Anyone care to critique?

[TheHunterKid90]

So critique a few pictures of me and my boy. :) Pictures vary from Novice Stadium, to Training Dressage.

My boy's first Novice in Lexington, KY at Spring Bay.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y144/ilovelucky/Image43.jpg

3rd Novice. The day of funky faces on my part...but he looks really cute. haha
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y144/ilovelucky/Image24.jpg

3rd Novice. Stadium.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y144/ilovelucky/Image27.jpg

First Training. This was the start of the stretchy trot circle in the A test.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y144/ilovelucky/Image4.jpg

I look terrible obviously...I was attempting to stay out of his way at a funny distance and got a half stride behind the motion but whatever. Rip me apart. :)
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y144/ilovelucky/Image9.jpg

First Training. Stadium.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y144/ilovelucky/Image10.jpg

2nd Training.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y144/ilovelucky/Image42.jpg


Thanksss guys! :D

[bosox]

I think you and your blond beast make a wonderful pair. You seem well balanced and very secure...If I had to be a pest--maybe just rotate your hands so that you aren't playing the piano (in some shots) and bring in your elbows. Your turn out is great and you look like you both are having a good time.

I know I mentioned it before about your arm band being worn on your arm:D

but my only real comment is please don't post the pix of the proofs unless you bought them. I just came away from an unrecognized event where Redline won't be posting them online b/c of that very thing. People taking the image off the website.:( I have a lovely camera and while I think everyone has to make a living--I can't buy photos until I know that I didn't get any good shots. I just can't afford to do it. I do buy pictures of my little sox but only 1 from each event. I have to see what I got at home and then buy what I don't have off the website. So--now I am SOL b/c I can't see what he shot b/c someone was selfish and kept taking his proofs. :eek:

off my soapbox now :winkgrin: but you are a great pair!:yes:

[GotSpots]

"Please, please, please, Mommy, I'm an incredibly cute pony with a precious expression and great dapples, and I promise I'll be really good if you just don't make me wear that pink ear bonnet ever, ever again."

[LKF]

One suggestion to work on would be your release over the fence. Rather than having your hands and arms too high and on the crest, try to press your release against the sides of the horse's neck. This will make a straight line of contact through your forearm - through the rein to the horse's mouth and is a better elastic connection.
Avoid raising your hands at the approach to the fence and going over the fence. Tell yourself "hands low".

It looks like the bigger the fence, the better you both appear in form and function. You've got a very nice horse -

[deltawave]

You've posted these before, haven't you? You have great, solid equitation and your horse is super. George Morris might kill you for the floating, fake crest release over the house jump and in stadium, and it's not really something you want to strive for, but heck, I don't even HAVE a release of any sort, so who am I to criticize? :lol:

As to the pink bling, well . . . it's a free country. :uhoh: :D

And one more time. ARMband. Note the emphasis on ARM. Unless you're from Canada--they don't seem to care.

[Kairoshorses]

I think y'all look GREAT!! I wish my legs were as secure as yours! How'd you get so good?

I think your pony is incredibly cute....but I'm not a fan of the pink stuff, either. I DO like yellow and green...;)

[TheHunterKid90]

My release has been a problem for a pretty long time. haha, but I promise this winter it's gonna be all about the release! :D

As for the ear bonnet....It was extremely buggy and hot that day and he had his head between his legs crow hopping 10 minutes before XC bc of the bugs...but after seeing how wretched he looked in it I told him he was gonna have to put his big girl pants on and deal with the flys. :lol:

And as for the arm band...yesssss, I am a terrible person who now sucks it up and wears it on her arm! hehehe.

Thanks for all the nice compliments on my boy, he's my pride and joy and takes such good care of me! :)

[TheHunterKid90]

I think y'all look GREAT!! I wish my legs were as secure as yours! How'd you get so good?

I think your pony is incredibly cute....but I'm not a fan of the pink stuff, either. I DO like yellow and green...;)


Being a working student at Team CEO Eventing and riding half a kajillion green beans everyday! :D (And loving every moment of it!) No but seriously, lots of trotsets in two point and without stirupps.

