Not for nothing, but it is well documented public knowledge that she is 1) a smoker, and 2) has battled and (I believe) been hospitalized for an eating disorder.
I’d love to have her solid leg over those size fences!!
Hey BetterOffRed, don’t you belong over in that there dressage forum? :lol:
Wow, she rides very well and her leg position is enviable.
I think she rides very well! I’d never seen her ride before, but she’s doing fabulously.
[QUOTE=AmmyByNature;8533379]
Speaking of ripping her apart, was this really necessary? You don’t know her and it seems pretty inappropriate to start speculating about her smoking and eating habits - whatever they may be.
She seems properly mounted and like she’s having a good time. I hope she continues to enjoy the sport and doesn’t let people discourage her from something that she clearly enjoys and has an aptitude for.[/QUOTE]
Wasn’t intending to rip her apart…quite the opposite! I guess I could see how it came across that way though, so apologies if I worded that awkwardly. Please allow me to clarify what I intended to say while addressing your comment:
The media has speculated about MK’s eating/lifestyle habits for years (in a negative way). But the videos of her riding seem to indicate that she is strong and healthy, and should therefore shut down any negative speculation. She had a very public struggle with an eating disorder in the past, and to this day people continue to bring it up every time some tabloid publishes a new photo of her. Just look at the comments section under any photo of her and Ashley on any celeb gossip website…people are awful.
The cavalier manner in which I dashed off my post was probably because I was projecting my own issues and experiences onto MK. I don’t know MK personally, but I do know what it’s like to struggle with an eating disorder. I’m also about her same size so I know what it’s like for people to make assumptions about my eating habits, given my history. But unlike MK, I do not have to endure the battles of recovery under the scrutiny of the media and the public. I could not imagine dealing with that, and I deeply regret that my comment gave off connotations of body policing. That was not at all what I intended.
When I saw the videos of MK riding, I saw someone who is strong in body and in mind. We all know that it takes a great deal of mental and physical strength to work with horses, and especially to ride so well at her level. Riding has played a huge part in my ongoing recovery, motivating me to stay fit (but not overdoing it) and eat nourishing foods. I probably projected that on to her as well, assuming that it plays the same role in her life. It was wrong of me to make those assumptions without knowing her, so I apologize for that as well.
As for the smoking, it’s no secret that she’s a smoker so I wasn’t speculating there. I’m an ex-smoker and never had much stamina while I smoked so that’s where my surprise came from…but now that I think of it, I know a few regular smokers who have run marathons. Go figure.
Who cares! If she is enjoying the sport, fantastic. Best wishes to her and glad to have her!
[QUOTE=RPM;8532234]
Classic equitation book Form Over Fences (great book BTW) has at least one rider using the “driving rein” method to help her hands. So I guess if it works for you, good.[/QUOTE]
Thats probably the picture of Kathy Kusner you are referring to. It’s also in Jane Marshall Dillon’s other book School for Young Riders as well as a beautiful example of Colonel Alex Sysin using a driving rein on Light Heart.
I had an instructor teach the driving rein, it’s not as easy as it looks. MKO looks like a lovely rider.
[QUOTE=Lord Helpus;8532901]
WTF? I thought “driving reins” must be some adaptation of ‘draw reins’.
All this stupidity over how she holds her reins?!?!?!?
I think she looks great, has excellent equitation and should be applauded, not berated.[/QUOTE]
^ that.
I’ll admit that when I saw these pictures of MK, I screenshotted and sent them to my sister. I truly had no idea that the “driving rein” was teaching tool- I thought she was just grabbing the reins in whatever way she wanted! I’ve never, ever in my life seen someone ride like that in my 20+ years of riding. That being said, it seems like many of you endorse or have experience with this, so good for her for going out and doing it. I learned something new today and it’s only 7:30 here on the east coast. Now what will I screen shot my sister?!
glad to see her out doing what she loves! I think most people forget that a lot of amateurs show just because they love to. We need more people in this sport like that. You go girl!!
[QUOTE=ReturnCall90;8534134]
I’ll admit that when I saw these pictures of MK, I screenshotted and sent them to my sister. I truly had no idea that the “driving rein” was teaching tool- I thought she was just grabbing the reins in whatever way she wanted! I’ve never, ever in my life seen someone ride like that in my 20+ years of riding. That being said, it seems like many of you endorse or have experience with this, so good for her for going out and doing it. I learned something new today and it’s only 7:30 here on the east coast. Now what will I screen shot my sister?![/QUOTE]
I think her position makes it clear that she is someone who knows what she is doing and any way she chooses to hold the reins is done so methodically and not just her scrambling to hold the reins whichever way she can.
I wish I rode half as well as she did!
[QUOTE=AmmyByNature;8532482]
I also found a video of Iggy Azalea getting stalked while all the poor girl is trying to do is take a lesson.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcT__AS7g-4
Must suck to be famous sometimes.[/QUOTE]
Just watched that video of Iggy. That paps were endangering everyone in the ring by rustling around in the bushes with their cameras. Even after someone warned them about the dangers, they refused to leave. Unbelievable. Iggy used to post a lot of videos and photos of her riding lessons on her social media accounts but (surprise!) she got torn to shreds by armchair equestrians even though she specifically said that she’s just starting out.
