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.


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...


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????


And Canter. I had no idea how much I was tilting forwards and sticking my bottom out!


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

[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]

Originally Posted by 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

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.