First "Show"

[carrieironhorse]

Hi, all-I haven't posted here before but I've been lurking for a while. I've been riding for about a year and a half now as an adult rider, having always wanted to ride as a kid but never being able to afford it. (One kid is one thing, but both my sisters are also horse-crazy and three is a whole different game.) Even now I'm mastering the art of

Comments

[feather_armor]

Yep. Always so surprised to see trainers letting their students go without.

[carrieironhorse]

Thank you! I agree that the stirrups could have been longer-I left them a bit short because at my last lesson I was having issues keeping contact with my stirrups. My trainer constantly works me on no-stirrup exercises which actually leads to me having issues keeping track of them when I'm supposed to be using them. But you have a good point about engaging with my leg more.

And yes, I know better about the helmet thing *sheepish look* I don't think any of the adult riders at my barn wear them on a regular basis, come to think of it. (It's required for the kids.) I guess I could get mine out again... :)

[ihorse]

The whole time I was watching your video I felt super uncomfortable and awkward because you weren't wearing a helmet. I never ride without one, and the one or two occasions I have ridden without a helmet I felt very awkward and unsafe. It always startles me when people are comfortable without one!

[feather_armor]

Second the helmet advice and the lowering of the stirrups a notch - they actually looked uneven but it's hard to tell as you're rounding corners.

I think you've got a great start!

[carrieironhorse]

Thank you! They might have been a bit uneven-I honestly didn't look to closely, and I'd never used that saddle before.

[sm923]

I think you look really good!! The saddle doesn't fit you and you're not sitting as deeply as I'd like to see. Have you ridden in a western saddle? Riding in one for a few lessons may help you learn to sink down into the saddle instead of "perching" on top of it.

I'd like to see you sink into your heels a bit more which would also help sink you down into your saddle more. I like how you sit very tall (even when the horse does something less than desirable). I think you could be riding a horse who suits you better (this horse seems a bit cranky and temperamental) so you can work on you and worry less about the horse.

I'm not getting on you about helmets-you're an adult and can chose to wear on or not.

But I think you look pretty good overall! I don't think you're quite ready to jump (have you done lots of no stirrup work?) but I think if you keep at it, you'll be there!

[carrieironhorse]

What do you mean about the saddle not fitting me? (Again, total noob it feels like.) It's not the saddle I usually use, either, but next time I go in I'll look at them and see the differences. I've only ridden in a western saddle once. I have had issues with being too "forward"-I always feel like my posture suffers if I sit deeper, but I'll work on that.

I usually don't ride that horse and he's usually not that grumpy-the lesson horse I usually ride, though, is leased and her leaser has show exclusives. (One day I will have my own horse!) And yes, I've done tons and tons of no-stirrup work-something every lesson, and usually multiple exercises. In every possible combination. I've actually struggled with keeping my stirrups sometimes, especially at the canter, which I need to work on still.

Thank you for your critique! I have several things to conscientiously work on at lessons with better perspective now.

[sm923]

The saddle looks maybe an inch too small and the flaps are definitely too short. You're tall and need a longer flap. And I agree-lengthen your stirrups.

But otherwise, you look good!

[carrieironhorse]

Ok, thanks! :)

[blauereiterin]

well i can't believe that other girl beat you :P you look great for only having ridden a year and a half! your canter seat it very nice. it definitely looks like you do a lot of no stirrup work. i'll agree w/what everyone else said-lengthen your stirrups and bring your feet back a bit in them. your arms/shoulders do look tense but i bet that's just show nerves. i think it's great that you want to start learning dressage stuff-you look like you're definitely ready, in terms of having the basics down!

[carrieironhorse]

Thank you! And I wish I'd seen the other girl ride-the video doesn't show too well obviously and I wasn't paying attention to other people at the time. But she got third in my second class, so, I dunno. The judge told me I lost it in that class with the whole "hey let's trot when we reverse at the walk" bit. Oh well, I'm not really worried about it.

[colebaltblue]

I agree with everyone saying shorten your stirrups. You can't use your leg effectively in that position and I think it's compromising your seat. Some of your "perch" may come from the way you have to bed your knees and point your toes for balance. You mentioned doing lots of no stirrup work? Without a secure seat, no-stirrup work (IMO) can actually make you worse, not better, because you pick up bad habits trying to maintain your balance without them. I've ridden both dressage and forward seat, and honestly there is only one hole difference between the two. You've got long legs, girl, use them

[carrieironhorse]

This has given me a lot of things to think about-thank you!