more critique

[louisesj]

hey! im posting this on behalf on my friend who asked me for advice on her jumping position. It looks fine to me, but maybe some of you can help? I can't post the pictures cos the files are too big but go to http://groups.msn.com/NRphotos/horseyphotos.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=5101 to see them. Thanks,

Louise XxXxX :D

[shaka]

Your friend needs to sit up more as she is folding to much with to much weight non the horses shoulders. She over releases as well, she needs to not throw her hands up the hosres neck, this is what is bringing her so far forward, it is much more secure and easier on the horse to jump with the riders weight centered and her bum pushed more towards the back of the saddle. Try remain parallel to the horses neck, not as close to it as you can.

[jUmPingIsLifE]

you are right, there isn't much to say about it except for the fact she looks to throw her body. if you look it looks like she is layin on the horses neck. her release also doesn't need to be so exagerated, about quarter way/half way up hte neck is fine. she has a beautiful leg though, and if she sits up you might see she is looking up and ahead but she is so close to the horses neck she almost looks as though she is baring her face in his mane. gorgous horse though and very decent position!

[louisesj]

thanks guys, i'll let her know, your comments. she has shortened her stirrups a few holes recently, since those pictures were taken which im think makes a big improvement. the horse is really good, but very difficult to ride! there's a photo of me riding it and i am soooo badly left behind!:rolleyes:

[Elvengirl]

I just wanted to make a suggestion. From the pictures I don't think she needs to shorten her stirrups. It seems like her legs are scrunching up a little, and shortening the stirrups wouldn't help that. I would like to see her stretch her lower calf down more and relax her weight into her heels. With stirrups as short as hers are in the photos, her heel should have more angle than it does. There is also a picture where her foot has slid all the way into the stirrup which I'm going to assume is because her heels are not properly flexed down. Some of the pics are too blurry to tell for sure though, but this is just the opinion I've gathered from the pics that are visable. Her leg looks really nice in the photos of her and horse at a halt, so I would say try and get her to maintain that nice, relaxed drop of the heel while cantering and jumping and possibly trotting (sorry no pictures of the trot). I would get her to go through grids and focus on keeping the weight centered and letting the horse jump up to her whilst keeping her weight firmly in her heels.