It seems for me that my legs are the biggest problem. They keep sliding forwards. That's something I'll just have to focus on more. As for him, he refuses to keep his head down. He has most definitely improved, but I'm am so tired of reminding him, "head down" and left-righting. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Do you ride English or Western?
If you ride English, re the legs shooting forward, you try working without stirrups to stretch your legs down and then working with longer stirrups to put you into a more classical dressage position, if that's what you're after. Putting your horse on the bit would help with the head carriage. But this is all English stuff. Don't know about Western though.
I'm riding English now. I was considering doing something with the stirrups. Would you suggest keeping my stirrups so long while in the show ring, or tightening up to where I have them now?
If you're doing dressage showing and schooling, people generally ride with longer stirrups and a longer leg. But if you jump, you'll need shorter stirrups. It depends a lot of the discipline.
But if you're worried about your legs shooting forward in general, you can do schooling without stirrups and with longer stirrups to help your legs stretch down in the classical position if that's what you're after.
It seems for me that my legs are the biggest problem. They keep sliding forwards.
Bet you a dollar you're either having a saddle fit or design issue here or else your stirrups are too long for the saddle that you're using.
If not, think about letting your weight drop down the front of your knee and letting your knee down--almost a feel like you're kneeling--and about stepping your heel onto your horse's back foot. Watch what you're doing with your feet in general; a lot of folks end up in a chair seat because they're trying to jam their heels down, but that's not what you want anyway.
As for him, he refuses to keep his head down. He has most definitely improved, but I'm am so tired of reminding him, "head down" and left-righting. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Yes. Knock off the "left-righting." We call that sawing on the bit and it's a false prophet. But you don't have to take my word for it! Here's Jane Savoie on the subject:
If you "saw" on your horse's mouth by alternating squeezing and releasing with your hands, you'
( ... )
The issues with my legs - I think it's a lot of me just moving them around. my equitation has really suffered in the past several years. I'm used to just zipping around all the trails around my barn, not focusing on my seat. If it is indeed the saddle fit, well there's nothing I can do about that I'm in no way capable of buying another one
( ... )
Since I was told to left-right and I've been doing it, he doesn't seem to listen to my commands to slow down to a different gait.
Yep. Chances are good--again, obviously it's hard to say for sure without seeing you two, but chances are good--that what you're doing with the sawing is teaching him to drop behind the bit in particular and your aids in general. So maybe you get a reasonably attractive shape to his head and neck, but you can't really influence the horse and/or his way of going.
I don't think using the bit is wrong, by any means. It's there for a reason, yes? But it's only part of the picture. Better to ride the whole horse.
I'd much rather ride the entire horse correctly, then just have a quick fix that's only there for cosmetic reasons. It's not fair to him because it's not comfortable for him.
I'm going to see if I can get a friend to videotape me riding later this week. It's hard to critique yourself as well when you're in the moment riding.
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Do you ride English or Western?
If you ride English, re the legs shooting forward, you try working without stirrups to stretch your legs down and then working with longer stirrups to put you into a more classical dressage position, if that's what you're after. Putting your horse on the bit would help with the head carriage. But this is all English stuff. Don't know about Western though.
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But if you're worried about your legs shooting forward in general, you can do schooling without stirrups and with longer stirrups to help your legs stretch down in the classical position if that's what you're after.
Good luck!
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Bet you a dollar you're either having a saddle fit or design issue here or else your stirrups are too long for the saddle that you're using.
If not, think about letting your weight drop down the front of your knee and letting your knee down--almost a feel like you're kneeling--and about stepping your heel onto your horse's back foot. Watch what you're doing with your feet in general; a lot of folks end up in a chair seat because they're trying to jam their heels down, but that's not what you want anyway.
As for him, he refuses to keep his head down. He has most definitely improved, but I'm am so tired of reminding him, "head down" and left-righting. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Yes. Knock off the "left-righting." We call that sawing on the bit and it's a false prophet. But you don't have to take my word for it! Here's Jane Savoie on the subject:
If you "saw" on your horse's mouth by alternating squeezing and releasing with your hands, you' ( ... )
Reply
Reply
Yep. Chances are good--again, obviously it's hard to say for sure without seeing you two, but chances are good--that what you're doing with the sawing is teaching him to drop behind the bit in particular and your aids in general. So maybe you get a reasonably attractive shape to his head and neck, but you can't really influence the horse and/or his way of going.
I don't think using the bit is wrong, by any means. It's there for a reason, yes? But it's only part of the picture. Better to ride the whole horse.
Reply
I'm going to see if I can get a friend to videotape me riding later this week. It's hard to critique yourself as well when you're in the moment riding.
Reply
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