I may regret this, but I thought I’d give us something to pick at that doesn’t have anything to do with Anky (unless you want to tell me I ride like her! 
)
So here’s me and the 4 yr old Holsteiner x TB gelding that I love to itty bitty pieces. This picture is about 3 weeks old and I think we’re just getting to work after warming up.
All right ladies, give 'er!
Hello all!
I am new to COTH and the BB. Looks interesting in here. Am a former HJP (hunter jumper princess)
but I have evolved into a DG (dressage godess).
Here is my two cents
Anky rides beautifully and was riding Junior as suited the moment. Tons of distraction, no warmup time and all the time talking to an audience. Few of us could pull that off as nicely.
KT - go for it with the Quarter horse. Fancy horses are sometimes just that - fancy. Sounds like this guy will be a challenge and fun as well. Riding is not all about ribbons and eliciting appreciative oohs and aahs from the crowd. Do this for yourself.
Copellia - nice horse, nice rider. Same issues as the others already picking at you. Who is this good looking fella by? Cute doggy in the background too. Corgi?
The first was not a good angle. Now, give us a better one so we can properly pick you apart! LOL! Seriously, horse looks relaxed – I agree your seat is starting to get stiff in the first, and your head looks too “intense”. Relax. Otherwise, quite nice. You 2 fit each other really well. What a cute pair you make.
Second one, LOVED IT! BTDT. Notice what a ham the boy is… what with looking straight at the photographer! Love your sense of humor.
Third one: LOVELY rider position – TEXTBOOK. Horse looks very happy. Still somewhat on the forehand, even without the arena to help— just as one would EXPECT from a younger horse. He isn’t GP! So, appropriate for his level of training and age. Very supple and going along nicely. Keep it up!
Very nice overall. Thanks for sharing. You brave girl.
Oh, and HEY, at least you are OUT THERE riding. as opposed to we couch critics! 
It’s a moment in time and not the best angle in the world for doing a rider critique, now is it?
The horse looks soft, happy and relaxed. If you were riding with Reiner Klimke he’d tell you that was first and foremost in importance.
No one can give you any real feedback on your riding based on this picture, except that you look fine. I would assume that your hands are higher because your waist is longer, and your arms are shorter. No one can really tell from the picture. Neither can they tell if you’re soft through the leg, or bracing, soft, following or fight, sticking out your chin by an inch or a mile, laughing or crying.
It’s a very nice picture and the two of you look happy and as if you’re doing a very pleasing bit of dressage. What more needs to be said?
thanks! Yes, I’m very proud of my ex-racin’ TB. We both used to do hunters and now we are attempting basic dressage…I always start now with a 10 minute walk on a super loose rein to encourage his head and neck to stretch and for him to want to seek the bit/contact. When we trot-or canter-he looses confidence and hence you see the stiff high head…I know we’ve had better rides even since this pic taken about a month ago where he looks more relaxed and I don’t have such a weird body position but its all time and patience. 
I posted another pic of the canter—he looks ready to take a 5’ oxer haha!
Hey Zanzibar - welcome to the BB! Colossus is by Cambridge, the Holsteiner stallion here at the farm. And yep, there’s two Corgies who rule the farm and feel the need to help out during rides. You can see another picture of a Cambridge 5 yr old daughter on the breeding forum, posted by Cortez.
Well, since everyone’s been pretty nice so far, I thought I’d have some fun at my own expense… go to the Anky thread and on p.4 I’ve posted another picture of me & Colossus, same day but DEEP! 
Check it out.
This is fun. 
I may regret this, but I thought I’d give us something to pick at that doesn’t have anything to do with Anky (unless you want to tell me I ride like her! )
So here’s me and the 4 yr old Holsteiner x TB gelding that I love to itty bitty pieces. This picture is about 3 weeks old and I think we’re just getting to work after warming up.
All right ladies, give 'er!
