I actually need to get a newer video. This was taken 5 months ago and he’s been trotting ‘bigger’ and more forward since.
[QUOTE=huntseat3;7407068]
Do you all just want to make me feel bad?
Please, I’m not trying to be rude here. I was only commenting back on what that poster said, things that weren’t true/related to my situation.[/QUOTE]
Here’s the thing. Read the quote of yours I quoted. I quoted it because it was rude. Especially for someone new to a board. While there is no harm in coming to a forum that doesn’t focus on your given discipline, declaring who can and can’t comment will rub people the wrong way.
It wasn’t even the helmet thing for me. You are technically an adult and can do as you like on that front with your own noggin. It would break my heart if something happened to you and after years in this business, I have seen what can happen to even folks wearing helmets, and it makes my stomach churn. Hell, I’ve attended a funeral for an ex student who WAS wearing a helmet when her accident happened.
All I would ask is that you go back and read the words of yours that I quoted and put yourself in my shoes and see if you can see how those words prompted me to write what I wrote.
I do like your horse, and wish you the best of luck. From the bottom of my heart. Raisin like though it may be.
I had my husband take a look at your video and he said he would long trot him and really try to get him pushing under himself. Transitions such as cantering four strides then a downwards transition to a long trot and trot/walk/trot transitions to build muscle and rock him back on his haunches. The long trotting should help open up his stride a bit and hopefully free up that shoulder for the canter. Gentle counterflexions and counter bends at the trot down the long side (just until you see his eyelashes and once he feels soft ride him straight) then riding him in the correct bend through the short sides will encourage him to throw his shoulder out a bit more. Lots more trotting than cantering at this point. My husband said he would be a very nice novice horse if you could get him consistent and moving out a little more. He’s really a cutie and will be a fun little show horse for you
Can I borrow your horse? By borrow, I mean take him off your hands? He looks SO STINKING CUTE and looks like SO much fun to ride…
I am not a HS rider, I’m a dressage/event rider… But I’ll throw in my small 2cents.
I echo the sentiments about doing many transitions with him. We had a QH on the farm built like him and the best thing that worked was really pushing for a BIG trot after a downward canter transition. The previous canter stride has enough propulsion that when the horse does a downward transition they often have a great deal of impulsion, that is more malleable than it may be if you are asking them to take greater steps from a trot, etc.
As far as the helmet thing goes, you know what? It’s your choice. I wear a helmet, and that’s my choice. You two look like a great pair and I hope you get much more (positive) advice here.
Thanks last two posters. I will definitely do more transitions. He does a really nice forward trot coming from a canter.
[QUOTE=Hunters Ridge;7407674]
I had my husband take a look at your video and he said he would long trot him and really try to get him pushing under himself. Transitions such as cantering four strides then a downwards transition to a long trot and trot/walk/trot transitions to build muscle and rock him back on his haunches. The long trotting should help open up his stride a bit and hopefully free up that shoulder for the canter. Gentle counterflexions and counter bends at the trot down the long side (just until you see his eyelashes and once he feels soft ride him straight) then riding him in the correct bend through the short sides will encourage him to throw his shoulder out a bit more. Lots more trotting than cantering at this point. My husband said he would be a very nice novice horse if you could get him consistent and moving out a little more. He’s really a cutie and will be a fun little show horse for you[/QUOTE]
This was a really nice thing for you to do to help this girl.
[QUOTE=huntseat3;7407723]
Thanks last two posters. I will definitely do more transitions. He does a really nice forward trot coming from a canter.[/QUOTE]
Your horse is adorable! Your base could be a little more secure, and it will help your horse, plus make a prettier picture… To help get your base solid, get in 2 point, and stay there and do transitions, without using the neck or reins for balance. W-C-T-C-W-T, etc.
First of all I would like to give kudos to the OP for being (imo) mature and respectful even when she thought people were attacking her. I don’t have anything useful to say but I think your horse is super cute.
Secondly I have a question for all no helmet people, not just the OP. Have you ever had a concussion? 'Cause they hurt like a b*tch. And you throw up all over yourself. If you had the option to avoid that, why wouldn’t you?
(I re-read that and it came off unintentionally snarky. Please don’t take it that way)
[QUOTE=blackbeauty;7407873]
First of all I would like to give kudos to the OP for being (imo) mature and respectful even when she thought people were attacking her. I don’t have anything useful to say but I think your horse is super cute.
Secondly I have a question for all no helmet people, not just the OP. Have you ever had a concussion? 'Cause they hurt like a b*tch. And you throw up all over yourself. If you had the option to avoid that, why wouldn’t you?
(I re-read that and it came off unintentionally snarky. Please don’t take it that way)[/QUOTE]
I’m going to preface this with the fact that I’m a helmet person 1000000%; every time, every ride, no matter what!!
That being said, helmets don’t actually prevent concussions. In the most basic terms, a concussion occurs when the brain connects with the skull with any force. A helmet cannot prevent this as it is an internal process. It absorbs the shock, absolutely, but if your head hits the ground with a helmet, there can still be a concussive incident to the brain. A helmet will reduce the trauma, but it won’t prevent a concussion all together. What a helmet DOES prevent (or reduce by a great magnitude) is a TBI (traumatic brain injury). By absorbing the shock and cushioning the skull, it helps to prevent open skull fractures, damage to the brain stem (which is not something typically involved in a concussion), crush injuries to the head, and diffuse damage from blunt force trauma. Essentially all of the things that can leave you with permanent damage or cause death.
