[Sophia]

So these are from about 4-5 months ago and I have gotten a bit better but I would like to know what people think. Please critique me and my pony please! Aything really. The show pictures are from his an dmy first show. He was very nervous. Thanks.

 

[fourtwentyam]

In the first picture you have way too much foot in your stirrup and your heel needs to be much, much more down. Your leg is also falling back over the jump. Very dangerous, I would really work on getting a better heel and not putting as much foot in your stirrup. The stirrup should rest on the ball of your foot - not the arch, where it is in that first picture.

In the flatting pictures it appears as thought you're doing dressage. But if you're not, haha, you definitely need to work on your heel, it's nonexistant at the moment. Putting your stirrups up one hole would probably help. Although, your foot is properly placed in the stirrup for the flatting pictures.

Your pony is cute, a little ahead of the bit but that's alright for your level. He has a super adorable jump, although he's a little hollow in the back. Doing lots of gymnastics will help him learn to use himself better, and as your position improves he will find it easier to jump as well.

Your upper body while jumping and flatting looks okay (maybe arch your back a bit more over fences), I would just really work on your leg. Your toes are in, which is wonderful.

And remember, eyes up! ;D

 

[IheartPheobe]

First picture: You look pretty centered over your saddle, which is good. I like that your looking up and ahead.. Your leg has slipped back a little, and your heel isn't quite down yet. . er, I could be wrong, but this is just what it looks like to me-- Your release looks good, but it seems like you are still catching yoru horse in the mouth. I don't really know how to fix this because it looks fine. . we'll just have to see what other posters think!
Can't really tell anything in the second picture. But I like your horses knees! The third is a bit too small but I like what I can see.
You look great in the next picture, but I would like your hands not to rest on his kneck so much
In the next few pics... your heal isn't down at all. so yeh, I'd work on that and your are looking down in smoe of the pics, too. make sure you are looking where your going!!!

 

[apc11196]

What a handsome man you have yourself! You guys seem to make a good match!

I would say that you should make sure to push on the ball of your foot to get your heels down. You would be surprised how much that helps with your whole leg position. Remember not to overflex your heel though.

Also, remember to keep your feet straight. For now turn them in, well at least it will feel like you are turning them in, but really you are just straightening them. In the second picture you really see what I mean, and how your toes are a little turned out. When people do that, they tend to loose their whole leg position and take their leg off their horse.

When you jump, think of stretching up into a tall, centered half seat, and as you jump your horse with naturally fold you into a "jumping position" by closing your hip angle. The bigger the jump, the bigger the fold will look.

Great job and good luck!

 

[apc11196]

In the first picture you have way too much foot in your stirrup and your heel needs to be much, much more down. Your leg is also falling back over the jump. Very dangerous, I would really work on getting a better heel and not putting as much foot in your stirrup. The stirrup should rest on the ball of your foot - not the arch, where it is in that first picture.

In the flatting pictures it appears as thought you're doing dressage. But if you're not, haha, you definitely need to work on your heel, it's nonexistant at the moment. Putting your stirrups up one hole would probably help. Although, your foot is properly placed in the stirrup for the flatting pictures.

Your pony is cute, a little ahead of the bit but that's alright for your level. He has a super adorable jump, although he's a little hollow in the back. Doing lots of gymnastics will help him learn to use himself better, and as your position improves he will find it easier to jump as well.

Your upper body while jumping and flatting looks okay (maybe arch your back a bit more over fences), I would just really work on your leg. Your toes are in, which is wonderful.

And remember, eyes up! ;D

I feel like her leg falls back because of her heel, so I totally agree with you that her heel has to be down more. Once you fix that heel, I swear, your whole leg position will change.

 

[anrz]

Actually, I think she has a nice release. To me, it looks like she has a light contact while still giving her horse her head. I'm not the best judge, though, so other people correct me if I'm wrong! But, to me, it seems like she has soft, forgiving hands. I agree with what other people have said: work on sinking your weight into your heels- two-point on the flat would probably help with this, if it's done correctly. Your weight, in the two-point, should sink your heels down. Also, work on keeping the stirrups on the balls of your feet.
Another thing is that it looks like you may be gripping with your knees as you jump. Again, two point on the flat will probably help.
Another thing that no one has said, is that you look like you need to lift up through your chest. You're kind of collapsing through your chest, so shoulders back and chest up! And one last thing- look up .
I think that if you fixed your heels, your whole position would change for the better. You look like you have a good position, and if you fixed a couple things, it would be great!

 

[Sophia]

Thanks! With the heel I did notice that and so did my coach, we have been working on putting the heel down and it has been pretty much fixed. My only problem now is that my heel comes up when I am concentrating really hard on something, such as the pictures on the grass and in the show ring he was either not moving or freaking out from the new surrondings so my heels went up. Ooops!!! I have been told my release isn't the best but I always keep forgetting to work more on it since I focus a lot on my leg positioning. And my stirrups were a bit long, I did dressage when I was rlittle so this stirrup length is short for me. I am riding with one hole shorter now when not doing intense flatwork. Not that it is pointed out I releaize just how much foot is in my stirrup. I will look at othe rpictures and see if this is a habit or if it was just this one picture. I know this also sounds like an excuse but my big toes is huge and I have had surgery on each big toe for my toe nail issues so my boots are technically to big since they have to fit my big toe in. I need custom made boots but I don't have the money, so that may make it look like my stirrups is even further back when it really isn't. Though I agree the first picture the stirrup is very far back. Thanks again for the pointers, i will work on all of them now when I start lessons again.