I believe my back has a bit of an arch to it, I can never seem to keep it flat! Any tips or tricks? Also, is there anything else major I need to work on improving?
Sorry for the craptastic picture, it's a video screenshot.
My advice would be to stick closer to the saddle for a quicker and smoother recovery upon landing and arching your back. Other than that, nice release, heels, and leg position.
You are ducking, which is very bad! Don't lean so far forward, and stay a bit closer to the saddle.
From the angle it looks like you could stand to shorten your stirrups a hole or so.
I am also seeing daylight under your knees, I dont like daylight under knees! I get yelled at for it, so...that means you are perching. Sink into your heels a bit more.
I don't see her ducking. She seems quite centered. I could agree that she is higher than this small jump requires, but I don't mind it at all. Rather too far out than too close, IMO.
From the angle it looks like you could stand to shorten your stirrups a hole or so.
Oh, my....no. Stirrups are borderline too short for this height. That's why she is a bit above the saddle. Again, I ride jumpers and like her seat.
I am also seeing daylight under your knees, I dont like daylight under knees! I get yelled at for it, so...that means you are perching. Sink into your heels a bit more.
Your horse is really cute!!
I LIKE that she is not grasping with her knees. Her legs are relaxed and have just the right contact in just the right place, the inside of the calf. As a result, her lower leg is great and she has a solid balance...hence great security. If you teacher is yelling at you she may be teaching you to pinch with your knees. That often onlocks the lower leg and allows the lower leg to slip way back. Now, THAT is bad. Perching? Not in my book. Her heels/ankles look good to me.
Your lower leg is very good and I like your seat just where it is. Please, no more "arch" to your back.If I were to try to change anything, I would have you lower your hands a bit lower on the sides of the horse's neck. You are using a crest release I teach to my beginning riders. You are a good enough rider, with good enough balance, that you should start working towards an automatic release.
Agree with Allison, your lower leg and base of support are admirable. With a little polish, you could go far.
It looks to me from the single photo like you're still pinching a little mane in your fingers. Normally, this is a habit I applaud and encourage; but in your case, it's a little out of synch with your level of ability. I would definitely work on developing a true crest release, with your hands lower and knuckles resting on the muscle of the neck, and then work toward an auto release - it's certainly within your ability.
Once you start working with an intermediate or advanced release, your upper body position will change. You have a lot of angle in your hip in the photo partially because of the exaggerated release. When you start executing an intermediate or advanced release, your hip angle should close in proportion to the horse's effort, not in proportion to how you move your hand and arm.
Thanks for the critique! Yes, I did make the release a bit dramatic :P I had been working on keeping my lower leg still over smaller fences before this one, and it just seemed, well, big. Haha, it's only 2'7" though. Yes, maura, that may be a bit of mane-gripping, I kick myself all the time for it, so hearing it from someone else really encourages me to break the habit more.
Usually I am extremely scared to post pictures of myself and ask for critique, but I feel much better now that I've done it
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