As the jumps get bigger, do NOT reach for the ears. When the jumps are bigger, you should be doing an automatic release, as the crest release forces you to come too far forward in order to give the horse a proper release.
Maybe Saraequestrian was speaking of the long crest release?
I do agree with you about the crest release - although I do feel it is highly overdone and over taught.
Far too many riders today, continue to do the crest release, even when they have a strong base of support to keep their upper bodies where they need to be - which is a shame, because it is highly over done and GM complains about it all the time. He created the Crest for beginners to a) not interfear with their horses faces and b) support their upper bodies due to their weak lower.
I dislike the crest release - even GM says that it is over taught and has lost the reasoning behind the main purpose of him creating it. It is far overly done in today's show ring and lesson programs.
Although it has its place, I believe it impede's the riders progression over time and it hinders them in the long run.
BUT!!! To the OP - I am proud of you grabbing onto mane! Good job and way to go!!! There is NOTHING wrong with grabbing onto mane, to a) stay out of your horses mouth and b) give you that sense of security
I do not see you interfearing with your horses mouth
~~~
In this picture, you are not pinching your knee's at all. I see a big gap between your knee's and your saddle. Although, I do see you reaching for your toes.
Proper leather length, creates a strong base of support. Too many riders go around with incorrect leather length.
There should be 110 degree angle in your knee's - when you have the correct leather length, then you can learn to allow your heels to do their job -
ANCHOR YOU in your tack
They MUST do that. Many riders end up searching for another avenue of support and security in their tack, that is why we see allot of knee pinching or gripping with their calves. When this is done, our heels cannot do their job.
I also see your iron placed incorrectly on your foot. You cannot accomplish securing your lower leg when this is placed on the wrong place on your feet. The iron should be at the ball of your toes, the outter bar on your pinky toe and the inner on the ball of your big toe.
You also must have the correct leather length - the moment you do this, you can now search for your security and base of support in your tack.
Also, work on pushing those legs to that girth. Knee's open, weight flowing down into your heels, inner calf wrapped around your horse. Train those muscles as to where they need to be.
I don't see you ahead, which is fabulous! Your seat does appear to be over the center of the saddle - what it does look like is that you got popped out of your tack.
One can tell you what to do - but you need to know why you need to do this. When you are on approach to the fence, going over the fence, and departing from the fence, our horses need that consistant support through our lower leg.
Many riders just stop riding all together a few strides out, leaving the rest up to our horses - which results in veer outs and refusals and lack of impulsion and a flat horse. So we want to aid our horses at all times, it is about bringing out the best in our animals - because afterall, it is about them.
That is why your form is so important when riding on the flat, and over fences. The moment you are out, your horse is out. The moment you unbalance, your horse does too.
~~~
Your upper body - I believe the reason why your upper body is where it is, due to not only being popped out of your tack, but also due to lack of security in your lower leg - most importantly, your heel.
Your lower leg flings back, your upper body flings forward.
Remember, our horses are supposed to close the angle, but - if the horse jumps flat, we have to aid them.
What many riders today do, is ride the fence - instead of their horses. When I ride the fence, I end up anticipating it. I stare at it, race to it and then - my form goes out the window.
My coach tells me, "Ride your horse, not the fence"
You know the fence is there. Your horse knows the fence is there - why stare at it? Allow that fence to come to you...
How do you do that?
By riding your horses rhythm. The most important factor to jumping, is what is under you. Not ahead of you.
Learn to focus on your horse. His canter or trot. His rhytm. Where your leg is, heel is, seat is, upper body is.
Focus on supporting and aiding your horse to the fence.
Your job, is to get him to the base of the fence in a safe, controlled, rhythmic manner. His job, is to get you over the fence.
You need to learn to remain supportive and aiding every step taken. Well, we all do
When I ride my horse, not the fence - my form is solid and supportive.
~~~~
I would recommend lots of lunge line work. Reinless lunge line work is phenominal.
SPS ridres spend years doing lunge line work without reins, so do GP Riders when they want to correct themselves. No one is too good for lunge line work
Reinless work - will make you focus on yourself while the grounds person can focus on the horse. You then, can focus on correct leg placement, your seat, your core and your upper body.
You will find your seat, asap - and your core...HELLO.
lol.
What my coach also does with me, is have me going around reinless on the lunge line - where I will imagine myself on a course. Focusing on my body placement to aid my horse on approach, take off, over, landing, depart.
He will say "fence" and I have to mock going over the fence, without actually going over a fence. That way, I can focus on my form, without interfearing with my horse.
Cavaletti's get introduced and then small xrails.
~~~
All in all, I think you look pretty good compared to many others out there. I am impressed that your seat remained centered over your saddle, and I love that you are grabbing mane. And looking ahead