Two show pictures, please critique.

[* Groomette *]

Couple show pictures from a couple weeks ago. Please critique.

http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Aug/20048304980325826915178.jpg

http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Aug/20048305009806643649728.jpg

[Equisgurl]

Nice piccies, you look a bit distracted, or are you looking at a next jump? either way try to keep your body straight as you jump. Also try to realease more, and get the hands higher up the horse neck.

[*MiRi*]

you havent posted any pictures?!

xox

[*MiRi*]

ooooh no im wrong they didnt come up when it said the page had loaded. apologies. still not seen them yet

xox

[*MiRi*]

ahh i see them now!!

nice pics.......i think equisgirl she is looking at the next jump. lol.
i will just say what equisgirl said...realease.

coc

[Elvengirl]

nice pics! I would have to agree with everyone about the release, but really overall you look very nice and confident. Whereabouts are you showing? I am in Alberta also, what shows do you attend in the province?

[* Groomette *]

That one would have been the Wildwood Summer Festival. I pretty much attend the low-key B-shows. I did Esperanza, Wildwood and a few other little ones this year :)

[Elvengirl]

Neat! Always interesting to meet a fellow Alberta rider on here!

[kedwards]

I think you look great. Maybe I'm missing something, but I think your short-release looks fine. Your horse seems to be stretching forward without undue interference.

[horse_crazy4eva]

dude I think I may have seen u at wildwood, that pony looks offly fimiliar. where you there on friday?
I think that you just need a smigim more relise

[DavidH]

I agree with kedwards.
There is nothing wrong with your release.
It appears that you are keeping your arms relaxed and allowing the horse to take the amount of rein it needs.
I believe this is a far better way to jump than throwing your hands up the horses neck.
By physically moving the hand to a set position it can restrict the amount the horse can take (it hits a physical stop) where as the way you are doing it gives infinite freedom whilst maintaing a light contact with the horse which is critical if you are going to ride the stride between doubles and trebles.
Moving hands up the horses neck to give a slack rein will also tend to make the rider go forward far more than necessary and possibly put them in front of the movement.
Keep doing exactly what you are doing. It looks great;) and your horse looks very comfortable with it

David H

[casey]

I agree the release looks fine. But the amount of release given is individual to the horse, and a whole different chapter.

Rein release is a very technical subject.

In short (really short) Although I like to give maximum rein, sometimes, in order to maintain impulsion the rein mustn't be given away. As it will take a couple of strides to regain impulsion for the next fence. Especially on a horse that needs to be kept going.

My new mare likes a long release, as she bascules and is forward going. So I can afford to give the rein over jumps.

:)

[CarolineR]

Release looks great without any restriction to the horse. I would watch your feet though and try to keep your toes in a little more with your leg slightly more forward in the normal shoulder hip alingment. How did you do?

[TBEventer2002]

FAB HORSE!!! I can totally see why he's a hunter! ;) He's very cute with his front end, nice knees, a little uneven below, but very cute nonetheless. Reminds me of my guy!!! :D

VERY nice position, you have your bum out of the saddle just enough to relieve your horse PLUS you have kept your crotch behind the pommel (I read Practical Horseman, George Morris is a stickler for that kind of thing! LOL), which is great. I think your release looks fine, the horse looks happy with what you are doing and his job, and that makes up for many things. Your toes are turned out to the max 45-50 degrees, so that's not too big of a deal. Your heel looks nice, lower leg appears pretty secure, you seem to have a great base of support.

Very pretty pictures overall! :) How did you place & what classes were those?

[* Groomette *]

Thank you all. :) I need all the critisism I can get...I don't particularily like trainers and just help myself improve by getting pictures and picking things from there. Sometimes, though, one can not simply see it all :)

Anyways, considering that this was the biggest show of the year for Dudders and I we did amazingly well.

Novice Juniors 2'9" - 14 Competitors
$100 Novice Juniors - 4th
$200 Novice Juniors - 2nd
Novice Junior US - 4th
Novice Junior Stake - 5th (blah that was a terrible round)

Children's Hunter 3' - 18 Competitors
$100 Children's Hunter - No place (awful round...didn't get a decent warm up, my trainer went missing...yeah. it was great lol.)
$200 Children's Hunter - Scratch
Children's US - Scratch
$300 Children's Stake - No place (awful conditions, was riding in a mudhole. Dud was upset, lol)


So, happy Lisa :)

[blueequestrian]

Your form looks great, you don't always need a crest release, so your short release looks good and both you and the horse look happy and comfortable (which is most important of course!) You havn't let you leg slip back at all and you do have great support from what I can see, GOOD GOING! Sounds like you had a great show and good luck in your future ones! Keep pictures coming. Great horse too by the way!