Critique My Student

aBreeze · #1 3rd Jan 2006, 04:32 AM

Shes also my neice, but thats a whooooole nother story.

These are from last year[and the year before]... we cant do any real riding because of the weather but Im soooo bored already, cant WAIT for spring! Anyways, Id like to come up with some stuff to work on next year. What can you see for us to work on? Other than BOTH girls patience...

Just a little Hello... Chloe and Stella when they first met up

2005 - Chloe was 5, Stella 6 - spring

summer

MI Horsey · #2 3rd Jan 2006, 05:02 AM

She should be wearing a helmet in ALL of the pictures .You as her teacher ,family or not , are responsible if something happens to her . By the way : she can't grow another head .

bexj · #3 3rd Jan 2006, 07:03 AM

Well apart from stating the obvious as MI Horsey has already done, your neice looks very happy relaxed and confident.

Kate F. · #4 3rd Jan 2006, 08:55 AM

I usually find games go down really well at this age. She is still to young to really have any appreciation of the theory of riding, and the "heels down, straight back" sort of thing will probably just make her stiff and self-conscious. She's already looking a little hollow backed and stiff in the first pictures, and she seems to be tipping a little to the right - but this might be just the way she's turning.

I'd worry less about position and go for lots of little challenges that improve balance and control of the pony without thinking to much about "how", and putting the focus on "what".

You can set up little mazes of poles to ride around, and make the turns tighter and tighter to see how sharply she can turn, get her to "park" the pony over a pole with the front legs on one side and the hind legs on the other (very good for timing and feel). Turning around on the pony's back, standing up on it, vaulting on from the ground, getting on from the "wrong" side etc... all this is good for balance and kids find it great fun.

Games wise you can try things like setting up a couple of barrels with various items on top - eg a potato, an apple, a carrot, a ball etc., and she has to take the item you specify from one barrel and place it on the other without dropping it... or the pony eating it!!

There are also things like carrying a plastic beaker of water without spilling it (really good for learning to keep the hands steady!!), or putting a strip of paper under their seat and they have to ride around without losing it - easy in walk - MUCH harder in trot!!

You can also get her riding with just one rein, or even "side-saddle" ... just hook the right leg over the front of the saddle and try to ride like that.

You can start any of these things off in walk, then as she gets more confident, pick up the speed. The more she learns to move around on the horse in an uninhibited way, the more the natural balance will kick in, and the more she is in natural balance, the more the seat and position will look after itself. You can still make small corrections to the position etc. but keep the whole thing goal oriented rather than "do this because it's "correct" "

You can also let her come up with ideas and games herself and let her experiment a bit! It's amazing how inventive they become as the confidence builds!

Finally, and echo of the other two - PLEASE make sure she ALWAYS wear a hard hat! Riding should be fun, and it is - but it is also a risk sport. It just takes one time when the pony turns a bit faster than they expected, or it stumbles, or she just loses her balance for a second, and fun can very quickly turn into tragedy. There are risks enough in riding - please don't expose her to any unnecessary ones!

Cheers

Kate

Cheeky · #5 3rd Jan 2006, 12:14 PM

Echo .. echo .. helmet .. helmet ..

I have to be a big ol' meany and say family or not .. as said before - for the sake of her life please make sure she wears a helmet. It might seem a drag .. but I am sure you'd rather drag the nagging of safety, than see her being dragged

And it doesnt matter how calm, short, sweet the horse is, or how gooda seat, posture, experience the rider has

please

otherwise nice seat

Jessey · #6 3rd Jan 2006, 01:37 PM

I'd have to agree, helmet first, then try some games, follow my leader, simon says etc all great for building confidence.

Can I just ask, given they are both so young is there a reason for the mechanical hackamore? they can be so severe, I wouldn't have thought any child that young would be capable of always using it correctly and on a pony that young it could cause long term issues if used badly, I have a pony who was once owned and ridden by a 13 year old with a mechanical hackamore, he has suffered terribly, physically and mentally from its bad use. Obviously I understand there may be good reason for it use but if not maybe getting them both working in a simple and mild bit/bitless may be a plan for the spring (and something you could start now).

J x

Edit to say: just noticed you did have a bit on her earlier, sorry.

kirstie · #7 3rd Jan 2006, 04:31 PM

I'm not good at the critique (sp) part other than she should be wearing a helmet just in case something does happen you never know around horse even if this horse is quiet he could spook and she could fall not saying will though. Apart from that she looks really cute on her pony. Pony is cute as well lol

coblover26 · #8 3rd Jan 2006, 07:05 PM

HELMET

She should be wearing a helmet. Especially at her age.

