A video from yesterday...

[xRobyn]

This is the first video I've posted publicly, and I'm very nervous about it as I don't take criticism well so please be nice :p I don't mind helpful advice, but please don't be too mean. If you feel there is a major issue you wish to comment on, please private message me :) It's just a compliation of clips from schooling Phillip yesterday... It shows some of the good and the bad, lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uW_Y9FGlY_U

p.s, i know our circles are't pretty. We're working on them lol

[xRobyn]

is it that bad or borning? :o

[Kimmy C]

Hi, he seems like a nice genuine horse. You had some good outline at times. Try to be a little bit more varied and put in the occasional halt, walk, trot transitions to get him working from behind. Try serpentines, coming off the track and back on so he doesn't get bored, although he seems a really good boy. You are doing really well x

[xRobyn]

Thank you for the advice :) I do start with halt-trot-walk transitions, but last week he was being really lazy so someone told me to stop doing halt transitions and just really push him on. I do normally do walk to canter and halt to trot too. The video is just a few minutes of clips, I promise it is more varied than it looks, lol.

[Sierra]

Am not good at criticising, so I thought I would just turn up and drool at how pretty he is instead.. such a handsome (and cute!) face!

[Cortrasna]

Well your braver than me - I would NEVER post a clip of me schooling on here to be torn to pieces by all the experts that seem to notice EVERY minor transgression I make!!!:rolleyes:

Pony looks happy and relaxed, rider looks happy and relaxed - Id say your having a great time together - think thats what horse riding for amateurs is supposed to be about ?- looks great to me - but then what do I know??;):D

[xRobyn]

Haha, it has taken me so long Cortasna. I admire all the people who have the guts to post so many videos but I'm plreased with how he is coming along. it's a work in progress but considering last year I wasn't even doing more than a few strides of trot I think we're doing ok. We've also had no professional training or instructing (well, i had lessons 7 years ago lol, but thats it). I'd rather me mediocre and happy because we both enjoy it and he tries so hard for me :)

Glad you like him Sierra :)

[Cortrasna]

Go girl!!!:D

[xRobyn]

:D thank you!

[xloopylozzax]

i think you do what i do- let your reins get longer and longer which is fine when they are carrying themselves and working well but then when they stop carrying themselves you think **** cos you have no contact for them to get hold of again :S so then you have to faff with your reins (shortening them to give a contact) which unsettles him more and takes longer for him to carry himself.

i might have the completely wrong end of the stick though, so if i have, sorry.

other than that (which i might have wrong anyway!) your both looking great :D

[xRobyn]

You are completly right LL! When I saw you had replied, I must admit I was a bit scared lol :o

Thank you, your compliment has made me smile :)

[xloopylozzax]

why?

i usually do fair critique dont i :o i never critique unless i've done it wrong myself and learnt how to fix it.

im not book learnt, whatever advice i give is what i've had to do for myself in practice :D

[xRobyn]

I think because you know your stuff and it clearly pays off in the showring I was a bit worried lol. Not that I think you would have a go at me lol. I was a bit scared of what all the top riders on here would say, but I won't improve if I don't ask and learn :)

[xloopylozzax]

like i said, i used to do it all the time (and still do sometimes if im really honest...)

[xRobyn]

Do you have any tips to help me stop fussing? I know I do it, which makes things worse because I can't stop myself lol

[xloopylozzax]

took my mum saying everytime i did a transition- "keep hold of your reins!" "stop throwing your reins at her" "why've you got bloody washing lines again" etc

she says im trying be too kind, but it isnt actually nice for the horse because i dont give them enough support.

i made sure i trapped my reins with my thumbs on top, and to alter the length (alter length to trottin length and keep it there) i flexed my wrists and/or elbows instead.

it almost feels like they are too short, but they arent really.

[kathyt1]

I thought the length of your reins was just about right. Also, love the good bend in the elbow and what does look like a nice soft contact! There are moments when you you can see him reach into the contact and go in outline (a proper outline that is, not hauled in at the front and booted from the rear!). Well done!

[xRobyn]

Thank you kathyt1 :)

I really do have to keep him forwards at the moment but he has learnt incredibly fast and I am so proud of him.

Thank you for the advice LL

[kathyt1]

I really do have to keep him forwards at the moment

Having looked at the vid again I would be inclined to slow it down, at times it looks like he is being pushed out of his natural rythem. Be carefull not to do this in pursuit of "forward", it is the ruin of many a good horse! Develope his paces and expression first, then he will have the strength and balance to naturally show more "forward".

[xRobyn]

He was working well yesterday, the previous session he he was lacking forward momentum. I'm not aiming to push him any more than he needs as he has a tendancy to rush :)

[keds mum]

Lovely pony!

[xRobyn]

Thank you :)

[Kimmy C]

Just want to say that you are doing really well and enjoying yourself. Yes you are brave to post a video at the risk of getting criticism, I myself wouldnt have the guts to post one as I too am afraid of what people say,so hats off to you girl, have FUN!!!! x x x x

[lottie.dot]

Well, I have seen one of your videos and I think that is a great improvement... Well done. Of course there is still lots to work on (but EVERYONE has lots to work on) from the clip I would say particulary your circles/bend/consistancy in the gait but I would love to have your arm position (I know that sounds odd!) But this is something I struggle with and I thought you kept this position very well, i.e all the give in your elblows etc... Well done.x

[xRobyn]

Kimmy C; I just have to think "I won't improve if I don't ask for criticism" lol, but it is still nerve-wracking to post a video on here.

Thank you LD, there is definitly an improvement from the previous video I showed you lol. Bend is a big difficulty for us, so I have been working on it as much as I can, and will ask loner to continue with this in particular when I go back to uni.

And thank you for the compliment on my arms! lol

If you don't mind, is there any chance you could pm me and give me some advice? :)