Expert: Dorothy Clarke - 9/24/2009

Question
"Hi! I was hoping you could critique my riding. : )



Here are some videos and pictures taken in the past 2 months, I am riding a
couple of different horses/ponies.



Schooling

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcDt8jSYHrs



Show Last Month

http://i947.photobucket.com/albums/ad319/quailroost/Fortune/05.jpg

http://i947.photobucket.com/albums/ad319/quailroost/Fortune/18.jpg



Just Trotting

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYd5G5c2cVM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qxtbduZhg8



First Time XC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=976XpEOUUXg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZU_di_jLwE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cqLdQ0dsfM



Thank you!  

Answer
Hi,
Looking good all around and horse performing well.  Remember your horse is a major key to assess your riding skills.  If your horse is happy and performs well, then you're doing well too.

In the trotting videos you looked a little forward in the body, remember your horse drives off the hind quarters.  To ask for more impulsion, sit and roll your hips forward as well as allow forward movement.

The jumps look very good as most of your weight is carried behind the withers at the horse's center of balance.  Remember that the horse needs her/his hindquarters underneath her/his body to negotiate the turns as well as jump through a jump course.  Be calm and don't rush things. You can be fast and calm without rushing.

Breathing is also key here.  Remember to breathe as the professional singers do, from the 'belly'; that is expanding the diaphragm.  This relaxes you as well as giving your lungs much more air than if you breathed only from your chest/rib cage.  When you are relaxed, you help your horse to be calm too.

Overall, I would say "Well Done".
Good Luck and feel free to ask more questions or for clarification of my answers.
Thank You for asking this one.

Dorothy