My hunter under saddle horse in the making

[huntseat3]

Hello everyone!

I’m new here so I thought I’d start out by showing you a video of me and my horse. Here’s a little about us…
I’m 19 and have been riding hunt seat for about 4 years, and western for 9 years. I started out western but decided I wanted to go English. I got this horse 2 1/2 years ago as a hunt seat prospect. His name is Betyoursweetassets (Ace) and he’s a 15.3 hand 9 year old Quarter horse. Last summer I started with a trainer to work on getting in AQHA shows in hunter under saddle and equitation classes. Ace was started in western pleasure as a 3 year old, and he has a pretty nice jog and he neck reins, so maybe one day we’ll do that too. But for now I’m focusing on hunt seat, as he seems to like it better. I want to show in both of ours’ first Quarter horse show this year. We still have things to work on though, and I know he won’t be able to do any big shows because he’s just not that super big Appendix type. But he’s done really well in local open shows and I’m curious to see what he can do on the local AQHA circuit.

Could I have some critiques on his movement? If you see anything about my position that can be fixed you can tell me that too

Thanks so much!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ucghbo88TVw

[Donkerbruin]

Welcome to COTH!

I like your horse. My recommendation to you would be to look for a larger saddle. You also may want to close your hip angle some.

And, of course, wear a helmet.

[huntseat3]

[QUOTE=Donkerbruin;7406234]
Welcome to COTH!

I like your horse. My recommendation to you would be to look for a larger saddle. You also may want to close your hip angle some.

And, of course, wear a helmet. :)[/QUOTE]

I agree about the saddle. I want to get a seat size bigger and one that has more leg room

[dani0303]

Just a fair warning, you’ll get a lot of flack on here for not wearing a helmet. Several posters will not critique a helmetless rider.

Your horse is a nice mover but needs more impulsion from his hind end. That will help lift him off his forehand and open up his shoulder. I know the AQHA prefers the nose on the ground and I personally hate that look. You can still get him traveling uphill instead of downhill even with his nose down.

[huntseat3]

I understand the helmet deal, but I usually ride without one. Not real safe, but personal preference.

I hope some of you will still be willing to comment nonetheless!

[Laurierace]

Nope.

[huntseat3]

[QUOTE=Laurierace;7406428]
Nope.[/QUOTE]

??

[Lilykoi]

He’s a cutie! Love QHs. I think he moves nicely. If you can lift him in front just a bit and get his hiney under him more, but other than that he is very pretty. A saddle that fits you both makes a huge difference too

[huntseat3]

[QUOTE=Lilykoi;7406461]
He’s a cutie! Love QHs. I think he moves nicely. If you can lift him in front just a bit and get his hiney under him more, but other than that he is very pretty. A saddle that fits you both makes a huge difference too :)[/QUOTE]

Thank you
Do you have any suggestions on how I can get him to drive with his hindquarter more?

[phlora]

^ What I personally do is transitions. WT, WC, all that good stuff!
Also, change it up a bit, perhaps? Do 10, 15, 20 m circles, ask for a ‘bit more forward’ trot and then bring it back. Leg yield, diagonals… I’m not a hunter rider - I do dressage, but I feel like when I start off and do some of these things I really feel my horse come forward and under - in basic terms. He is a cutie though!

[Lilykoi]

I agree with Phlora, transitions are good. I have found with Quarter Horses that it really helps energize them. I get the best trot transitioning down from the canter. Don’t get stuck in the walk trot canter, reverse and repeat pattern. Mix it up. If he was ridden western he will have to learn what your leg is and you will have to learn how to use it. Your trainer will help you. When he comes forward off your leg he will use his hind end. And again, a saddle that fits will make a huge difference too. Good luck, he’s just super!

[kookicat]

Do you wear a seat belt in the car?

[Bristol_Bay]

[QUOTE=huntseat3;7406424]
I understand the helmet deal, but I usually ride without one. Not real safe, but personal preference.

I hope some of you will still be willing to comment nonetheless![/QUOTE]

@Laurierace;7406428

Nope.

@huntseat3;7406444

??

Nope, laurierace will not comment on a helmetless rider.

