this can help with the leaning forward. Your legs look pretty good, they didn't slide back like many riders. But they could still go forward a little more. I also like that you are looking up in all the pictures.