Hehe, and I'm a 17 y/o girly girl so I love the pink. LOL But I do like the green/yellow too...but that pic was taken while I was riding with CEO so those are their colors! haha :lol:

[cosmos mom]

Wow! You guys look great! Not a big fan of pink on boys, I mean, what will his friends think??? :lol:

[CBudFrggy]

His friends will think, "Only real men wear pink." :winkgrin:

[Divine Comedy]

I think you and your horse are both lovely, and I could walk away without saying anything at all negative.

BUT, and I am being quite picky here, I thought you might like a few things you could try. And considering I am working on all of these exact same things, we're in the same boat!

Watch your wrists don't get bent. Straight line with thumbs up, I think you only bent them in one or two pictures, but yeah. I used to do this in the most awful way. So last winter I bought two wrist braces, the really sturdy kind that won't let you bend your wrists, and rode in them all winter. Come spring, problem fixed! I'll probably do it again this winter to keep the habit intact.

Your leg looks very secure, but I think that if you tried your stirrups one or two holes shorter, you might actually find that you don't need to send your body so far forward over the jump. Having a shorter stirrup might give you a more secure platform, which will allow you too keep your shoulders up and back ad therefore keep your weight off of his forehand. This is what I am working on now too, trying to keep my body from basically jack-knifing because my horse, unlike your tidy jumper, is probably going to pull jumps if I let my weight get too far forward. Just try letting his motion push you out of the saddle rather than actively two pointing. You will almost feel as you are getting left behind.

Good luck, you and your horse look absolutely wonderful! Like I say, I am being extremely picky to find anything!

[blackwatch86]

All I can say is that I want your horse. He's ADORABLE and a great jumper.

Also, I make my gelding wear pink/black for x-c and he loves it :)

[TheHunterKid90]

I think you and your horse are both lovely, and I could walk away without saying anything at all negative.

BUT, and I am being quite picky here, I thought you might like a few things you could try. And considering I am working on all of these exact same things, we're in the same boat!

Watch your wrists don't get bent. Straight line with thumbs up, I think you only bent them in one or two pictures, but yeah. I used to do this in the most awful way. So last winter I bought two wrist braces, the really sturdy kind that won't let you bend your wrists, and rode in them all winter. Come spring, problem fixed! I'll probably do it again this winter to keep the habit intact.

Your leg looks very secure, but I think that if you tried your stirrups one or two holes shorter, you might actually find that you don't need to send your body so far forward over the jump. Having a shorter stirrup might give you a more secure platform, which will allow you too keep your shoulders up and back ad therefore keep your weight off of his forehand. This is what I am working on now too, trying to keep my body from basically jack-knifing because my horse, unlike your tidy jumper, is probably going to pull jumps if I let my weight get too far forward. Just try letting his motion push you out of the saddle rather than actively two pointing. You will almost feel as you are getting left behind.

Good luck, you and your horse look absolutely wonderful! Like I say, I am being extremely picky to find anything!

Wow...thanks so much for the detailed and very kind critique! Everything you said is definately me and now I have some great ideas on how to fix them! hehe, trying to get up to par and look as good as my pony! :D

[Wallysfolley]

He doesnt looked phased by anything! He looks steady and honest as the day is long. What a great looking pair you two are!

[Jazzy Lady]

And one more time. ARMband. Note the emphasis on ARM. Unless you're from Canada--they don't seem to care.

I'm from Canada and I care!!!! A whole lot! Biggest pet peeve ever is arm-band on leg.

As for the OP... I liked the green and yellow better than the blue and pink... but that's just me. :D

[Carol Ames]

look at all the color!:lol: You may have gotten a "funky" distance on the last but, your horse was able to get his shoulders up and snap his legs up:winkgrin:, out of the way; very important in an event horse! :yes:

[Carol Ames]

Your stirrups a hole or two shorter; as the bend in your knee and hip increase:yes: so, too, will the bend in your elbow, and your wrists will straighten out out:yes:;)!