Zeb and me Schooling - help please

[Catg]

Hi everyone,

Managed to get someone to takes some pictures of us tonight. I have to say I'm very disappointed, these are the only riding photo's I have for this year and we look pathetic!

We obviously need to do some more schooling but I would really appreciate some feedback from you. I think we would benefit froma fresh pair of eyes if you know what I mean?

Right here goes...

This is my position in halt.
http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt94/Catghamlin/Halt.jpg

In trot, I really struggle to keep him in a consistent outline, he's very mouthy. Instructor says I should play with the bit but I just end up tilting forwards. I'm also brainwashed into not using much leg as he used to be very strong when I first started riding him so that doesn't help. He's fine now but I just can't seem to get past this...
http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt94/Catghamlin/trot.jpg

Coming back into an outline. He seeemed to do this behind my photographer and then stick his head in the air when we came back in front of her agh! Maybe he didn't like the sun in his eyes????
http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt94/Catghamlin/outlinetrot.jpg

And Canter. I had no idea how much I was tilting forwards and sticking my bottom out!
http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt94/Catghamlin/canter.jpg

Any advice or tips welcome. Feel free to comment but please be nice! :cheekywink:

[Anni~Bell]

Now in the first two pictures your hands are quite low and as soon as you picked them up a bit in the third picture that is when you where getting the contact!
To be honest it could be the sun! It does look quite low in a couple and he has his eyes closed!
Also try some work without your stirrups. This will help with upper body position as well as everything else!
Apart from that he is a lovely horse and we need to see more pictures in the future!

[Loony]

I think you've probably pointed out all your faults anyway, tilting forward is probably your major one. Try and imagine that there's a piece of string attached to your belly button and its pulling you up. You look quite tense in the pictures too, is this because you're concentrating on getting him to work in an outline? If you relax your position you'll probably find that he will do the same.

Everyone has their faults though and as far as yours go, they're quite easy to solve and the rest of your position looks great!

[Catg]

Thanks Ann~Bell I have never looked at it that way. I drop my hands a lot to try and get him to drop his head and relax but i think it's safe to say that's not working lol!

He also falls into a pefect outline when we do hill work or I do sitting trot but riding trot seems to be really inconsistent.

Thanks for your comments x

[Catg]

Thanks Emmalou I think you've hit the nail on the head, getting him into an outline is exactly what I was trying to to do.

Your comments make complete sense x

[My Crazy Clan]

I would say the tiliting is the one that stands out to me, I'm sure your get over that stage though, I think we all go through it, lovely photos hes a great chap.

[Loony]

Thanks Emmalou I think you've hit the nail on the head, getting him into an outline is exactly what I was trying to to do.

Your comments make complete sense x

Sophie (Apple) has been working on not tilting forwards and being tense through the arms so it's not an uncommon problem. Sorry Soph I hope you don't mind me using you as an example! Instead of trying to push him into an outline using your hands, just keep a light contact, if you feel him start to soften, push him into it using your leg. The tension in your arms and shoulders goes directly through the reins and to Zeb, so that will be causing him to be tense. Hope this helps in some way!

[gemma1309]

First of all what a beautiful horse really want to see more pics of him (get posting) first don't be too hard on yourself we all have faults as riders and its just due to bad habits. I used to hollow my back (like in first pic in halt) still do at times. You aware of your 3 seatbones and their purpose in riding? I hadn't really until I got dressage lessons on my young horse. I found that if you can think about sitting in centre of saddle with no stirrups pulling your legs up almost into jockey postion while keeping back straight, hold them for a few seconds and then bring them down slowly brings you into a correct position imagine it throught the tail bone, keep shoulders back as they are and relax, not tense tummy muscles (without hunching) seems easier to explain on a horse than writing it lol. First 2 pics arms are straight and hands low slight bend in arms needed and hands picked up as in 3rd picture as already ssaid when you lift your hands he comes into a much better outline. But there are no major problems that cannot be fixed. I find that if you have quite high headed or star gazing horse the best thing is to get them long and low i regularly work my two horses like at least for first wee while. talk through the reins to encourage him to mouth the bit do not niggle but softly softly ask with leg on to encourage him to lengthen his frame. when he seeks contact allow his head to stretch and with it his whole body but dont drop hands just allow them forwards encouraging him lower letting him know its ok. keep your leg on and leave rein alone while he is stretching when he comes up again again just ask again until he understands. very good as once established it you can then ask them to pick up a bit more. I get the feeling this is what you look like your doing or attempting to in photo 2. I hope i don't sound too critical that is really not my intention as I think your doing a good job its just that I had many of your faults and still do from time to time lol along with many others. Its hard when you have nobody to correct you but there are a few good classical riding pages on the web that give you good tips to think with the mind and visualize and they help. Doing a really good job and again your horse is lovely.

[Catg]

Hi Jane, Yes I am tense in my shoulders when riding in trot and canter. One of the reasons I am so disappointed wiht the pictures is that we had just done 15mins of of walking and stretching, Zeb went beautifully which is why I asked my friend to take the pictures.

I think my trotting needs some work, I thought I was relaxed but I'm obviously not and this is affecting Zeb.

Thanks so much for your feedback everyone it has really helped. I feel like i have something to work towards now.

I will get some more photo's done soon and you will all see dramatic 'before and after' shots! hahahaha

[Loony]

I will get some more photo's done soon and you will all see dramatic 'before and after' shots! hahahaha

Looking forward to them :D he's a cracking horse!

[Catg]

Thanks Gemma sorry we must have cross posted. No offence taken at all, I appreciate you taking the time to write your reply.

You have also hit the nail on the head! Makes complete sense! I'm not aware of my seat bones no, I will read up on that.

I've learnt so much from this post I think I'm gonna have to re-read it a few times before my next schooling session!

[ness]

Your horse sounds a lot like Kissie! I know what you mean about not using leg much because they are strong! very interested in some of those replies-I will try them out myself! You look great on Zeb anyway!

[Catg]

Thanks Ness! Yes the replies are brilliant aren't they. I've started making notes lol

[Catg]

Thanks Candy that's a good point actually, my schooling warm up is all about zeb and nothing about me. I will add these exercises to my warm up routine x

[Squid]

I think you would benefit from a dressage saddle, as you seem to have a very good central position. Also remember and bend your elbows,It's impossible for him to try and get on an outline if there is no steady contact. The canter looks nice.

Hope I wasn't too harsh! I kept skipping back and forward to the photo as I was typing

[Catg]

Thanks squid, you weren't harsh at all x

[Evening Star]

I think everyone else has really said everything but i'll add my thoughts...
Your stirrups look the right length but have you tried them just a smidge longer? It might help you to deepen your seat.
I think no stirrup work or even lunge lessons would be great for your position as well.
Your legs and seat are the most important parts of your body for getting a horse into an outline, as they encourage the horse to push all that energy he has from behind, forwards.
Try to remember inside leg to outside hand.
As you squeeze with your legs (especially inside leg) 'catch' it with your outside hand and squeeze the outside rein while keep your inside hand steady.

Remember head up, elbows bent, thumbs on top and shoulders back and that should help somewhat.

Hope that made sense :S!

[Catg]

Thanks Evening Star.

I will have a go at lengthening my stirrups for schooling, good idea.

Everything else does make sense thanks, I really appreciate it x

[beks the artist]

The trotting one is fantastic! I think everyone else has got here before me so I have no other advice to give xx

[Catg]

Thanks beks xxx