Video Critique Please!! (UPDATE #78; New video)

[Linny]

You are a nice young rider and your horse is adorable. I’d have liked to see you challenged to do a bit more, say, jumping the combination, then doing the “in” across the diagonal the other way etc. No reason not to. In a sense, the exercises were to simple for you and your horse.

As for your EQ, it is very nice. Looks like you have long arms (as I do) and it means if your horse’s head comes back to you, you end up with what I call spaghetti arms. Looks like you manage to maintain contact well though.

[jumpingstarr]

[QUOTE=Linny;7550166]
You are a nice young rider and your horse is adorable. I’d have liked to see you challenged to do a bit more, say, jumping the combination, then doing the “in” across the diagonal the other way etc. No reason not to. In a sense, the exercises were to simple for you and your horse.

As for your EQ, it is very nice. Looks like you have long arms (as I do) and it means if your horse’s head comes back to you, you end up with what I call spaghetti arms. Looks like you manage to maintain contact well though.[/QUOTE]

Thank you very much! I would normally definitely switch it up/change directions or add an oxer or something, but it was hot and I was truthfully just being lazy today! I do have long arms! I usually go for an automatic release because of it but today my elbows seemed to chicken-wing a little which I usually don’t have a problem with.

[showy]

Definitely more flat work and I see he never really bent around your inside leg. Once you get him really under your thumb, the jumps will be 100x easier. I also have a spookier jumper… I suggest bigger spurs and yes, a real bit. I like a waterford (the balls linked together) so that he feels your support both encouraging him to jump (your leg and spur) and your support (seat and bit). It will help him be more confident and you won’t have those jumps where he stops and stares and you pony kick him over it.
If you cannot find adequate flat/dressage training, buy a basic dressage book and set up exercises! Have a friend tape you so you can watch yourself and improve, just like with jumping.
Your horse is super cute… most of these people have no idea what they’re talking about.
Have fun!

[jumpingstarr]

[QUOTE=showy;7550671]
Definitely more flat work and I see he never really bent around your inside leg. Once you get him really under your thumb, the jumps will be 100x easier. I also have a spookier jumper… I suggest bigger spurs and yes, a real bit. I like a waterford (the balls linked together) so that he feels your support both encouraging him to jump (your leg and spur) and your support (seat and bit). It will help him be more confident and you won’t have those jumps where he stops and stares and you pony kick him over it.
If you cannot find adequate flat/dressage training, buy a basic dressage book and set up exercises! Have a friend tape you so you can watch yourself and improve, just like with jumping.
Your horse is super cute… most of these people have no idea what they’re talking about.
Have fun![/QUOTE]

He doesn’t go in a bit. At all. We’ve tried numerous things and he’s honestly only happy in a hackamore or bitless bridle. Anything else just freaks him out. I know it’s not too impressive in this video, but he has gotten a lot better than he used to be with his flatwork…he actually listens a little bit to my legs. As you can see he is still stiff/counter-bent sometimes but it used to be all of the time, so I think that he’s slowly but surely improving (as am I).

I don’t know how he would react to spurs. I’ve never ridden with spurs either, I don’t know if that’s such a good idea…

I also took him to another show 2 week-ends ago and he was so good. I think we might have had one refusal (in the warmup), and only one knockdown (which was my fault). We ended up winning the 2’6 class! He was so much more confident, and I was/am so proud of him!

[tinah]

When were his teeth last done?

[jumpingstarr]

[QUOTE=tinah;7551117]
When were his teeth last done?[/QUOTE]

he gets them done regularly…once or twice a year. they are the reason he has to have the hackamore…bad experience with hidden woof teeth, and now he associates a bit to pain even after the problem was fixed years ago.

[Ace1]

Ahhhhh! Cute ponies! I agree with The Jenners… I think Pony looks more rotund because of the placement of the large white patch on his adorable belly. No expert here, but I think you are doing a nice job with Pony. My heart horse, former racehorse, use to run at jumps…or through them! Heart of gold, and all the try in the world. I cannot remember why I was told I needed to ride him with spurs, but I bought tiny ones that were very smooth and rounded on the ends. Not saying you need them, just that there are options. Keep on keeping on!

[jumpingstarr]

[QUOTE=Ace;7551173]
Ahhhhh! Cute ponies! I agree with The Jenners… I think Pony looks more rotund because of the placement of the large white patch on his adorable belly. No expert here, but I think you are doing a nice job with Pony. My heart horse, former racehorse, use to run at jumps…or through them! Heart of gold, and all the try in the world. I cannot remember why I was told I needed to ride him with spurs, but I bought tiny ones that were very smooth and rounded on the ends. Not saying you need them, just that there are options. Keep on keeping on![/QUOTE]

thank you! I think so too, his poor belly looks soo huge (& it is a little big, I will say that), but it’s not unhealthy! As you can see in the video, the grass here is as green and lush as can be right now…and he’s on it 24/7, there’s no way for me to keep that grass belly off if him

[Laurierace]

You don’t want to kill him with kindness literally. Get a grazing muzzle asap.

[SquishTheBunny]

I think you guys look great! I love your horse

[jumpingstarr]

[QUOTE=SquishTheBunny;7551463]
I think you guys look great! I love your horse :)[/QUOTE]

thank you!

[chestnuthunter]

Awww, Rocky looks awesome! You guys did such a nice job at the last show.