I think your hands look good because they are following (if they are high—it could be so many reasons—but they don’t look to be punishing your horse in any way) You seem to have a light look to you and your horse is beautiful and looks like a fun ride. I think he could come under himself more (his stride looks a little short/bum a little high). Wow…he is 4? Whew, you will have plenty of time to get it right…he looks to be very talented for so young.
Very nice pair. My two cents (american), seems balanced, could be stepping up more into front hoof print. Your hands seem a bit high, like you may be carrying him. But very relaxed appearance. And it is just one “instant” in time.
You look very Anky-ish to me. 
“The older I get, the better I used to be, but who the heck cares!”
I see the start of water skiing. Hard to tell at this angle, but be careful that you are balanced over your centre of gravity. (Shoulders, hip, heal). It seems that your lower leg has slipped forward and your seat backwards. Your hands are pulling your horse behind the vertical. Yes just like Anke. My goodness did I say that…
Cactuskate, 2 cents American is worth 5 cents Canadian!
And don’t be putting Anky ideas into Coppelia’s head or we’ll never live with her.
Thanks everyone for the comments. And to those who dared voice an opinion on the Anky thread as well, thanks for that also.
I realise it’s very hard to get an acurate idea of a horse & rider pair from a picture. It’s a split second in a ride that may last 45 minutes, or 10 minutes. What you see is NEVER the whole story, and in two strides you may have a totally different horse.
Just for sh*ts & giggles, I thought I’d post a picture of me & Colossus last summer, when the big fella was just 3. I think you’ll agree that he’s going nicely forward, with his nose in front of the vertical. My position leaves a little to be desired, and I like to think I’ve improved since then. And please keep in mind, the whole ride wasn’t this fluid and correct. I had to work pretty hard to time this shot with the photographer…
Lovely Horse!!! Good job!!!
It looks like you do the same thing with your neck as I do. Get that head back over your shoulders.
Here’s another shot of us, taken today. Opinions?
I have to add… the arena is NOT level! We are on a bit of a downhill slope… should have taken a shot on the other side, going uphill!
Your hands are a bit high and you are looking down but otherwise you and horse are looking great. Do people ever tell you that you ride just like Anky? hee hee. Do you plan on showing this horse or is he for sale? Probably both!
you have such a nice horse…what a sweety! I love the pic of when he was 3! So cute! My horse does that too—I have been working with him since April–but he is 10–he hasn’t really had much training out into him so I have a lot of work to do–I can sympathize! (see the pic!p.s.–be nice–I used to be a hunter )
For your canter picture–I think it looks lovely. Your position looks good–you can draw the line from ear -shoulder- hip- to- heel. Your right hand looks a tad high (1/2 inch) and is breaking the line from bit to elbow just the slighest bit, but I see you are going down hill and it appears like you may be trying to get him to bend to the inside a little. I work in a slopey arena too–so I know exactly what thats like. He looks to be slightly on his forehand—but again, going downhill…its hard—he still looks to be engaging from his butt-but he can definitely get under himself more if he was just a little rounder. His head look good—he isn’t tucked way under or avoiding the bit–he actually looks to have that perfect angle of his head–with his nose just a hair out–looks good.
I think the two of you look great. Same nit-picks as everyone else, hands a bit high,maybe he’s leaning on you (if he’s leaning on you I’m sure you’re already aware of that). What a pretty horse. Good luck.
Smart Alec! What a cute horse. Looks to have nice markings and a pretty, pretty head.
I cam empathise with what you are going through reschooling a hunter to be rounder and softer in the neck ---- and whole body, can be tough. My big old TB spent years going around all flat and being asked to daisy cut around the courses. When I decided to move over to dressage with him the first thing I did was ride him what we called “long and low”. His topline developed and when I brought him up he was strong and through. The difference in this horse was unbelievable! He became such a joy to ride and he had the occasional TB tantrum but when he got it, he got it. There is nothing more satisfying than the feeling of a horse softly bringing their withers up and flouncing across the ground! HE is 21 now and when I occasionally bring him in to putz around he remembers all of his fancy stuff! Have fun, looks like such a nice horse.
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
