How's my riding? (stupid 20 characters)?

Question

So I had my 2nd show at the end of July and I have another one next week. I just wanted to know how my position was and everything. The horse in the video is a horse I used to lease. I bought a horse a couple weeks ago, but my instructor said I could ride the other horse as a "last hurrah." Also the horse I just bought is SUPER green, so he won't be able to show until the end of the winter or next summer.

Here's the video from July:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FH2bYdXAUs
Here's the one from June:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcwuCxsYNiw
They're both at the same place and I did all the same classes. These are both taken from the equitation classes. How was my riding in the first video vs. the second video? Thanks!

Answer 1

Your over all performance was good. To improve on what you have so far, the most important thing is to have more impulsion, you really need to wake up your ponies in the areana, your lower leg is solid and you ride well from your knee, however, put your stirrups up a couple of holes, and keep your position as soft as possible in your saddle.

When approaching your fences really ride towards them giving your horse more opportunity to bascule over each fence. Keep your lines as flowing as possible and work on your canter transitions in the warm up areana, you really need to have him listening to your leg so he strikes off onto the correct lead, You are a soft rider and with a lot more impusion you and your horse will ride a better round. Remember to also look where you are going after each fence, this will give you more time to prepare to your next jump.

Answer 2

Video shots were way too far away to see anything on the July video, except that you seem to have trouble getting the correct lead after the jump and changed through the trot, then it looked like you didn't trust that you got the correct lead (which you had) so you brought him back down to the trot again before you made the next turn.



On the June video, it was still very hard to see anything at that distance, but I did notice that your feet are too far into the stirrups. According to the famous trainer, George Morris, just the ball of your foot should be on the stirrup treat with your little toe just touching the branch (side) of the stirrup. Your feet are too far in.



Again, hard to tell, but it doesn't look like your hands move too much up your horse's neck when he jumps. Make sure you are not hitting him in the mouth by restricting your hands over the jump.

Answer 3

To me you looked fairly good.



Your jumping seat looked good, you look confident . And even when he kept refusing/ducking out of that jump you managed to get her over it.



The only thing I could fault you on was the canter lead changes. Instead of doing a flying change, most of the time you brought her back to trot and picked up canter again. This will slow your time down alot.



But other than that good job, Good luck in your show :)

Answer 4

If i were you i would hold my jumping 2-piont a little longer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!