[QUOTE=jumper528;7331304]
Yes Equestrian Coach is great. Hunters tend to overexagerate their jumps, which isn’t great for teaching the importance of balance and core engagement. It is imperative to keep one’s eyes up over a fence, barely lift off the saddle, keep steady but elastic contact with the bit, and keep ones heels down - letting the horses neck lift up to you (same for no matter the size of jump, the horses neck will simply raise higher). Many amateurs and juniors launch forward, thrust their tush up, leg goes flying back, head ends up mid neck, and their hands at the horses ears. It is reasonable given the monumental size of grand prixs jumps to end up in such a position, but is illustrates to inexperienced riders that this is what they should be doing over small jumps.
For instance, Lady Gaga (and most great artists) had to master classical style before they could break it. Grand prix riders are the best at what they do, and it would be nice if they could demonstrate the ABCs for inexperienced riders, because the greats are so idolized that kids want to jump just like them! Even if it means Kent Farrington style cross rails in the short stirrup… Most hunter riders also demonstrate a style that George Morris gags at.[/QUOTE]
I’m confused about why you need to see grand prix riders riding small courses, because if you want to see everything you describe in the first paragraph quoted above, you can go to youtube and look at videos from the big eq classes. You’ll be busy for days, if not weeks. And for giggles, check out videos of the top juniors in an equitation class, then look at the same riders in a hunter class/hunter derby. They will look great in both, but their riding styles will look completely different. At the same time, pay attention to the differences in the horses’ forms over the fences in the equitation classes versus the hunter classes. These kids aren’t idiots and they aren’t being trained by morons.