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Riding Critique

1K views 10 replies 3 participants last post by  equiniphile 
#1 ·
Hi, I'm posting a video of me riding my gaited Paso Fino gelding. I'm preparing him and myself for Fair the first week in August (Easy-Gaited Pleasure Horse class) and want to know what we can work on.

This is a real improvement for Arthur because he always is trying to go back to the barn when he gets bored when we ride. I've worked with him a lot lately on working on a loose rein without trying to go back to the barn, and it's amazing how much he's improved!

What I see is my feet are too far in the stirrups, and my hands are too busy directing Arthur. I think my hands will look less obnoxious once we practice in an arena and my horse knows his boundaries so I don't have to direct him as much. Critique away! Thanks!

 
#4 ·
You'll probably be asked to use both hands, despite being Western. His head isn't on the vertical, which is looked for in gaited shows.

Don't let your free hand flop. Bring it up like you are holding a rein. It gives you balance and a less sloppy look.
Both hands? How? Would I overlap them and just neck rein with two hands, or how? How do you get him on the vertical? And I don't really get where my free hand should be....lol sorry for the questions I just want to do this right

Ridehorses99-

Quoted from Uniform Rules for 4-H Horse Shows--
Horses may be reversed to or away from the rail
Is it I guess just allowed either way, but better to reverse away from the rail?

I'll work on my hand and feet, and my posture at the canter. Thanks guys!
 
#3 ·
If I were to pick out a couple things you can work on, I would say:
1. Heels down (which will be easier to accomplish if your feet are not as deep in the stirrups).
2. Keep your right hand quieter and try to keep it above or slightly in front of the horn rather than moving it up and back towards your horse's ears.
3. Your posture is nice in the walk and trot. Just work on keeping the same posture as you canter (try to keep from leaning forward).

As an FYI, when you are asked to reverse in the arena, you always reverse towards the center of the arena - never towards the rail.

Good luck in your show !
 
#6 ·
You don't neck rein gaited horses. They are always direct reined, from my experience. A light contact in his mouth will help.

If you are neck reining, you always bring your hand up as if you are holding another rein.
Really? I've never heard of that....We've been riding him and my old MFT like that for 20 years. So if I do neck rein, which I will since I switched him from his Imus Gaited Horse Bit to a regular curb and am having much better results, I still don't get what you mean by holding your free hand up....like next to the other hand? Can you post a pic?
 
#8 · (Edited)
I just don't know now....I can neck-rein him in that curb with some contact to help him onto the vertical, or I can direct rein but I have split reins for my Western bridle. I just don't get how to make him on the vertical if he's on a loose rein....how much contact would I need? I also don't get where my left hand should be. It seems weird to have it hang in the air with my rein hand when it's not holding a rein.

I have this book and when she discusses Western riding she never talks of direct reining.....



I'm just trying to understand because I thought they were always ridden with one hand Western
 
#10 ·
That should work. But remember that you will likely be in a small class, with probably mostly TWH(my pleasure-gait class is like, 5 people big). You will be mixed English and Western-- at least, that's how it is here. So you will be judged like everyone else.

Also, I'm talking more for show. Anything is correct if you are just pleasure riding at home.
 
#11 · (Edited)
I don't plan on showing him much; just a show on July 10th where I'm doing Trail, Halter, and Egg&Spoon (he wins that one every time lol) and Fair the first week of August where I'm doing Egg&Spoon, Egg&Spoon Walk-Trot, Trail, and Easy-Gaited Pleasure. He's mostly my pleasure horse.

Yea it's small at our fair....for every other class they give out three placings but for this class there was only first and second last year.

Thanks for your help. I think what I'm going to do is work on getting him on the vertical, making a better arch in his neck, and fake the left hand. Thanks again! I would have ended up in the show ring looking a bit too out of place :lol:
 
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