Hi all!
First time posting!
I’ve been riding for a year and got my 6yo OTTB few months ago. We are working with an amazing dressage trainer. I am always looking for advice on how I can improve. I feel like I’m flopping in the saddle and I never know how to properly hold my arms, they are very rigid…
Any advice would be appreciated!
I think you have all the ingredients to be a lovely, rider. I anticipate that everyone here is going to ask you what else your trainer says, and if you feel you’re not getting the feedback you want, to seek out someone who may do work with you, like riding without stirrups on a longe line. Your trainer in this video is correctly advising you to keep your horse nice and forward. This is a good first step with a green horse.
In general…yes your arms are out in front of you and too high, but I wouldn’t worry so much about where your arms are. Rather, how can you begin to pick up contact with your horse and learn to follow the movement of his body with yours. How can you keep your elbows close to your sides and quiet while letting your hands follow. A lot of the rest will fall into place once you learn to feel real contact. And it’s hard to coach it over the internet from a single video.
I do like that you seem to intuitively stay soft on your horse, and encourage him into forward movement while he learns to rebalance into a new sport that requires him to use his body in a very different way.
Thank you for trusting us through sharing your video, and I look forward to hearing about your progress.
I agree - for someone only riding a year you look very relaxed and have lovely forgiving hands!
It will all come together. The biggest thing I see (been riding a long time but far from an expert) is you could be more confident in your hand/rein connection and learn to keep your hands in the “zone” - that box in the wither area where correct rein aids are most effective.
But one year in? You look like a million bucks.
First of all, your horse is beyond cute and looks like a kind soul. I love how he cruises along on a soft rein.
Second, your trainer sounds very positive and encouraging. Not all us are so fortunate. (Perhaps speaking for myself 
).
Third (and finally!) I think you have good basics. As you spend more time in the saddle your position will get tighter and you’ll develop a feel for where and how to carry and use your arms and hands.
You’re well on your way. You have a nice horse, a good coach and a great attitude. Have fun learning!
Yes, there may be some aesthetic issues, but your horse’s movement says that you are soft and balanced. He looks lovely!!!
I can’t see the video - something about user exceeding bandwidth, but I can share an arm fix for rigidness.
Go into posting trot and then ‘glue’ your fists to your horse’s withers, either side and just barely in front of your saddle. All you have to do is concentrate on the movement which happens in your elbows in order to keep your hands in place. Really feel that movement - let your brain and body really concentrate on it.
When you are feeling it and no longer struggling to maintain your hand position you can raise your hands a few inches while still concentrating on your elbow movement. Use this little exercise a lot and your arm rigidity will melt away.
I had to double check you are in a dressage saddle because your position looks like a very nice beginner h/j position (no hate—I’m a h/j rider). I like that you have a pretty good base of support. But your stirrups are a bit short for that saddle. I wouldn’t want you to lose your balance though reaching for the stirrups. The stirrups look like the flexible ones. I’d switch to ones without the flexi branches. This would allow you to lower your stirrups some. The flexible ones always seem to feel too long when you put weight on them posting which makes you tend to err on having them overall too short.
Your hands are soft and you have good shoulder - hip - heel alignment. The basics are quite good for your experience level. And you are taller while your horse is built a little longer and lower like many OTTBs, so some of your struggle with making the right picture is just your conformation versus your horse’s. And that your horse isn’t on the contact. But that’s fine—your coach is giving you a good start working on going forward and keeping a rhythm. Contact will come later with your learning how to use your elbows while maintaining the forward rhythm. The arm should look still but only achieves that with a bending and unbending of the elbows. You can touch the pommel a little while you post to get a feel for that then try picking up your hands but maintaining the movement of the elbows.
For riding for such a short time, everything looks perfect! And I love your trainer!!! Don’t worry but listen to your trainer and get more experience. a I love your horse as well🥰
Unfortunately I can’t load the video, so I can’t give specific feedback (and I am by no means an expert anyway). However, I would recommend to any rider in any discipline (any humans on the planet, really) the Alexander technique. There are numerous videos, Facebook groups, books, etc., and a few dedicated to dressage.
Videos and coaches have long shared tips for better posture in the saddle (i.e. “grow tall,” “don’t brace your shoulders,” etc.) but as opposed to these one-offs that were quickly forgotten when my concentration went elsewhere, Alexander technique is about retraining your posture as you move throughout life AND in the saddle. In just a few short months, I’ve noticed a huge change in me and my mount.
Happy riding!
Thanks for posting your video. We all learn from others, so you’re probably helping some other riders as well! I see you’ve already gotten some good advice, so I won’t add to that. I just wanted to say, welcome. You and your horse are off to a great start! 
You look fabulous! One year in, and a young-ish OTTB to boot? We should all do so well.
Part of arms feeling rigid is core strength. When you are strong enough to trust your core, your arms will relax. Another trick I like is to ride one handed; I’ll switch from only right hand on the rein, then left.
Your coach sounds very positive and encouraging, that’s wonderful.
omg, I love your trainer and I love your horse! And only a year’s riding with a green horse–you look amazing! The fact your horse is so chill shows he trusts you.
I agree that your stirrups look more h/j length than dressage length–do you feel more secure when they are shorter? Dropping them at least a hole will enable you to sit more deeply and use your leg more effectively.
Are your reins long and you hands spaced wide as an exercise, or because you want to encourage him to move forward? Actually, taking up more contact will likely make him feel more secure, especially with a OTTB, who is used to having weight in the hands to brace against.
But your trainer sounds GREAT, and she is steering you the right way. Your horse also seems like a really gem–you are lucky to have found him!
Things I noticed-,while hands are hard to see whether thumbs are up and wrists softly rounded, the finger keep opening and closing as though you are holding a teacup. Fingers should stay softly closed, reins held between thumb and forefinger. Hands closer together.
When rising, feel as though you are rolling up on your thighs, and he is tossing you up. Don’t rise higher than necessary.
Shoulders could come back
Oh this is good, thank you!
Thank you everyone for being so helpful! Will work on getting better and enjoying the ride 
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