[The_Fault_In_Our_Sta]

OP, i was browsing all of your videos throughout the thread and this last video, you have improved tenfold. Your pony gets a little what I like to call ‘stuck’ in the corner to the right. He pops his shoulder in and throws his head out in avoidance of actually bending. When that happens, remember, we want a banana shaped horse in the corner, not a 2 by 4. Also remember, it’s just about the jumps, its about the approach to the job as well.

As for your eq, you look fantastic in the stills at the end of the most recent video. The first still is what you should aim for every time. In the others, your elbows are little behind your body, or you’re just slightly sticking them out.

You ride very well. I like this pony. He is very bold to fences at home and has nice style.

[jumpingstarr]

[QUOTE=The Fault In Our Stars;7552028]
OP, i was browsing all of your videos throughout the thread and this last video, you have improved tenfold. Your pony gets a little what I like to call ‘stuck’ in the corner to the right. He pops his shoulder in and throws his head out in avoidance of actually bending. When that happens, remember, we want a banana shaped horse in the corner, not a 2 by 4. Also remember, it’s just about the jumps, its about the approach to the job as well.

As for your eq, you look fantastic in the stills at the end of the most recent video. The first still is what you should aim for every time. In the others, your elbows are little behind your body, or you’re just slightly sticking them out.

You ride very well. I like this pony. He is very bold to fences at home and has nice style.[/QUOTE]

Thank you! I will continue to work on his flexibility (and mine). I think we’re both a bit stiff!

It seems like this minute I fix my hip angle or legs or whatever needs fixing, something else goes wrong, like my elbows!

[Spud_amp_Saf]

OP - you are a really nice rider and your horse is adorable. If you are limited in terms of your time at the barn and your ability to have outside trainers work with you, then might I suggest one day a week you do gymnastic work with your horse. The book 101 Jumping Exercises has a tonne of exercises for you, from poles on the ground right up to full gymnastics and if you get a measuring tape, it even has the distances set for you. Since you have a lot of trails, I would incorporate lots of hill work in to your trail rides to help with his fitness.

Don’t be afraid to GO FORWARD at the shows - even if it feels a bit fast, it will stop him from getting sticky off the ground or refusing. If you don’t carry a stick in the ring, I would start - don’t be afraid to give him a few taps when you enter and on course if he’s sucking back. Good luck, you make a lovely team!

[largo]

OP I’ve only read to page 3 and I’m really reminded of myself too :o I’m only 20 so I can’t be thattt much older than you. I admire that you (seem) to be motivated to work with horses no matter what you’re doing and enjoying them for just the sake of being around horses. Sounds like you have tons of fun! I know I sure did! That said I think that you should work more over smaller courses (not that much smaller but small enough to really focus on yourself and get him to go -forward-). You seem to love your horses though, it’s awesome to see that and don’t ever lose it! PS love that you kept on trucking with that first fence!

[The_Fault_In_Our_Sta]

[QUOTE=jumpingstarr;7552420]
Thank you! I will continue to work on his flexibility (and mine). I think we’re both a bit stiff!

It seems like this minute I fix my hip angle or legs or whatever needs fixing, something else goes wrong, like my elbows![/QUOTE]

That is just your body’s way of compensating. Your hip angle is now used to being open, but your elbows are still thinking your hips are closed! Funny how our bodies actually work. Just think of basically touching your elbows together in the air. It will feel over exaggerated at first, but that is how your body will gain muscle memory. =)

[Meredith_Clark]

Your pony’s first jumps reminded me of my first horse. He had what we called “first jump-itis”. If I could just get him (and me) over that first jump we’d be fine!

[jumpingstarr]

[QUOTE=largo;7553380]
OP I’ve only read to page 3 and I’m really reminded of myself too :o I’m only 20 so I can’t be thattt much older than you. I admire that you (seem) to be motivated to work with horses no matter what you’re doing and enjoying them for just the sake of being around horses. Sounds like you have tons of fun! I know I sure did! That said I think that you should work more over smaller courses (not that much smaller but small enough to really focus on yourself and get him to go -forward-). You seem to love your horses though, it’s awesome to see that and don’t ever lose it! PS love that you kept on trucking with that first fence![/QUOTE]

Thank you! I’m 17, currently. I was 16 in the first video that I posted! He’s gotten a ton better lately, a lot more confident! That first video was posted around 6months ago. I’m hoping to show him in the 3ft. class by the end of summer, which really isn’t that high for him (we school 3ft+ usually once a week at home.)

[jumpingstarr]

[QUOTE=Spud&Saf;7553181]
OP - you are a really nice rider and your horse is adorable. If you are limited in terms of your time at the barn and your ability to have outside trainers work with you, then might I suggest one day a week you do gymnastic work with your horse. The book 101 Jumping Exercises has a tonne of exercises for you, from poles on the ground right up to full gymnastics and if you get a measuring tape, it even has the distances set for you. Since you have a lot of trails, I would incorporate lots of hill work in to your trail rides to help with his fitness.

Don’t be afraid to GO FORWARD at the shows - even if it feels a bit fast, it will stop him from getting sticky off the ground or refusing. If you don’t carry a stick in the ring, I would start - don’t be afraid to give him a few taps when you enter and on course if he’s sucking back. Good luck, you make a lovely team![/QUOTE]

I do gymnastics pretty often, probably every other week! I think my trainer actually has that book, I will check it out for sure! Thank you