One photo critique!

Okay so this was back in January at my C-2 rating for Pony Club. You can critique Lancelot if you want, but he doesn't jump anymore due to arthritis issues that we recently found out about. I know he took off long, he has a pony stride (because of the arthritic hock) and the grid was set at a large horse distance, so he just tried his hardest.

You have a great position! Your back is so flat and natural, your heel is down, your head is up, and you are looking up. All I would say is to give your horse a bit more of a release and to soften your lower leg a bit.

Ahhh Pony Club.


You look pretty good. Your seat is just where it should be. You aren't throwing yourself up and out of your tack, which is fabulus - you've allowed your horse to lift you out of your tack instead.

Your seat is dead center over your saddle, exactly wher it should be.

Your leg is solid, and you are allowing your heels to do their job - which is anchor you in your tack.

The only issue, is your upper body/too closed of a hip angle. There is no need to be on your horses neck, allow your horse to close the angle for you. But you have a nice flat back and are looking up.

You should be working on the Automatic Release. Stop relying on your horses neck to balance you when you can definitely be doing that yourself with your solid lower body.

Other than that, you are pretty solid.

Thanks guys! What do you mean by soften, anrz?

MIEventer thanks for the critique.[: The only reason we didn't get to automatic releases with Lancelot was his greenness. He was always silly about jumping, but looking back I suspect it had to do with his hock. He required so much help with the fences that I never got to a point where I could work on it because he was so on and off with jumping. I'm excited to work on it with Chaz, though, as he starts training with fences.

But I agree, I was really closing my hip at the rating. I have always had a problem with waiting to the fences, so I think that may contribute to it?

That is one wicked jump :) Shame he's not jumping anymore

Yeah, he looks fun! Too bad about the hock. Nice lower leg. Can't get much more secure than that.

You look fantastic! Too bad about his arthritis :( because I think he looks good too

Thanks guys! We're hoping to get his hock injected but I'm still really wary about jumping a lot after that since he's only eight and it's already there. I don't want it to become unbearable when he's a little farther down the road.