Equitation?

Question

Well I am going to a show tomorrow and I was wondering if you have any tips to improve my Equitation. Any tips would be greatly appreciated. Oh and I ride hunter if you hadnt noticed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8yqCTtq5Xg

Not Me In The Video At 1:12 Or The Picture At 1:39.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tv41gfT7ZKU&feature=user

And Thats A Show From Last Weekend.

Answer 1

This criticism is only to help you.  

If you will visualize in your mind or if you have a riding arena that has mirrors - when riding on the flat, you should have a straight line running from your ear down thru your shoulder and continue down to your leg and heel.  Slight pressure on the ball of your foot with heel down.   Your head should be level (not looking down as I saw in one picture)  You should always be looking where you are going.  I saw in one of your pictures your horse was jumping toward the camera but your body seemed out of line as your head was turned to the right and tje right side of your body was down and left was up.  I am certain you did not mean to do that. Watch your alignment.  Go with your horse.  When you turn his body, your body turns with him as if you were all one unit (horse and rider)  Hope this helps.  Oops almost forget ... Do not hollow out your back when you jump.  You appear to be a good solid rider and will go far.  P.S.  You and your horse look good together!

Answer 2

your heels are only down in one picture, so work on that, and when jumping, reach your hands foreward, but not too much, just a few inches. also, your back is veeryyy hollowed--thats not good. its shoulders back, not back in. so instead of worrying about your back, worry about your shoulders and try to leave your lower back alonee. hope i helpedd!

Answer 3

I am assuming that you won't be jumping in an equitation class, right?  Also, you will be able to loosen the reins a little, as he isn't jumping and won't have to be "brought down" like if he were jumping...I think that you have a nice, controlled seat and also control your horse as well.  You know where your hands are at all times and instinctively know when to get your leads changed.  I did, however notice in the videos and again in a still photo or two that you tend to hollow your back severely when jumping...but again, as you won't be jumping in equitation, that won't be an issue...You keep your horse put together nicely and from watching his reactions to your aids, you are subtle enough so that he doesn't resist your nor show resentment when you cue him...good luck, you should do well.

Answer 4

Youre position is really nice! and your horse is so                   PRETTY! you look really nice together!!

and youre recovery position is really good after the jump!

:)

Answer 5

All I see is that your heels need to be pressed down. Also, in the first picture, which is on the flat, I see your a little hunched over, sit up straight, shoulders back and heels down and your good to go. Another little thing I see is you kind of come down really hard on your horse's back in the canter. Try to feel out the canter a little more and move with him, rather than agaisnt him. Good luck in your show!

Answer 6

The most prominent problems I see are your heels and your back. Keep them heels dowwwwwn! Your hands look nice and steady (although in the first picture it seems your reign contact was a bit much), and it seems you have a decent seat.

The next problem is your back. Try not to curve your back in the way you do.

You want your back to be nice and straight like this;

http://activerain.com/image_store/upload...

http://www.horseweb.com/articles/press/i...

http://cache.viewimages.com/xc/1296410.j...

http://www.military.ie/careers/officer/e...

Not hunched over or arched. But straight.

In a few of the photos it looks as though you are leaning to the side of your horse while going over a jump-try not to do that. You shift your balance and center of gravity by doing that, which can also cause your horse to lose balance. Try to keep your center of gravity balanced until your horse is back on the ground

Other than that you look like you're doing a good job! Lovely horse by the way.

Answer 7

I agree with Kaetlyn.  Straighten that spine!

Answer 8

Overall Nice...Good Turnout....Nice Team

The most obvious faults are your hollowed back...not so much on the flat but over the jumps very bad.  You got your bootie sticking straight up!!  Keep your butt down and your back straight no curves..try to follow your horses neck and be parallel with it..a straight line that would be resting on your back with no voids (no air space).  Try to work with your shoulders more instead of your waist and lower back (which must get sore from that exaggerated bend you do!!) Even when looking towards the nex fence move your shoulders and upper body rather than from your waist which moves your body off center and off balance.  It looks like your peeking out from behind a tree or something.  

Those were the two main issues that really stuck in my head.  I'll take another look.  Of course, this is my opinion!!

Also..tell your video person to hold the camera still!!  I was getting seasick watching it!!

Your a nice rider..calm..aware...was that the same horse??  he looked so much bigger in the still shots.

Keep up the good work!!  Have a great show tomorrow!!

Answer 9

hands good

heals need to be further down, it will improve everything