So while concussions are no fun and post-concussive syndrome can cause long-term problems with everything from sleep to focus to memory to vestibular functioning, a helmet’s main purpose is to reduce the incidence of TBIs and the horrific aftermath that accompanies them.
To the OP, I sincerely hope you aren’t being facetious when you said that you will start wearing a (certified!) helmet when you ride (because maintaing your IQ and the ability to use the bathroom and get dressed without assistance beats pretty much any argument against it in my book!) and I wish you the best with your horse and you are able to get some good advice for developing your horse; he’s darling! 
Doublestables illustrated the difference between AQHA and USEF hunters best with those two videos (love, love, LOVE your horse doublestables!). I have to say, and it is a matter of preference, but I am not fond of the "frame’ of those AQHA hunters in the second video.
To me your video OP, showed a really cute horse with potential to do well for you - he looks sweet and looks like he will have good movement wit a little more impulsion and balance. You look good, and your hands are soft, but I think a larger saddle will help you to get your heels more aligned with your hip and less forward and help you be a little more subtle in your posting (was probably a little strong to get him going more forward). Good luck with him!
[QUOTE=huntseat3;7406989]
Please stop telling me I need to wear a helmet. I’ve heard it enough. If you have nothing else to say, don’t comment. And if you don’t know about breed hunters, then don’t comment. I didn’t post in western because I’m not riding western.[/QUOTE]
That’s not exactly the way to ask competent strangers for help. But, then, you proudlyresist wearing a helmet, so what could we expect.
[QUOTE=Punkie;7407975]
I’m going to preface this with the fact that I’m a helmet person 1000000%; every time, every ride, no matter what!!
That being said, helmets don’t actually prevent concussions. In the most basic terms, a concussion occurs when the brain connects with the skull with any force. A helmet cannot prevent this as it is an internal process. It absorbs the shock, absolutely, but if your head hits the ground with a helmet, there can still be a concussive incident to the brain. A helmet will reduce the trauma, but it won’t prevent a concussion all together. What a helmet DOES prevent (or reduce by a great magnitude) is a TBI (traumatic brain injury). By absorbing the shock and cushioning the skull, it helps to prevent open skull fractures, damage to the brain stem (which is not something typically involved in a concussion), crush injuries to the head, and diffuse damage from blunt force trauma. Essentially all of the things that can leave you with permanent damage or cause death.
So while concussions are no fun and post-concussive syndrome can cause long-term problems with everything from sleep to focus to memory to vestibular functioning, a helmet’s main purpose is to reduce the incidence of TBIs and the horrific aftermath that accompanies them.
To the OP, I sincerely hope you aren’t being facetious when you said that you will start wearing a (certified!) helmet when you ride (because maintaing your IQ and the ability to use the bathroom and get dressed without assistance beats pretty much any argument against it in my book!) and I wish you the best with your horse and you are able to get some good advice for developing your horse; he’s darling! :)[/QUOTE]
Whoops. Just ignore me then please :o
I have a question-do you think his nose needs to be in a little more?
Worry less about his nose and more about his engagement from behind. When he’s properly engaged behind and off his front end, you’ll find that the headset takes care of itself. If you try to think about getting his nose in, you might fall into the trap of see-sawing on his mouth to create a false frame.
As far as your position, you need a stronger lower leg, as it looks like you’re not resting your center of gravity in you heels. I’d also say while your trunk moves nicely with your horse, your upper body moves a lot too and your hands move (at least at the trot) and are often at uneven heights. Practice using a crop laid flat between hands (there are lots of videos on this). Good luck!
Words no parent should ever have to write.
http://www.riders4helmets.com/2014/02/my-daughter-died-after-a-fall-while-not-wearing-a-helmet/
[QUOTE=Laurierace;7409019]
Words no parent should ever have to write.
http://www.riders4helmets.com/2014/02/my-daughter-died-after-a-fall-while-not-wearing-a-helmet/[/QUOTE]
Really? You’ve blasted your piece at least 4x already. No amount of bludgeoning home your opinion is going to change anyone’s mind - if anything, it is just going to drive OP to do the opposite, because at this point, you are harassing her.
I mean well, and I’d like to hope you mean well, but give it a rest. The OP has been very polite and composed deflecting your posts thus far. I respect your opinion to wear a helmet, and agree 100%, but the OP is free to make her own decisions and if you don’t like it, you don’t need to post here anymore.
Whatever.
[QUOTE=beowulf;7409057]
Really? You’ve blasted your piece at least 4x already. No amount of bludgeoning home your opinion is going to change anyone’s mind - if anything, it is just going to drive OP to do the opposite, because at this point, you are harassing her.
I mean well, and I’d like to hope you mean well, but give it a rest. The OP has been very polite and composed deflecting your posts thus far. I respect your opinion to wear a helmet, and agree 100%, but the OP is free to make her own decisions and if you don’t like it, you don’t need to post here anymore.[/QUOTE]
I thought the article posted was appropriate - I have never seen the story and think it has valuable information that may just save a life even if a person chooses not to wear a helmet.
Again, we are on a public forum; we may be here to learn, share our experiences or simply speak out…
Teenagers especially seem to think they are invincible. If this one teenager’s death can change the mind of another teenager then I don’t care how many of you I pissed off in the process.
