Jumping My lil Boy Buddy***Please Critigue***

Hi guys these pics were taken last weekend, the 18th & 19th, at a show jumping clinic with Trevor Morris. I was hoping some of you would critique buddy & I. I know, & am working on my release over the jumps. Im fairly bad at this but am trying my hardest. The weekend was great! i feel both Buddy & I learn't heaps, from just keeping your corners rounded & sort of like a shoulder in, to riding the rhythm of a 'bounce'. Also bud has come a really long way with the blocks, he use to refuse them even if there were just a couple under a jump. We did not have one refusle all weekend, hehe im so proud of my lil boy.
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ooppie, i uploaded some that wasn't me, :S sorry guys, didn't relise how bleary they are.

Well its hard to judge from the pics (indoor arenas are such a photographic pain)...but it looks like you are either WAY out of the saddle or not in two-point at all. You need to find somewhere in between where you are off your horses back but not hovering over the pommel. I also think the big jump was way to much for you guys right now. Work on your two point over ground poles then move to small cross rails.

Yeah, im not sure about the 2 point thing, (the photos are really bad!) And with the big jump, I don't think it was too much, & neither did Trevor Morris (the instructor) & if he told me to something, I'd do it. He is a fantastic show jumper & instructor.

I think you have some good potential, and good on you for trying! How tall is your horse? I noticed you seem a little tall for him (not big, just tall) which makes your job about twice as difficult (rofl, you should see my 5'10" friend jumping her 14hh pony, she's a good rider, but finding the centre of balance is darn near impossible!).

You pretty much already know you need more release, and I'd say a stronger lower leg. But I like that you're almost always off his back, and aside from your release, don't seem to be hindering him (you're not throwing yourself onto his neck, which I think is worse then sitting back more). I do agree I think the coach put the jumps a little high for you guys, but you were having fun, and that's the important thing! I don't see anything in your riding one could call "dangerous", so no harm was done, and you guys learned that you could!

However, if you're serious about jumping, I'd definately advise lots of low grid work. Looks like your stirrups could be quite a bit shorter to. Keep on practicing, you guys look good!

Yes, talking about my stirrups, Trevor did get me to put them up a little later lol. Umm Buddy's 13.2hh, & im pretty tall, im about 5'10 as well. so yeah i am fairly tall 4 him. thanks for your advice.

In regards to that jump, Trevor tends to put one larger jump in once over the weekend, he did it with each ability group. It allows the riders to get a feel for larger jumps while their horses are in a good frame of mind and there is someone experienced there. The majority of his lessons are gridwork, gridwork, gridwork!

He also allows anyone who doesn't feel comfortable not to do it (I didn't as I was concussed the week before, lol) and also asks certain combinations to sit out if he feels appropriate.

Brooke, I think you looks really good all weekend; The onyl gripe I ahve (But I had it with EVERYONE in your group!) is the releasing. But I know your working on that and we will continue to at PC.

*Just a question, when has he ever refused the blocks?

On the show jumping weekend on the Saturday when I was their with Lynda.