She looks very comfortable on the horse. Games would be good, both horse and rider would enjoy. Maybe takeing her out on a few hacks. with her riding but on lead rein.

notpoodle · #9 3rd Jan 2006, 07:51 PM

i dont think thats a mechanical hackamore

toohorsemad · #10 3rd Jan 2006, 08:23 PM

HELMET AND BACK PROTECTOR!!! And arms! She needs to bend her elbows!

aBreeze · #11 4th Jan 2006, 03:06 AM

ok first, take a deep breath... I KNOW she should be wearing a helmet. We had a period where we couldnt find it, so she could only walk and obviously theres nothing for her to be drug by... Theres risks in all riding, and its a personal choice over here in the states whether or not to wear a helmet. I personally am actually a bigger supporter than most people around here.

Its not a mechanical hack, but a hack is a hack. I know how nasty they can be. I have Stells set very lose so the curb strap isnt really being used unless your putting some major pressure on it... which I had better not ever see. Im using the hack so that Chlo can ger her ready. Its easier for her to get that fitted over her nose than get a bit in her mouth. Her arms are very stiff... were working on that. Im having her hold her reins very low so that Stelly has more headroom but she took it to the extreme...

. She was tipping but only becuase they were turning. She also likes to make her back very stiff and concave... another extreme were working on. Shes gotten a ton better as you can see from those spring pics to the summer[it was actually fall now that I think about it]. Thanks everyone! Dont think Im making excuses... Im just trying to explain what I can!

Styric · #12 4th Jan 2006, 04:16 AM

Back protector as a necessity? Yipes, roll her up in bubble wrap!

I'm all for safety, but jumping on her cause she doesn't have a piece of equipment that to be totally honest I've never even seen despite riding and horse ownership/showing etc for around 10 years?

Call me daft, but isn't that pushing it a bit?

BeachRiding · #13 4th Jan 2006, 05:39 AM

Also,she's not wearing boots!

Styric · #14 4th Jan 2006, 06:04 AM

When bareback, that isn't as important. The whole purpose of boots when riding is the heel so the foot doesn't slip through the stirrups.

My personal favorite riding accessories are heeled sneakers. Comfy!

Tootsie4U · #15 4th Jan 2006, 01:33 PM

aBreeze,

Fellow USA-er here. It is a law in most States that children wear helmets while on horseback. Of course, its only enforced by the more mature riders in their presence.

At that impressionable age, the laxy-dazy-ness of riding without appropriate gear can lead to more irresponsible behavior later. As her instructor, you are responsible to teach her in all aspects of horsemanship and riding. For safety's sake (and the sake of her prescious little head), she needs a helmet. Ignoring the importance of one now (whether the hat is misplaced or not) may lead to ignoring the importance of one later in life when she may do more than just walking.

Trustworthy horse or not, all horses can stumble by no fault of their own.

But to answer your question, they're the most adorable pair. Alot of good beginnings are evident. From what I can tell, she needs her pinky on the bottom - in addition to the other comments that have been made.

Good job so far.

~*sugarlump*~ · #16 4th Jan 2006, 03:09 PM

Love the pinkness of the bridle and reins!!lol!

cvb · #17 4th Jan 2006, 03:34 PM

aBreeze

Sorry but it IS a mechanical hackamore - its an english hackamore (which has shorter shanks than the german hackamore) but it IS mechanical as it is a "leverage" style bitless i.e. the rein is on the end of the shanl and tipping the shank (with the rein) tightens up the noseband...

coblover26 · #18 4th Jan 2006, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aislinn

Love the pinkness of the bridle and reins!!lol!

Me too

cvb · #19 4th Jan 2006, 03:43 PM

anyhow.... if we really compared the risk of damage from a beginner rider using a bit, and one using a loose fitting hackamore.... mmmm, not sure its so clear cut. I'd rather see a sidepull, or jumping hackamore, or one of Lodge Ropes half-bosals... but then thats not my call.

I rode in an english hackamore at 10. Looking back I'm not 100% sure I always rode as light handed as I should (she had zero brakes and went like a bomb - just what every little girl wants

) - but it did make me a very "aware" rider ...

I also remember John Whittaker saying that he'd ridden in a pelham as a child, with two reins, and under pain of extreme punishment if he didn't use it properly

Some of the photos show a very nice natural rider with clear "intent" (of where she's going next). The small tension (e.g. arched back) has been mentioned by others. I agre with Kate that you need to keep it fun and look for ways to challenge her control, balance, etc through games and tasks.

horse__obsessed · #20 4th Jan 2006, 03:45 PM

She looks very comfortable and happy on the pony. I personally would prefer she wore a helmet but as it is legal not too that is up to you. Shoes not important as she is bareback, I have seen people riding in flipflops(WITH stirrups) and no shoes whatsoever without astirrups (they were on the leadrein)