Pics of My First Horse and I in Our First Show :)

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
21

But if I may give a constructive criticism as an instructor:

I like your hand position and the contact you have, but I’m not crazy about your seat and leg position.

I can’t tell if it’s just the picture, but your stirrups are too long, and you need to keep the stirrup on the ball of your foot.

Your legs are too far forward, and your seat is too far back.

Rotate forward on your hips, while pressing down on your heels. Then, look down over your knee. You should just the toe of your boot. Really stretch those heels down.

Get the position right, and you’ll be amazed how you’re literally glued to your horse, and you’ll be able to control his speed with your back.

Crossing your stirrups and riding without them is the best way to develop good leg and back position, IMO. Lots of trainers will insist on working you for long periods in the halfseat, but nothing helps with the position like when you have to grip for dear life.

Quite good for Maiden to beginning Novice levels, I’d say. The leg position and seat will come with time. That’s the hardest part.

I really do like your hands, and posture though.

To illustrate about the position though, look at that picture. Now dry a line bisecting your head through the center of your shoulders and perpendicular to the ground.

That line should pass through the center of your hips and the ball of your foot.

Your hips are back and legs forward. See?

22

Scylla, thanks first for the punny compliment. :slight_smile: And like I said in the OP…I know what needs improving. The first thing I saw in these pics was the smile…and then the improper hip/leg position. I’m working on it in my weekly riding lessons as well–I’m fully aware of it, and so is my trainer. And BTW, the stirrups are dressage length–longer than typical huntseat style (realizing the judge was going by huntseat style, we shortened them for the next class).

Like I said, I posted this pic to share my happy happy joy joy. :smiley: But I do look at it critically as well, and know all too clearly where things are wrong here, I promise. :wink: I’m also aware of what I need to do to fix it and am in the process of teaching my body to do it.

Hello Again, I haven’t had the courage the post this at COTH because I fear I’d hear about the leg position and other imperfections 8,000 times over (okay, maybe 10 times over…). I’d fear the reason for posting them–sharing my joy and pride in getting this far–would get lost in the mush of you need to fix this, that, and the other. It was bad enough hearing about the friggin’ crop. (I’m using a small bat now, no problem. Trainer suggested and agreed after we used it in our lesson today that it’s the best option for now.) Unsolicited advice, and criticism, is pretty frequent over there, and it isn’t always the most kindly/tastefully done. There’s been a few over there I’d really like to take to the Pit, and not just on my account. :mad: I was happy about the show, and just jazzed to be there.

Just got back from a riding lesson in a hot, humid, overall yucky morning. I do not smell or look too purty, so I should go do something about that. Thanks again all for your congrats and compliments!

23

Lovely pics! I’m not going to harp on your leg position. :smiley:

I did a lot of riding w/o stirrups, and it really glued me into the saddle.

Thanks for sharing – you look wonderful. :slight_smile:

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Sorry, Ruff. I’m sure you’re getting excellent instruction.

I just can’t help myself. I… Just… Can’t… Stop…
Hi. I’m Scylla. I’m an annoying unsolicited instructaholic.

25

Well, it’s really the dressage queens over there… they can be very over the top and have no sense of perspective. There are a few I can think of who for sure need a good pitting. I stay away from there at any rate.

For funny stories/sharing good news, Off Course is your friend.

At least post an update to your “should I go to a show?” thread! I, for one, get to wondering about people.

26

Thanks Hello Again…I went ahead and started a thread in Off Course sharing the pics (the “Should I show?” thread was in the Dressage forum, but I didn’t want to venture there with pics!). I’m learning more and more what exactly a “DQ” is. Ugh. Please tell me they are the exception and not the rule in the dressage world! (Oh, and I really hate to correct this because it doesn’t sound anywhere near as good, but we were 3rd of 10, not 17. But–I do know the 1st place girl is in some fancy New York riding academy now in the advanced division…)

Scylla, no worries! Remember, I’m a teacher–I’m always out to correct mistakes and always looking at things critically. In or out of the classroom, it’s really hard to turn off!