I wonder what these people expect to get out of criticizing celebs riding on social media. Do they think the celeb will reply like, “Oh thank you DoucheCanoe96 for your comment about my leg position! Your observation is truly groundbreaking and novel. Please DM me your contact info because I’m going to fire my trainer right now and hire you instead!!!”
[QUOTE=Edith Piaffe;8534596]
Just watched that video of Iggy. That paps were endangering everyone in the ring by rustling around in the bushes with their cameras. Even after someone warned them about the dangers, they refused to leave. Unbelievable. Iggy used to post a lot of videos and photos of her riding lessons on her social media accounts but (surprise!) she got torn to shreds by armchair equestrians even though she specifically said that she’s just starting out.
I wonder what these people expect to get out of criticizing celebs riding on social media. Do they think the celeb will reply like, “Oh thank you DoucheCanoe96 for your comment about my leg position! Your observation is truly groundbreaking and novel. Please DM me your contact info because I’m going to fire my trainer right now and hire you instead!!!”[/QUOTE]
It’s jealousy. The slamming of Iggy increased exponentially when she imported two horses to jump crossrails on. Good for her - they are beautiful, well trained, obviously expensive horses. The armchairs start screaming when somebody has something they want.
Watch Kaley Cuoco ride on her instagram. She has a string of fabulous jumpers and I wish I could ride like that.
Years ago I used to jump with a driving rein. It forces you to jump out of hand and not lean on the crest, and used to be used to teach an automatic release.
[QUOTE=Jo;8533606]
Hey BetterOffRed, don’t you belong over in that there dressage forum? :lol:[/QUOTE]
absolutely lurking in the wrong forum…but I have to admit her turnout makes the OCD DQ in me come out for a rager! :eek: flyaway hair, the saggy boot top, the jewelry, the jacket that doesn’t match the ear bonnet. But she does seem to have an effective seat and leg position…what do I know!
[QUOTE=Edith Piaffe;8534596]
Just watched that video of Iggy. That paps were endangering everyone in the ring by rustling around in the bushes with their cameras. Even after someone warned them about the dangers, they refused to leave. Unbelievable. Iggy used to post a lot of videos and photos of her riding lessons on her social media accounts but (surprise!) she got torn to shreds by armchair equestrians even though she specifically said that she’s just starting out.
I wonder what these people expect to get out of criticizing celebs riding on social media. Do they think the celeb will reply like, “Oh thank you DoucheCanoe96 for your comment about my leg position! Your observation is truly groundbreaking and novel. Please DM me your contact info because I’m going to fire my trainer right now and hire you instead!!!”[/QUOTE]
I watched that video too, and one thing that popped out at me right away was the description, in which it was pointed out that she wore tight beige riding pants that clung to her famous booty, or something to that effect. That right there frames the whole thing in a “let’s dissect every little thing this person does riding just because they’re famous” way. I was like, you mean breeches that fit the way they should, and there are any number of women at this very moment with butts of all shapes and sizes wearing tight stretchy pants riding so why does it matter that her butt is famous?
[QUOTE=BetterOffRed;8534772]
absolutely lurking in the wrong forum…but I have to admit her turnout makes the OCD DQ in me come out for a rager! :eek: flyaway hair, the saggy boot top, the jewelry, the jacket that doesn’t match the ear bonnet. But she does seem to have an effective seat and leg position…what do I know![/QUOTE]
I didn’t notice any of those things, I did notice her beautiful leg and seat though. What’s more important? Being an effective rider is the first priority IMO.
[QUOTE=BetterOffRed;8534772]
absolutely lurking in the wrong forum…but I have to admit her turnout makes the OCD DQ in me come out for a rager! :eek: flyaway hair, the saggy boot top, the jewelry, the jacket that doesn’t match the ear bonnet. But she does seem to have an effective seat and leg position…what do I know![/QUOTE]
Hater
Years ago I used to jump with a driving rein. It forces you to jump out of hand and not lean on the crest, and used to be used to teach an automatic release.
Do you know, I read a PH article a few years ago about learning the automatic release. It was written by a very famous rider. Anne Kursinski? Or maybe an eventer, I can’t remember. But someone that I seem to recall working with George Morris. And that article specifically instructed using a - gasp - driving rein to learn jumping out of hand.
I have to admit her turnout makes the OCD DQ in me come out for a rager! flyaway hair, the saggy boot top, the jewelry, the jacket that doesn’t match the ear bonnet.
You’d have a heart attack if you saw me! 
Okay the rings would hurt me, but to each their own. I have flyaway hair (it only goes under the helmet if I’m riding cross country, where it could get caught, or if I’m at a nice dressage show), saggy boots (I’ve only had them six years), a navy or black jacket and a wine and gold ear bonnet (worn for fun jumper shows and schooling). Sometimes if I’m at a schooling dressage show, I’ll show in my close contact saddle. There are a few people (coughdressage divascough) who tend to assume that I don’t know what I’m doing because I’m not sitting in an Hermes, or on a fancy Warmblood. They’re not ruining my fun 
MKO is a fashion mogul. I couldn’t ride with all the jewelry, but it makes sense for her and doesn’t seem to be inhibiting her ability to ride. More power to her for being who she is.
[QUOTE=Sugarwells;8534824]
Hater[/QUOTE]
:lol::lol::lol::lol:
