some schooling pictures

[Tuff_up]

I said on my last thread that I would post some pictures of me riding with my new Showman saddle..wel finally found the camera. I am still working on slowing her down and getting her to have a more flat neck (which makes a better collection for Western Pleasure) but this is her 2nd year of being back in work and having a pretty slack winter.

canter/lope..

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t230/Tuff_up/westerncanter.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t230/Tuff_up/westerncanter002.jpg

trot/jog..

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t230/Tuff_up/trot.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t230/Tuff_up/trot002.jpg

working on collection..

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t230/Tuff_up/Picture029.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t230/Tuff_up/workingoncollection.jpg

and sorry for how dark some of these pictres turned out. By the way my mare is a 17 year old 15.2 hh Quarter Horse.

[dizzybee]

Your saddle looks amazing what a nice looking horse you have you look very well together

[posie]

lovely horse! and fab saddle. you two look great together x

[MagicSix]

love the horse - does not look her age -and the saddle is very fancy

[Keket]

Nice mare, nice saddle. The saddle is positively drool worthy! :D Just look up! Looking at her head won't make it go down. ;) You have a lovely mare, so keep your chin up and look proud!

[Tuff_up]

we changed bits and yes I know my HEAD NEEDS TO STAY UP! thanks for all teh comments though, I LOVE MY MARE...and saddle.

[qhlady]

Hi there, you and your mare make a nice pair, if you want a little help/critique then the things I would tell you, and bear in mind it is hard to do from pics, so if I seem unfair, I apologise now...

But, I believe your mare hasn't got a lot of topline muscle so you need to work on that first, or she will have trouble supporting you enough to be able to round up and slow down. Her back end can't help as it is weak but if you build it up she'll be able to shift all her weight back easier.

She is all on the forehand, which is again in part to her lack of muscle tone, and part because of how you sit, your head being down shifts all your weight down and to the front, and I think thats why you are riding with your feet out in front a little... trying to rebalance... scoot your butt forward and get your legs under you, shoulder/hip heel, your not far out now, but it will make a big difference in your weight distribution. You can't ask her to pick up her front end if you then sit on it...

And last but not least, the easiest way to lower her head, once you have the other stuff done, is to raise your hands! Seriously, you need to lift your hands way up, like shoulder level, you will feel like a fool, I know, but you need to lift up and play up with the bit, then she drops her head to get away from the annoying jiggling, you drop your hands and so on... it wont take too long before she will get the idea that if she lifts her head you lift your hand and she gets uncomfortable. In next to no time you'll only have to lift your hand an inch or two to get the effect that you were getting with your hands up to heaven.

All you are doing in your current position is causing her to lock her lower jaw and get stiff through her jowl and throat by pulling her neck into her shoulder which effectively locks the whole thing up and you'll never get the slow level topline your looking for cause she wont be physically able to give it to you.

And don't be afraid to ride forward,do some long trot, stretch out the lope and free her up some, then bring her back. Your paces will improve alot. Western is about "flow-flow-flow" not just "slow-slow-slow" and the biggest mistake I see is horses with awful paces because they have been taught slow before flow, they shuffle and look lame, and the slow pace is not a true pace, more an illusion.

You look great together and I think you'll do a great job. And do love the saddle.
Have fun & good luck

[Tuff_up]

well I have been riding big time now and I must say my RI picked up everything you guys have said, she wants me to start doing more equitation practice because of the past english lessons(3 years) i have had has made me pull my legs forward. With that being said I was also told I "help" Carol too much by moving myself forward I help her into the Lope unstead of her just picking it up and me looking pretty, i some what chase her into it. So we have started getting her to soften in the whither which also really engages her hindquarters.

On a good note I knew most of what you guys were talking about I just didn't know how to put it into action. From last year we have improved a bunch (she hadn't been ridden for at least 7 years) when i bought her, and I wouldn't/scared to lope.
thanks all for the comments