[QUOTE=huntseat3;7406468]Thank you
Do you have any suggestions on how I can get him to drive with his hindquarter more?[/QUOTE]

Start by putting on a helmet.

[TSWJB]

OP did you see what happened to Courtney King Dye if you haven’t please Google her name. She was a fantastic dressage rider who can’t ride now because of all the complications from a head injury from not wearing a helmet. Her horse tripped and being an Olympic rider did not stop her from having a severe injury. It was very tragic, but she now wants people to learn from her mistake. Why would you take a chance on going helmet less?
Your horse is cute, but he is shuffling along on his front end. Very 4 beat canter. You need to get his hind end moving forward. Transitions are very helpful. If you could take a lesson from a dressage person you would learn a lot about getting a horse to use his hind end. If you can’t, Google things like getting horse off forehand. I have learned a lot from articles I have googled.

[huntseat3]

[QUOTE=Lilykoi;7406608]
I agree with Phlora, transitions are good. I have found with Quarter Horses that it really helps energize them. I get the best trot transitioning down from the canter. Don’t get stuck in the walk trot canter, reverse and repeat pattern. Mix it up. If he was ridden western he will have to learn what your leg is and you will have to learn how to use it. Your trainer will help you. When he comes forward off your leg he will use his hind end. And again, a saddle that fits will make a huge difference too. Good luck, he’s just super![/QUOTE]

You know I find that he trots better after a canter-trot too. More forward.

[huntseat3]

Then laurierace does not have to comment. That’s fine

[ToTheNines]

Op your horse is cute, but you are in breed show mode with him. The small saddle, the upright posting, and the low front end. You will find many great suggestions here for riding and training for the hunter under saddle class in USEF type shows. As for breed show HUS, I don’t think this a particularly good place for advice. Maybe the Western forum. The hunter under saddle for breed shows is extremely different than for USEF shows. For example, I have two nice movers (a QH and and App) who pin well in USEF type shows, but will not get a second look at a breed show. Not that the breed shows don’t have good movers, they certainly do, but it is the way they are ridden and trained.

Also keep in mind that there are also many dressage and eventing riders who visit this forum, so you are going to get a lot of that advice too. IMO, they are the ones who are going to focus on “uphill” and collection and a lot of that type of advice.

A good way to differentiate might be to have a goal of self carriage without you having to be busy up there.

But good for you for not doing all that busy bumping on the mouth that I see so much of in the breed shows. See if you can take some of the advice here and get him to shift some weight to the back end. And keeping your hair pretty by not wearing a helmet is something you need to let go of.

[huntseat3]

[QUOTE=ToTheNines;7406766]
Op your horse is cute, but you are in breed show mode with him. The small saddle, the upright posting, and the low front end. You will find many great suggestions here for riding and training for the hunter under saddle class in USEF type shows. As for breed show HUS, I don’t think this a particularly good place for advice. Maybe the Western forum. The hunter under saddle for breed shows is extremely different than for USEF shows. For example, I have two nice movers (a QH and and App) who pin well in USEF type shows, but will not get a second look at a breed show. Not that the breed shows don’t have good movers, they certainly do, but it is the way they are ridden and trained.

Also keep in mind that there are also many dressage and eventing riders who visit this forum, so you are going to get a lot of that advice too. IMO, they are the ones who are going to focus on “uphill” and collection and a lot of that type of advice.

A good way to differentiate might be to have a goal of self carriage without you having to be busy up there.

But good for you for not doing all that busy bumping on the mouth that I see so much of in the breed shows. See if you can take some of the advice here and get him to shift some weight to the back end. And keeping your hair pretty by not wearing a helmet is something you need to let go of.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for your advice. Yes, we are pointing towards breed shows, not USEF.
Not to be rude, but my not wearing a helmet does not affect you (and it has nothing to do with keeping my hair pretty.) If I get hurt it’s my fault.

[Laurierace]

LALALALALALALALALALALALALALALA

[huntseat3]

[QUOTE=Laurierace;7406822]
LALALALALALALALALALALALALALALA[/QUOTE]
Please leave if you have nothing to say