Critique; Getting ready for the shows! =)

[LongShot]

Here are some pics from a previous lesson of me and Blu!

He's always overjumped the jumps but is it weird how high he's jumping these fences? Also Is there anything I can improve?


http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/SunShinewarrior/IMG_0203.jpg

Blu and I after the lesson posing for the picture!

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/SunShinewarrior/IMG_0189.jpg


http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/SunShinewarrior/IMG_0199.jpg

Our distance was a bit close.


I've been riding for 3 years, trainging as a hunter. I've had Blu for about 5 or 6 months now.We've shown before and the results have been up and down. We've gotten grand champion once, reserve once, and the other shows weren't so great. I'm looking to go into the 2'6" or 3'0" classes in the fall so I'm looking to improve as much as I can! I ride almost everyday with an instructor now in the mornings before the summer heat and I'm open to all critique!!!

THANKS!! :)

[jadeebaby]

i dont see a problem at all! :)

lovely horse. and v good position!

just keep going as your going! :)

[MajorityRules]

It just looks like he chips in to me .
Lovely work staying with him :)
For him.. I'd say just work with ground poles. Maybe that will help his striding.
For you.. You seem to 'chicken wing' it. Work on keeping your elbows in, and try not to lay on his neck so much. I think your stirrups might be a touch to short (But that could be me.) Also, remember to keep your eyes up. :) That could be part of his issue with striding as well if you make a habbit of it. I was messing Wilson up for a while with that one! This year is the first year my eyes don't instanting watch the jump.

[wildponies]

He seems to be making a hell of a lot of effort over those small jumps? Is he quite green over fences?

Only critique for you is that you are throwing yourself at him, just relax and go with it. Let the jump itself put you into a natural position on him, try stirrupless-jumping and you'll get an idea of what I mean :)

[LongShot]

He seems to be making a hell of a lot of effort over those small jumps? Is he quite green over fences?

Only critique for you is that you are throwing yourself at him, just relax and go with it. Let the jump itself put you into a natural position on him, try stirrupless-jumping and you'll get an idea of what I mean :)


He was leased to me after he had taken a year off of being ridden, so he's still kind of getting back into the rythem of it all haha. I guess that's why he gets so dramatic with the small ones.

I've been doing grid work without sturrips and hands so hopefully that'll help! =)

[LongShot]

It just looks like he chips in to me .
Lovely work staying with him :)
For him.. I'd say just work with ground poles. Maybe that will help his striding.
For you.. You seem to 'chicken wing' it. Work on keeping your elbows in, and try not to lay on his neck so much. I think your stirrups might be a touch to short (But that could be me.) Also, remember to keep your eyes up. :) That could be part of his issue with striding as well if you make a habbit of it. I was messing Wilson up for a while with that one! This year is the first year my eyes don't instanting watch the jump.

Thanks for the advice! I noticed today while I was riding that I did stare at the base of the jump more and more as the jump got higher! I guess just a bit nervous and looking for a spot but I stopped myself and it felt like a more confident approach!

[ravenstorrough1]

Hi there,

Your lower leg looks good - I would try folding, imagining that your body folds from the waist only, pushing your bum towards the back of the saddle - this should help to stop throwing your upper body over him. Try not to kink your wrists in, keep the elbows in and try to think about reaching down towards his mouth rather than up the neck (keeping a soft contact).

What you have been doing with gridwork will help him but remember to let him sort himself and his striding out - don't tell him when to take off, just wait for the takeoff and fold quietly, keeping a contact but allowing him to stretch down. I wouldn't worry about him over jumping - the more experience he gets, the less he will try to clear them. Looking up really helps your position and the horse balance so no looking at the jumps :) Remember rythym and balance are the most important things - the jumps are simply elevated canter strides so keep thinking about your flatwork. Also, looking at the next jump after takeoff will help the horse pick up the correct lead, balance and know where he is going when he lands.

Good luck with it - you both look like you have bags of potential! :D