06-05-2009, 02:44 PM
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#1 | Yearling
Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Florida
Posts: 926
|  Riding Critique... I see an improvement!
Got pictures of Zeus and I today.
I already see tons of improvement from my previous thread and ride a week ago. Tell me what you think. :]
Warming up...
He was moving so nicely today.   
Started to rain a little bit...   
Stupid jump.  
Started to pour. 
And we were done. :] 
Only got to ride for 15 minutes but he was so amazing today that I didn't mind.
I'm so thrilled with how he behaved today!
B) | 
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06-05-2009, 03:08 PM
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#2 | Trained
Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Soon to be back in Higgins. :D
Posts: 5,098
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He does look much more relaxed and comfortable in these pix than in your previous ones. Beautiful boy. :) | |
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06-05-2009, 04:35 PM
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#3 | Started
Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Illinois
Posts: 1,933
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The main thing I notice is in the fourth picture, where it is just starting to rain. It looks like the reins are kind of wrapped around your hand. That could be dangerous. I've always believed that you should hold pinkies to the muzzle (hands on top of rein) because it's a stronger hand position. | |
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06-05-2009, 05:45 PM
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#4 | Super Moderator on Maternity Leave
Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Jersey
Posts: 9,958
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I do see an improvement, but I still see you hanging on his mouth a bit.
Can I ask why you ride him in a gag bit? | |
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06-05-2009, 06:26 PM
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#5 | Yearling
Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Florida
Posts: 926
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I know that there's not way to really tell but I am SO giving and soft with my hands. He seeks out the contact and comes back to me himself, and I never hang on the reins. Yes, I have contact but in no way am I hanging on my reins. I do not pull him into contact or "frame". I'm riding him in a gag bit right now because the other bit we were using wasn't enough. To keep him at a reasonable pace I was forced to be constantly pulling at him and we both hated that. He was ridden by his previous owner in this gag and has been going in it for a long time. It allows me to use much subtler cues and be so much softer with my hands. Once we're more used to each other we will switch back to his other bit, which is a rubber D snaffle.
And I don't really see what you see about the reins, but they're definitely not wrapped around my hands, ha ha. :]
Thanks! | |
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06-05-2009, 06:28 PM
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#6 | Chat Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Alberta, Canada
Posts: 7,454
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Joshie, that's how we English riders hold our reins :)
I too am wondering about the gag.
I do see lots of improvement, but remember to keep your shoulders and hips even. Elbows bent, too. | 
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06-05-2009, 06:46 PM
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#7 | Chat Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Alberta, Canada
Posts: 7,454
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gillian  My comments below the picture. He's losing his energy out his nose - get him to work long and low when warming up, and that will encourage him to really step up under himself. Your elbows could do with some bending - you want a straight line from elbow to bit, not a bendyish line from shoulder to bit. What stands out to me most here is you are cocking your wrists - keep them straight in order to keep him straight. He still needs to be moving our more and tracking up behind. You could sit up a little more and bring your heel back a teensy bit. He's suuuuper bent to the outside with his head - I'm guessing you were trying to pull him over when he balked his shoulder at you. Next time instead of resorting to reins, try bending him inside and push him over with your inside leg. To do this, you need to elevate that inside shoulder so you're not collapsing in on his shoulder. Elbows bent, inside shoulder up, toe forward, and the horse needs to be bent to the inside as well. He has lost a lot of energy here, and the next frame wouldn't show him to be tracking up either. Encourage his hind end to work up and under him and you'll feel a difference. Your leg could come back a bit, and of course the elbows here too. Regarding your shoulders here, they are really rolled forwards... think of there being a star across your chest and you want to show it off; roll your shoulders back and keep your chin off and let that star shine! Star! Toes forward, and a little release of the rein while encouraging him to not evade the bit - he has come back behind the vertical. Closing your ring finger will create a cleaner image as well. Really watch that inside shoulder around circles - if you're anything like me, circles will catch you and you'll collapse your ribcage to the inside. Really focus on keeping tall and straight. Arms bent, and it looks like you're starting to cross that inside hand over the wither - don't! Instead to try and get him to open up through the circle and bend, open your hand up WIDE to the inside and push his ribcage to follow around the circle. It does look like he's tracking up here though so that's great! Elbows!! And it looks like you're not a fan of the rain - your shoulders are sucked right up to your ears! Relax that back and learn to love the rain. Not sure which way you're travelling as his head tells me one thing and his body another - really work on suppling. Elbows! Bring your body back so you're not in a half-seat. That inside wrist is cocked again - really watch that, it's an easy habit to get into and a terrible one to try and break. He's really bracing on your contact and looks like he's balancing on it - you don't want to be holding his massive head up, he can do that on his own! Toes forward and hands wide. Thumbs on top! | My comments in blue and below the pictures. Overall, I see a lot of improvement - you should be proud! | |
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06-05-2009, 06:53 PM
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#8 | Yearling
Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Florida
Posts: 926
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Thanks for the in depth critique JDI! I'll keep in mind everything that you've said.  | |
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06-05-2009, 07:01 PM
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#9 | Chat Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Alberta, Canada
Posts: 7,454
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You're very welcome! It's been a while since I've sat here and done a thorough critique like that!
You two make a lovely team - just some fine tuning on your part, and you'll be set! | |
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06-05-2009, 07:03 PM
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#10 | Started
Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Illinois
Posts: 1,933
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JustDressageIt Joshie, that's how we English riders hold our reins :)
I too am wondering about the gag.
I do see lots of improvement, but remember to keep your shoulders and hips even. Elbows bent, too. | To me, it just looks like there's some hard gripping going on. It just looks, to me, like in that one pic the reins are a bit wrapped around the hand. It could very well be the pic. | |
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