Oh, and Wintermute, I’ve given a lot of thought to bareback riding. The lack of seat security unnerves me a touch…but hey, what better way to learn leg position and balance? But for now, I’m going without stirrups (in today’s lesson, I’d trot a circle with both stirrups, then drop one, then the other). Poor Ana was confused a little; my legs were naturally gripping tighter, so she thought I was asking for more speed. By the end she was a little more used to it, and so was I.

Next show is in October–it’ll be neat to see where we are then vs. when these pics were taken!

27

I like to ride bareback in the winter cause it’s Warmer! (maybe more of a problem in Michigan…).

Remember the secret to no stirrups (and also bareback) is not a death grip but balance with a softly holding leg. Someone out there says your legs are like wet newspaper draped along the horse. Wet newspaper can’t grip… it sticks. That’s what you want to do too.

Try (believe me it’s hard) to release the tension in your leg and balance in your seat with your legs just “anchoring” your position. At first you will feel weeble-wobbly up there but eventually when you let go of gripping with knee/thigh, your center of balance will sink down into a feeling of security.

Its a catch 22: hard to be relaxed without feeling secure, yet impossible to be secure without relaxation. If your instructor can lunge you while you work on no-stirrups, I think it helps a lot.

Oh, and I know plenty of people involved in dressage who are very nice and supportive and have a sense of humor about their riding. Of course they’re all eventers. LOL. Come ooover to the daaark side.

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Well, I’m jealous. Ana is the very image of our Lollie (Bint Ibn Talal) who we had to give up on our move here (sniff). Funny how being on the back of a horse activates those smile muscles.

Still up for Seabiscuit? We’re taking the day off to go. Priorities, you know.

DD

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mmmmmmmm…english riding pants…

Why isn’t there a lecherous smiley?

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Congrats!!! Since there are a few instructors on the site, I won’t bother commenting. LOL. However, owning and riding in your first show, that’s so fantastic! Are you strictly into dressage? I’m a hunter/jumper myself. Mostly jumper :smiley:

I’m working with a new horse now (I lost my horse last year) and we had our first show together last month (going to another one next month). I’m also going to be training another horse for someone else and maybe have him show ready next year since it’s abit late this year unless he’s a fast learner. Hee-hee!

Nice to see there are alot of horse people around.

31

Your horse is whiter than my undies!

Care to do a load for me :slight_smile:

I think it is really great that you are living your dream!

32

She’s just gorgeous, Ruffian. I’ve always wanted a white Arab. I envy you, and I’m happy for you. May the two of you have many happy times together.

33

Scylla is a riding instructor? Color me surprised. I will refrain from posting pics of myself. :stuck_out_tongue: The last time we took pictures, she decided to be a wench and buck herself around the ring. My husband thought this way cool and wasted the entire roll of film on her episode.

34

Arabs are beautiful. I’ve ridden one that was owned by my friend’s friend. She was exercising him for her since she was pregnant. However, this horse was kind of nutty. He was beautiful but really nutty. My friend doesn’t ride him anymore, he threw her, dragged her and broke a bone in her back in three places. Took her out of riding for about a year and made her fearful of riding in general, she started back again on my horse (who was completely gentle with her) before finding another horse to ride. I rode the other horse a couple of times afterwards but he was always abit insane, I always thought he was going to throw me even though he never did. It just felt like it!

35

She’s a fine-looking horse indeed, and probably deserves an extra carrot the next time.

Nice pictures, Ruffian. Thanks for sharing!

36

but… but… they’re all lecherous!

:o :eek: :o :eek: :o :eek: :wally :smack:

Well, if you use them right, that is…

37

Try it in a round pen or in the ring where you feel safe. As I said, I sort of stumbled over it as a tip and only mentioned it because it really did wonders for my seat, when I was riding. I thought about going without stirrups as an alternative after I posted.

Something else to consider: once you get over the initial fear, riding bareback really connects you to your horse on a physical level. You can feel every breath and movement your horse makes, and know what she’s thinking almost before she thinks it. It’s a great way to bond and relax into each other.

38

The links work - now I understand all the coments about clean and shiny.

Hooray for you.

Already looking forward to pictures from your next show.