Jazz and Rachael's Critique Log

Hai!
A little bit of background. Jazz is a four year old gelding who has been trained from the ground up by myself. He is coming along fantastically, I could not be more proud of him.
So I have decided to start a video log complete with one video a week that I plan to post here. I really would like more opinions on how he looks, and if you would like to critique my riding as well I am all ears. Our goal is to go to Pinto Worlds next year and be able to at least compete. So.. here is my first video.
In this video Jazz's canter is the main focus. It is still very rough and when I reversed he picked up the wrong lead.. not uncommon for the right lead. He also picks up his head while transitioning to the canter, something I hate him doing, but something that takes time to work through. Any tips on that would be appreciated. As far as my riding goes.. well I am training in this video so.. my equitation tends to be a bit sloppy while I train. I will pretend I am showing next time


Im not quite sure if this will post it on here like I want it to or not. Heres to hoping.

Yay! It worked. I apologize for the quality of this video. To things to get for next week.. A tripod and a better audio track.

The quality is fine!! I could see you perfectly.

What's your goal with this horse? Will you be doing the all around? Or focusing on English? Western?

Getting that smooth, no head-tossing transition requires lots of work on your part. You need to push him into the bit which means taking a feel of his mouth and using your leg. Lots and lots of leg. Take it slow at first. Pretend like you're going to canter, and when he lifts his head, pull back and use your leg to get him back into frame. Do this over and over again until he figures out that you're going to check him back if he lifts his head. You might try using a running martingale to help you through this phase, too. Up to you.

I wouldn't work him on the rail anymore, either. He's really lazy through the shoulder. He could move tons better with some shoulder-in work or two-tracking across the diagonal. The trick is not to overbend. That can lead to those over-canted lopes that are so hideous to watch. Once again, take it slow. Bend for a step or two, and when he gives, release. Then do it again. And again.

You'll need to slow his canter down, too. You'd be fine at an open show with this canter, but not at a breed show. Work lots of circles. Spiral in--tightening up that circle--which will force him to slow down. When he's at the desired speed, spiral out. Working circles will help to keep your horse rounded and bent so that he uses himself instead of flattening out. A flat horse is a four-beating/tropping machine.

I'm sure you know you'll need a weighted tail. He carries his pretty high which takes away from the overall picture.

Have fun!

Pam

I meant to add (but for some reason I can't edit my message ::sad face::), that I can be hypercritical when giving out advice. I truly don't mean to be rude, truly, I just try to give people an honest opinion. Some things might click with you while other things might not and so NO WORRIES. My advice is always meant to be helpful and so forgive the rather blunt nature of they way my critique was delivered. :)

Hugs,
Pam

Pam

Haha your critique is fine, I love all advice whether it be harsh or not. The thing that annoys me is people who tip toe around and do not actually tell you something is wrong. So your critique is very much appreciated! =)

My goal is all around. Showmanship, hunt, western, trail. Possibly some dressage later in his life but I would like to finish him out in one thing before I start another.

However, dressage cross training does seem to help. He does do shoulder in quite well and I have done some two tracking with him. I will be sure to post in my next video. I agree on his shoulder. He is completely lazy. I am not used to this type of arena I am working in either. All the corners are rounded so I cannot bend as well through my corners like I had done before. This video is only the second time I have been on him since in Oregon. We will get it. Lol

He does have a slow down and collect cue. However its a new cue that I just taught him and he's not too sure about it yet. So lots of work on that. I agree completely his canter needs to be slower. So time consuming. Lol
I will definitely try the circles though, sounds rather brilliant. Also I do have a martingale that I broke him in which I could break back out. Another thing to try. YAY!

He does have a weighted tail and his mane is normally about 2/3 of its length in this video. This is just our off season so he gets a little bit privileged with his mane growing.

Thank you again for your advice. Stay posted for next week and I will be sure to try the things you mentioned.