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Average Member
 
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Yesterday @ 7:48:03 PM
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| It's been a long time since I've asked for a critique. I haven't really been active on here recently at all. So I'll go ahead and fill you all in. I spent most of last year (2008) hurt and not really doing much. At the end of the year my doctor finally believe that I was in a pain and did an MRI which led to surgery on my shoulder. This past year I spent ridign almost daily and competing. I did pretty good, but I wouldn't consider my area as a place with good riders (or judges for that matter). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cndMPls3Pd0 I know I'm doing about a million things wrong, feel free to pick at any or all of them. Also, generally he (my horse) lacks impulsion and I've really been trying to work on that. Unfortunately, my coach just keeps telling me to 'work on it' and has never actually bothered explaining how he wants me to work on it. So what would you gusy recommend?
"My treasures do not clink together or glitter; They gleam in the sun and neigh in the night."
-Arabian Proverb-
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New Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 11/12/2009 5:50:31 AM
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Sorry, I don't know squat aobut impulsion, but I did notice a few things in your riding. Anyone correct me if I'm wrong. During the flawork, your upper body, hands, and arms looked really stiff and tense. During the jumping, I noticed that on most of the jumps your lower leg swung back a little and you looked unbalanced on the landing. I think that's it, but that's just what I saw. I'm sure the other members will find more.
Please tell me: How do you like my new siggy? The poem is mine, just so y'all know
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Junior Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Today @ 7:34:17 AM
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| ok. Here are some things im going to point out. but let me tell you, my english doesnt help me much when it comes to explaining something ok. ill try to be as clear as possible. * You need to engage your horse's hind quarters, your horse lacks impulsion as you said, your horse is flat, and your transitions are a bit messy. You need to streighten your upper body some more, by this i dont mean to send your body back, im talking about you relaxing at your shoulders sending them back, bringing your chest more forward and making yourself more bigger. * impulsion doesnt mean you have to go faster, it means the complete engagement of the hindquarters. Horses have a motor on their hindquartes, and it pushes the animals forward. Horses by nature tend to put their body weight on their front legs, but by using contact, propper leg aids, your seat and so on.. you teach the horse to gather up himself and instead of carrying his weight on its front legs, he carries it on its hind legs instead, allowing more balance, and to achieve better transitions and halts. in order to improve your horse's impulsion, you first must improve your riding and understanding of this, by doing more flat work and focusing on this. I recommend you give lower leves of dressage a try. as 2nd level dressage is the key to success to every dicipline and mastering it makes you succeed in your riding. * you could practice your colection, and no, it doesnt mean you have to pull and force your horses head down, it means use your legs more and ask him to accept the bit. it takes patience and hard work to achieve this certain kind of feal. * on riding *or dressage like riding* it takes 70%leg 25% hips and seat and only a 5% hands. Your transittions are messy, but im just guessing its because your horse is a bit flat. I read a quote, im not sure if it was here in the furoms but it really striked me.. "practice doesnt make perfect. Perfect practice does make perfect" so each time try improve posture, read books, and ask your instructor as many things as you like. it doesnt hurt to change some jumping lessons for dressage lessons instead. You cannot have a balanced horse, when the rider is not balanced, try to improve it. it takes time so never give up. Check this website. maybe it will help you understand some more about horse balance http://www.ridingart.com/balance.htm ignore my bad english or spelling. hope this helps lovely horse ! :)
Seize the Day... Never Trust Tomorow Proud owner of My beloved KWPN mare: Zunique aka Zuni
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Starting Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Today @ 5:24:57 AM
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Dream is very similar to the boy I lease. You need to add a bit more leg and try to engage his hind end a little more. He looked like he was "trantering" a little bit there.
I always have to be sure to have lots of leg to get him into a proper canter and from there, I usually work on smaller, collected circles to get him listening to my leg and using his hind end. Bring your outside him to your outside hip and balance him with outside aids, pushing him around your inside leg.
You also need to work on you hands and seat a little bit. Your hands are all over the place and look like they're stuck in your crouch. Hold them up, over the neck and have a bent elbow. Relax your seat a little bit as well; you look like your driving him with your seat quiet a bit, which can never be good when jumping. I know from experience! ;) Work on a two point at the canter and use your legs to move him forwards; not your seat.
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Starting Member
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Last Login: 2 days ago @ 10:24:25 AM
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| I'm not trying to be harsh, but you should not be jumping right now. If you were off for awhile due to an injury, it's understandable that your muscles aren't as toned as they were, but it's clear that you need to strengthen them again. On the flat, your position at the canter is very weak, you are pumping with your body and your lower leg is completely unstable. The trot isn't as bad, but both transitions from the canter to the trot were because the horse wanted to stop, not because you asked him to. With more lower leg strength, you'll be able to keep him at the canter. As far as the jumping, there are so many problems with your position, mostly due to your lack of a basic position. Go through the video and pause it over the jumps, I think you will see what I mean. You are jumping way ahead-not neccessary for this tiny ditch. Also, your lower leg has swung back way too far from the position that it should be in at the girth. Because of your weak upper body, you have braced your hands on the horse's spine, giving him not nearly enough release, as you can tell from the expression on his face. The corners of you horse's mouth are pulled back because you are using his mouth for balance. Your hands should be about 6 more inches up the mane, and pressed into his crest for balance, not his spine. I suggest lots of work on a lunge line - no hands, no irons. Work on your center of balance and go from there. You should be very balanced and secure at the walk, trot, canter, and your transitions before you jump again. Also, when you do jump, take it slow and make sure you are doing it right at the baby jumps before you move up. That verticle that you did in the video was too high for both you and your horse as you can tell from the way your horse struggled over the jump.
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