I think there are some big wins the celebrate. To me it looks like when he gooses forward that very first step when he hits your hand he speeds up and then the balance shifts to his mouth. He only looks like he’s going to go so fast so I wonder if you did a discrete mane grab and wrapped your legs on if it might help you stay with that initial scoot and then he may not try to build momentum because there aren’t any mouth repercussions. Right at 1:37 you came back a little early/into your seat rather than leg and you can see him scoot at 1:38 and then there’s a little bit of a tempo battle. I think 1:20 may be another example and then the change further made him a little quick legged and bracing.
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Already an improvement! I love how you just let the gap slide by and settled in to get him closer to the base of the fence (like, Fence 1- super smart decision there), so he has to actually rock back and can’t just launch across, which makes him land flat and fast.
The distances seem to be considerably kinder at this show— that’s kinda the tough part about making a plan to stick to the adds, you never now how the lines are going to be set. But still think it was/is the right decision to land and downshift for a bit, and not be tempted by lines that you technically could make, but doing so would immediately undo all the work you’ve done towards getting him to relax inside the lines.
He just gets cuter and cuter!
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Much better! Different idea: do you talk to him as you go around? Don’t be afraid to use your voice at this stage. Just a reassuring “easy, buddy” or even hum a tune close to the add rhythm you want. It can help keep you from tensing up as well. Rub him on the neck when he lands quietly, too. I think you both just need to settle and things will start falling into place. 
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“Whoa whoa whoa your boat” is my personal fave 
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You can also use your voice for yourself to help regulate your own breath and nerves! I had a trainer once make me sing around an entire course as a kid. She may have had some regrets because I kept up the habit 
But it is incredibly helpful to find that own rhythm in your head so that you’re a little more focused on something other than “what is my horse doing and do I need to micromanage it” (which I think probably 99% of amateurs ask themselves at least once in every lesson, myself included).
GREAT follow up video!! I hope you felt good about all those little improvements!
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I’m dead 
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How do you think I know that trick? Rarely do I do it out loud anymore, but I often have a internal soundtrack playing.
Much better! Not perfect, but the whole picture is wayyyyy more enjoyable!
Agree here too. I wonder if the saddle fit may be contributing - this I what one of mine did and we found the saddle to be pinching. If it’s snug, he wants to scoot out from under the pain and that is the worst when you get behind him/put weight in the seat vs leg.
I still think he’s a cutie. He may be one that you’ll eventually find you can make the step locally or on softer courses, but need to do the adds for longer lines like the “big” rated shows tend to do. Once he learns to lengthen vs run, the softer step will be right there!
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He looks so much more comfortable. He looks like “now I understand”. The low jumps and low-key atmosphere are also helping.
I love the poster’s tune above “whoa whoa whoa your boat” ! 
I was going to say that your use of half-halts all the way around is helping immensely. His normal TB response that the answer to everything is “faster!” is being given a re-direction, and he’s appreciating it.
Good job! Both of you! 
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Goodness, that is a huge improvement. Note no motorcycle turns and very few cross canter steps. Just a few seemingly minor adjustments and a big change in your thought process and you got a much better round then those you posted upthread.
Riders in many disciplines sing to themselves, keeps the tempo and soothes the nerves.
Couple of thoughts, first most of us on here do not get too involved with hopeless cases so the fact you have all these great responses from a wide range of Hunter folk should give your confidence a boost. At least one judge and an active Pro trainer whose family owned one of the very best and successful Hunters ever. Nobody has offered anything but helpful suggestions.
The other thing is maybe you can find a coach to work with occasionally who can help you with these small adjustments in your riding and thinking? Most here are seeing the same, fixable issues on just a few phone videos. Especially if you are on a budget, it would be a great use of those limited funds.
Great trainers don’t tell you what to do, they give you the tools to figure it out for yourself.
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Wow this is a huge improvement. My only comment is when you are in two point cantering, your hip is pretty open and your seat has a fair bit of movement up and down. You may want to try cantering with your shoulders still tall the way you have them, but a more closed hip. If possible keeping it all a little lower in the tack but the closed-ness of the hip means you stay very much with the motion and never accidentally driving.
One way to get better at this is to practice posting low. It requires way more body control to post low and forces you to really regulate the speed of your post. It can also get you tighter in the tack as well.
But really you should be feeling really proud, this is a huge change!
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Amazing change. Lots of advice. I second a rubber mullen mouth phellem if you want to switch to something else but I honestly think just chillin’ in the ad will help you immensely. Super cute little dude!!
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This is a training issue for you. Find a trainer that knows how horses move and can teach you not to pull. The motor is in the rear end and you train to engage and strengthen the rear end. You need to learn this to do this. it’s how you keep any horse light on the front end.
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Hi all again!
You all asked for updates so here is one final one. We definitely have a lot to work on so this will be our last hunter show for the year, but I do expect a comeback next year. But I couldnt be more pleased!
I decided to take him to a local hunter derby show. There were 30ish horses in the class with heights ranging from 2’ to 3’. We stuck to the 2’ section and did the adds and he was brilliant! Its not perfect by any means and we ended up 4th overall in the 30ish rounds! Lyric was very pleased with his fancy white ribbon that he made sure to slober on it so no one could (or want) to claim it 
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Good for you…it is a never ending quest for knowledge so keep eyes, ears and brain open as you travel.
Oh, there is no such thing as a “last update”. Remember your experiences can guide others on their quest for knowledge.
See you next spring.
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Kudos to you - I see your hip angle a lot less open/driving, which I know can feel insecure and is hard to give up. Your horse is responding to it well (and being a good boy!). Keep up the flatwork and lots of boring trot jumps to help build his hind end and topline which will help him push without it feeling as fast. Big improvement! You should be proud.
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WOW! What a difference! I love it. Such a good boy to not get rattled when the distance got tight and all those turns. I love his expression at jump 1 of the second round, “Wait, you want me to what!?” You guys are going to be awesome next year!
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We got to school it and we trotted it no issues. This time we cantered, since he never made a big deal of it trotting and I think he was completely confused on how to make it work cantering. But he went so no complaints. haha. He had never seen a bank before and that jump in the video was his second time doing it
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Oh, I definitely approve of his method. His expression just made me laugh! “Hold on, gotta think through this a sec”
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Your tendency to overthink has also improved and it shows. If you lighten your seat, steady your hands and keep a steady pace? Things like lead changes, distances and an overall pleasant impression sort of happen on their own. Both rounds here are so much closer to what you want and in a short period of time too.
Just remember there is no perfect distance, ever, and at this stage, chips are your friend. Let him work it out. Looks like he wants to.
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