is he overbent and critique me

[ucandoit]

Hi, I am not very good at flat work and I love my horse for being so good. I always thought that he was overbent, but looking at these pictures now, what do you think? Please feel free to critique my riding, I only have myself and books to learn from. Any tips would be greatly appreciated. I broke this horse myself, so any mistakes are from my fault. (He has hardely any. BEST horse I have EVER had).
thanks heaps.

[ucandoit]

different view...I look down, don' t i?

[ucandoit]

one more...

[DITZ]

Difficult to tell on the first two pics but on the third he looks very slighty behind the vertical but I wouldnt go so far as to say overbent, no.

Looks like a nice horse, you should be proud of your achievements!

[Big H]

Wow, great pictures!

I personally would say that, no, he is not overbend, looks just right on the bit.

[Hollymead]

I agree with Ditz - very slightly behind the vertical in the third pic, but it could have been just at that moment, so being over-bent is not something you have to worry about.

As for your position, the looking down as a definite problem - are you looking for your diagonal? Or is it something you do all the time? You could also have a little more weight in your heels, and try and check to see if your hands are level at all times, in the third pic they definitely are not.

Otherwise though you make a great pair, and a big congrats for breaking him all on your lonesome!

[Showjumper]

Congratulations on training him - he looks excellent!

The only things I will critique are: your hands are at different heights (your left one is higher) and you seem to have more weight on your right seatbone than your left (possibly linked to the hands). You also appear to be looking down, but this is one of my faults too

[WelshJumper]

Like the outhers he looks ok.

Apart from you looking down, the NO hat plus traners, all seeems ok.

[ucandoit]

thanks heaps! it's exactly what I need, someone to help me with my riding. I can only take photos or video and critique myself, and can only pick out the major things, and I miss slight things. Thanks so much, it will defintely help me.
When I start riding I constantly tell myself to LOOK UP, look between his ears, look to where we are going, but obviously the more I concentrate on the horse, the less I concentrate on my eyes. I am always thinking about my hands while I ride - The outside hand is held higher to keep him on the circle, he tends to take short cuts. If I push him over more with the inside leg, will this straighten him up? Yeah, I can see how lowering the outside hand will bring up my right seat bone...like a pendulum, hey.
thanks again guys.

[Bebe]

It's hard to tell with the first 2 pics but I'd guess he's at the vertical which isn't so bad but not 100% correct either unless you're doing piaffe or passage. He's overbent slightly in the 3rd pic but not hugely. More leg and a bit less hand should sort it out and I wouldn't overly worry about it.

Apart from you looking down in all the pics, you're also leaning quite drastically to your left. Try to think of putting more weight in your right hand lower body & keep that seatbone connected to the saddle, thinking about keeping your shoulders level or depending on how ingrained the habit is even thinking of lifting your left shoulder up might help you aswell as stretching upwards through your trunk. This should even your hands up too.

They're nice pics though, I'd be happy if my pics were as good.

[Willingbe]

You may find this article helps you to understand "overbent" and then you can determine for yourself whether he is overbent.

http://www.kahlin.net/noir/dressyr/r...e_vertical.php

[Chas]

He looks lovely - but would rather see you with a hat on !!

[Tootsie4U]

Not bad at all, you should be happy with that!

Do you know your head weighs roughly 8 lbs? When you drop it to look down, it changes your balance quite a bit, thus changing your horses'.

Look up, open your chest and think about where your two seat bones are in the saddle and how your weight is affecting them. Pic 2 & 3 would be greatly improved if you did so. The shift in weight back (vs front) will help lift your horse (he is on the forehand) and keep your heel down.

While your horse is near to on the verticle, he is skipping out behind. Your balance and use of your weight has great affect on helping him.

This is all theory, of course and Im currently STILL trying to get it all right myself

[ToNi T EQ]

I would not say he is overbent, only but a wee bit in the third pic, as others have said, but WOW!....what an achievement!..great job!...he looks like he goes very nicely for you....about your position..in the first two you are properly in line, shoulders,hips, heels...and im sure you are well aware of your head down thingy and hands....what I saw was a lean in your body as a whole...when giving rein aids, whether it be holding him out in a circle or even turning, always make sure you do not lean!....you very well may just lean right off the horse if this keeps up....try to pivot at the shoulders horizontally, not vertically off the side of the horse...remember...you want to stay in sync with his movenent, and if you lean, you are just incouraging him to lean in as well....so ...sit up tall, keep those heels down...(comment on the third pic).......look where your going..(if you look at the ground, you will soon end up there!)....and no leaning!...hope that wasn't to much critique...i know i learn so much when people give me as much feedback as possible....you are a nice rider...but the goal is to be Perfect!...lol.....And lastly...give yourself a HUGE pat on the back for teaching both yourself and your horse!...Quite an accomplishment!...keep posting!..(on the forum,that is)..

[Sophini]

Would agree with most of what's been said before about outline, looks pretty good work .

If you look down then try riding in a baseball hat, the peak makes me look up to see where i'm going (and yes i know i should be in a hard hat but that's a risk i take when i school on the flat in a soft arena - though would insist on a hat at all other times)

[ucandoit]

thank you for all the help and suggestions. I know I should be riding in a a helmet, and I know this sounds pathetic but I really just forget. When I remember it goes on straight away, especially when I ride strange horses. But we all know that any horse, even the quietest ponies or the horse you know like the back of your hand can do anything unexpected at any given time.
Thanks again! I start a new job tomorrow at an Arab stud, and might have to ride the horses as well, so I am eager to learn more about good riding.
Thanks!

[WelshJumper]

Your HAVE to whear a hat at a stud, even for just leading in-hand. Thats if its a propley ran stud

[Nicole5310]

One thing I dont think anyone else has mentioned apart from sitting up straight etc. is watch you dont drop your inside shoulder on turns and circles. Easy to do... Other than that good job!