Dressage Critique, Please! :)?

Question

Me riding my old mare (she was retired at 14 years old due to a meniscus injury... :( ! ) I owned her for two years and evented her to Training level, was going to move up to Prelim last season before she was injured. The video is from about a year and a half ago, I think. She was a very hot, sensitive Thoroughbred mare with some dressage issues.

The first part of the video is the critique-worthy piece... the photos are just fun remembrances of my girl. She is now retired as a broodmare, and the goddamn a******s that we gave her to won't keep in touch :( I miss my girl terribly!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=sgDNZc8Kmxc

Answer 1

you look great, keep working on the legs and you will be great, you need to ride a talanted experienced horse 15.0hh- 16.0hh

Answer 2

You need to sit up and sit back more.  Ride without your irons for a while to help stabilize your legs.  Have a friend longe you on your horse and KEEP YOUR LEGS BACK.  There seems to be some tension in your thigh muscles, so riding with your irons crossed will help those muscles relax and make your leg longer.  In turn, having a longer leg will help influence your horse's stride and balance.

Answer 3

Hey! I recognize some of those pictures! One looks like it's from Shepherd's Ranch, in CA! :D  But for the critique piece, I advise that you pick up your hands a little, to get a straight line from elbow to the horse's mouth. Also, don't hold the outside reign so hard! That should have a light contact and when you pull on the inside reign, remember to give with the outside so the horse doesn't get confused.

I'm sorry to hear about your mare! :(  I think I her from a few shows I went to.. She's so pretty <3  Good luck!

Answer 4

Aw, i'm sorry about your mare! From what I can tell,a nd I'm no dressage rider, you look good. :]

Hahah, I think you look fine! I ride a 16.2hh draft mare x paint horse cross, and I look so small on her, because i'm like 5'2. haha.

Answer 5

Work on keeping your lower leg still. I can barely watch the video with your legs moving.