Jumping Photos

I have a video of this same show posted for critique, but I thought this would be easier for some people to view, and catch things. This is my 8 year old gelding in his second season jumping. His rider is also in her second season jumping, and they actually learned together (I know, sort of a no, no). She has good balance, and is a very natural rider, but she is looking to refine her skills.

Please feel free to critique my horse or his rider (with her permission).

Backyard Jumper

Warm up


Cute face shot :)

Your horse is beautiful. What a lovely face.

Right, i've never actually critiqued anyone before but here goes.

First thing I notice is that her leg's slipping back, her heel looks good but if she could get her leg more underneath her, she'd have a more secure base of support. She's looking up and ahead which is good her hands seem pretty good too.

So anyone feel free to correct me if i'm wrong. >.<

Cute pony too. =DD.

First of all that horse is drop dead CUTE!!! ha ha ha

1st pic
Rider: She is pinching with her knee causing her lower leg to swing back and her upper body to come to far in front of the pomel(front of the saddle). She has a good release and is looking up and for her next fence which is great.
Horse: Nice even legs and ears forward. I can't tell where exactly his back end is but it seems as if he is jumping a little flat.

2nd pic
Rider: This time she is not pinching with her knee, but her leg is still to far back. She has a nice long release, as she has loosened the reins so she is not in the horses face. Again she is looking forward and up which is great.
Horse: Great front legs!!! He is alert and paying attention.

3rd pic
Rider: She needs to shorten her stirrup a good 2-3 holes. Her leg has slid all the way to the horses flank and she is throwing her self forward. But she has a good release which is great and she is looking up.
Horse: Nice form!!! Great legs again!! ha ha ha and great expression

Overall
The rider has pretty good form over the smaller fences. Just work on riding without stirrups and two point on the flat and it should fix her legs. I love her releases and she has an amazing back. The horse is drop dead gorgeous and I wish I could have him. He has a lot of scope and I can see with a little work that he will achieve it with no problem!!

Very good job! keep us updated

Thanks for all of your responses :) It sounds like the consensus is to work on keeping that leg from sliding back. I also noticed that her toes seem to be out in the photos where you can see them...I don't know it that should also be corrected or not...does that tend to happen with jumping position, or should she focus on toes straight ahead also?

Thanks for the compliments on my boy :) I also agree that my gelding can be quite a cutie...english is definitely his look. You should have seen me ride western with him before I leased him out...Kinda silly :) Funny thing about him though is that he is not a "people horse" regardless of the cute faces he makes on camera or how happy he looks when jumping. He loves to work, and really likes that sort of attention from people, but don't try to go snuggle/nuzzle with him in the field or he will turn into what looks like a grumpy old man with ears back and wrinkled lips and everything. I learned this of him when he was three, and have just accepted his less than perfect personality...at least he really enjoys being ridden (in fact gets jealous when we take other horses out of the field, but not him) :) Just no unsolicited attention please! :)

I am in agreeance with the above posts...he has so much talent (the horse) and same with the rider... Very very nice!! :P

Thanks :)

Hi um the horse just seems to hold his head up a bit high and is jumping a bit "hollow" but he is very nice

Are you taking about the first photo? The second two photos seem like the head is in a decent position according to the body position at that point of the jump. I tried to imagine his head lower, and it seemed like it would make for an awkward position?

As for the first photo, should they really lower their head and round out more, even over such a low, jump? I think that jumper course was timed, so maybe speed brought the head up and hollowed him out?

input please :)

The first photo is painful, only because your horse looks so loose and scary in the front end. But I do believe it's just the picture, as the rest look much much much nicer.
Rider does look like she needs more confidence building on the ground. Pinching with the knee, causing her leg to hinge backwards. This is a scary feeling and not secure.
I do think both horse and rider look talented, but both may need a little bit more work on some jumping basics.