| This is just going to be a general impression as I dont have paper and pen in front of me at the moment. Gallop to the jumps. Doesnt mater how big or small they are gallop to them. this will help on the breaking to trot after jumps problem. You want to keep the gait that is called for in the class. The horse is strung out not round. Notice how his back is flat and not round? But in order to get him round you MUST MUST have contact with his face. One can not occure without th other. Your position while 'nice' has some problems. You're almost in the chair seat. But that can also be related to your very to deep of seat for jumping seat. YOu have to be light in the seat. You can still sit deep in hte saddle if that is the class 'requirememt' but be light not so heavy. in the vids when compairing to others who are at about the same level of jumping ( I am assuming the jumps are about 2'-2'6 at most) you are very heavy not to sound snotty but compaired you are more like an unforgiving sack of potatos. the reason you can not follow with your hands insteado of pumping with oyur body is the horse as pointed out before lacks impulsion and if you look very carefully at the how you are riding you lack the skill of independent movement of each and every part of your body.This is a difficult but necessary skill to learn. Ie your lower back should be moving independently from your middle and upper back along with the hips. As I said it is a dificult skill to learn but for the sake of self preservation it is a necessary skill. Get your hands up where they belong. Yes I realize that in breed shows and many 4h level shows who follow the breed show standrds it is ashionable to have to low of hands, puppy paws etc. But it is not proper. But inorder to actually do this with out restricting movement of the horse it connectes to the above independent movement, And as it is Im guessing something you have learned you have to unlearn it as it is not proper. The best way to achieve all of this is to think 'light' light seat, light hands, light body, light horse. Light seat could be 3/4 seat ( not taught as much as it should be anymore) to a 1/2 seat. Light hands doesnt = long reins or open hands. It means not hanging on the mouth and following hands light body is conneted ot light seat and hands = independent movement of all body parts light horse= horse moving out, not flat or strung out. = horse round under your and moving foward. The horse appears choppy in his gaits which is from his lck of impulsion and lack of roundness under you. Basic dressage taught by someone who does dressage first and something else second. Not soemone who does something else first but also does dressage. I mute the vids but i would guess he sounded vey heavy and if you look closely he is making dust with almost each step. Understand that a dusty ring will do that but a horse moving properly will produce less dust as he is landing lighter and not 'dragging' his feet. Also if you are going ot bang his tail you must pull the top. Not clip but actually pull it. I love banged and pulled tails dislike banged and clipped tails and yeah it is eacy to tell the differance. If you dont know how to do this ask a groom or braider to show you how. It is possible that in some book or on line somewhere there are directions on how to do this. But rule is if your dont pull dont bang tail. Kinda like 'rule' dont need to braid tail if mane is braided BUt if tail is braided the mane has to be. The way your horse is going right now he has limited potential not much if any higher that you are currently going. But if you get the above going properly he could easily be a 3'6'' horse if not higher.
If ponies were human.. most would be in prison. Mrs. Smith COTH
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