My fugly position :D

Go ahead bite my head off :P My position really isn't great. Mainly because I tend to focus more on Jack than myself. I seem to go up and down with my position some weeks I'll be all right with it...then others......

Anyway, have fun and be harsh, I can take it. The only thing I ask, if you are going to tear me to shreds can you give me advise on how to improve.

Flat

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e7...a/IMG_0201.jpg
Middle of winter warm up.. Stirrups too short?

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e7...nda/show29.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e7...a/P7190153.jpg





Jumping

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e7...a/IMG_0514.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e7...IMG_0105-1.jpg
Over Jump :S

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e7...Capture2-3.jpg
Stupid lower leg!

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e7...a/PA250043.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e7...a/PA250037.jpg
**shudders** sorry Jack


A lot of these are kind of old. I promise I'll try and get some better ones tomorrow.

Go ahead :)

Pfffft, you're to hard on yourself girl! I think you look like a darn fine rider, and while your equitation could use some work (haha, who's couldn't??) you're not hindering your horse or presenting a danger.

In some, it looks like you're pinching with your knee a bit, and not keeping your lower leg on as firmly as you could, causing it to swing out/back and curving your toe out. I'd work on strengthening your lower leg, and using it with equal pressure to your thighs to create a more solid base. Basically, I believe what I just said is what caused you to overjump in the second picture, your lower leg has slid back, and instead of folding you're standing more then you should. However, you also placed your hands in a "sticky" place, which left very little room for your centre of balance. I'd advise hands further up the neck, work on folding more from the hips (very nice in your first pic), and creating a solid base and centre of balance with your legs. The third picture you've created an ideal spot for your hands, but again, you're pinching with your knee causing your lower leg to swing back and your body to tip forward.

I find pictures are SO hard to use as a realistic judge of our riding abilities, since when does anyone ever look "perfect" over a fence? Haha, if it's any consolation, I make ALL the same mistakes I just listed, constantly. It's easy to point them out on other people, it's harder to apply them when you're riding alone! Either way, I think you're an absolutely fantastic rider!

...and this is also somewhat creepy. My roommate owns the female version of your big palomino! Seriously, the likeness is downright eerie! These are summer shots, so it's harder to make the comparison, but I threw some flat winter shots in to!

Lovey Dove (me riding, ROFL, see? Way worse then you!):





In winter, our friend Ashley riding:


LOL, I know they have a lot of differences, but still! I just had to post, even my roommate was like when she saw your boy!

Ur jumping ahead.. wait for ur horse to close ur hip angle and try not to anticipate the jump :) also keep ur heels down and at the girth. :)

The one thing I notice (especially in the last picture) is you need a bit more crest release. But he's gorgeous!

Took the words out of my mouth! The first jumping picture looks good, the second one really shows how far forward you are - it looks like you are forcing it rather then letting your horse come up to meet you.

(Welcome to the forum BTW!)

You look like a lovely competent rider!

Your stirrups look a tad too short in the first series of pictures, I will agree with that.
The first jumping picture is absolutely lovely.
The next few pictures you are really getting ahead of the motion - let the horse jump for you! If you're this ahead and your horse stops in front of the jump, you might end up doing a solo performance.
I do think that you have a solid enough position that you should start mentioning an auto release with your coach.
There isn't a whole heck of a lot wrong with these photos, missy! Macabre covered a lot of good points.

Thanks so much everyone :)
JustDressageIt - I did work on a bit of work on Auto releases over the summer but that was on Bonnie. I honestly don't know why I went back to crest releases with Jack. It's probably because it took me a while to adapt to horse striding while jumping compared to that of my pony. I just didn't want to wack him in the mouth.

Good for you for knowing that about yourself! When you feel ready, I would suggest going back to the auto release :)

I concur. Looks like you could use a little more balance. Working on the flat or over fences without stirrups can help.
Your position isn't ugly we all started somewhere.