Jumping AND Flatwork! Pictures and Video!

Hello! :)

This is from my ride yesterday with Cowboy. The jumps go from 2'3 - 3', they are labelled in the video. Flatwork comes after all the jumping. Tear us to pieces! I'm looking for critique on both me and Cowboy, and excersises to make us better! We are in Hunters. Also, if you could, let me know what height we looked best at, I'm trying to decide what to show at for this season. Thank you very much! :) Screenshots are below the video, if you'd rather do that :) Photos are lowest to highest.

Video is avaliable in 760p (HD).

I am only going by the pictures because I can't watch the video on my phone.
I think you look pretty good over the jumps ypu might benifet from shortening your stirrups a few holes and putting your heels down some more to help from your leg swinging back a little over the jumps. It only goes back in a few pictures though.
I can't see what the heights are but you two look the best in the first two pictures .
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I agree with Live2Ride15. Your stirrups could come up a hole or two for jumping so you will be stronger in your base of support. Then it will be easier to drop your weight in your heels and help you avoid gripping with your knees, which pivots you forward and causes you to jump ahead. These are things which I know you know, and just need practice and be aware of. Grids and trotting jumps to the base with patience will help. You and Cowboy have come a long way and are getting better and better all of the time. Congrats!

You know what I love about your jumping....? You are really quite accurate! It's tough to see a distance to a medium sized, airy vertical, and yet you two march right down to that fence, get your eye on it, and jump it quietly and cleanly. I love it! If I rode half as accurately, I'd be jumping the big stuff by now!

As others have said, your stirrups could come up a few holes. It would give you a better anchor and allow you to let the horse jump up to you instead of throwing yourself over the jump. His front legs look loose which is probably as a result of you being too far over his shoulders. Love the pair as a whole. Just shorten those stirrups, stay tall on approach, and let him do the jumping.

I don't jump so can't give precise advice there. I thought your lower leg looked awesome! Like I mean solid, quite, and easy.

A couple of times I saw what looked like you pumping a little with your upper body, perhaps to try and get a bit more forward energy out of your horse. And a couple of times it looked like you were squeezing with your lower leg for the same reason. I might consider doing a bit of a reminder to him of the soft cue to go forward, so use a crop a time or too to get him sharpened up so you don't feel tempted to squeeze or pump.

All in all, you are a simply adorable pair. Your riding is calm, relaxed and looks pretty effortless. Your horse is very happy and relaxed, if a bit sleepy at times.

A joy to watch such a nicely matched pair.

Thank You all very much! :)

Live2Ride15 & upanddownrider - I will definitely take up my stirrups a bit. That's actually as high as they go, so I'll be punching some holes. I'm planning on getting a new saddle in March that will help me out a bit in that area as well. Thanks again!

Oxer - What a lovely compliment! I appreciate it greatly :)

MyBoyPuck - Letting him do the jumping is certaintly something I need to work really hard at! I do have a bad habit of getting really excited when jumping, and I like to do more work than what is needed ... thank you!

Tinylily - Thanks so much! I love him very, very much :) I ty to make sure he is very happy and relaxed every time I ride him. That said, he has gotten a bit pokey, and you are correct about the pumping and squeezing with my leg. I do have a crop, and may have to bust it out the next time I ride. Thank you for confirming my suspicion of needing a little umph. Thanks again!

Keep it coming, I'm loving the critique given! I've got a list of all the things to work on set up, I'd love to add to it! :)

Overall you guys look like a good pair. One thing is definitely your leg is loose and sliding back w/ your heels not really down too much. Also, sometimes you make too big of a move with your upper body over the jump. Look at the second to last picture, your shoulder is lower than your butt, you really don't need to fold over that much!
Your horse is cute and seems like a nice steady guy, I agree that gymnastics and not folding over so much w. Your body will definitely tighten up his front end!

Thank You! I will definitely log all of those tips :)

Another thing.. I was going to make another thread, but I'd rather just ask here if I can get an answer. I'm going to ride in a clinic come April. This will be my first, and I was just wondering what my attire would be like. A polo, of course, with both me and pony nice and clean. But would I wear tall boots, like a show, or can I wear my paddock boots/half chaps? Also, would I just use a contour pad on Cowboy, or a nice, white, square pad? Thank you!! :) Oh, and can I leave his mane loose, or braid?

To me, it would depend on a few factors. Is it going to be warm where you are that time of year? Is is a hunter, jumper, or eventing clinic? And is the clinician a huge name like Madden? Or just someone local in your area? These all sort of change my opinion on what should be worn in a clinic.