Horse Show Pics!!! PLEASE CRITIQUE MY RIDING!!

[BobwhiteQuailLover]

Quote:
This show was a while ago, i just forgot to post pics.,..........

 

[patandchickens]

I like b/w pintos

Saddle is for sure too small. Pony will be too small real soon, and looks really physically "young" still. Definitely both of you are too young to be learning to jump TOGETHER. He may still be reasonably honest for you now, but it won't last long at that rate...

I'd VERY VERY STRONGLY recommend taking LESSONS ON A LESSON HORSE until you have a reasonable seat and ability to follow the horse over the jump in a quasi-harmonious way. It would not be a bad idea to also have someone teach the pony to jump, as he does not seem to have a very firm theory of what he is *supposed* to be doing (understandable under the circumstances of being pulled/restrained with the bit and thunked in the kidneys in the air, but really he will become a lot happier and easier for you to ride later on if you get someone to *explain* to him how jumping is supposed to work. If he's already had some professional training o/f you've undone it and he needs more)

In summary: I can see you are excited about this showing thing and that's fine. You are not ready yet to be showing in jumping classes yet however. Thumbs up, relax your ankles. Get a saddle that fits you, work a lot on your seat/position on the flat, and take lessons on lesson horses over jumps... that is the way to improve, and THEN you and Toby (or a successor, if you've outgrown him by then) can go have fun in hunter classes or whatever

Best of luck,

Pat

 

[cafarmgirl]

Quote:
What she said!

And finally we get to see some pics, that helps a lot! The things that came to mind when I saw your pic's have pretty much been mentioned by everyone else so I won't repeat it all, but do get in with a trainer or barn where you can take serious lessons on an experienced horse and maybe see if you can ride that horse in your next show.

 

[michickenwrangler]

Quote:
What she said!
And finally we get to see some pics, that helps a lot! The things that came to mind when I saw your pic's have pretty much been mentioned by everyone else so I won't repeat it all, but do get in with a trainer or barn where you can take serious lessons on an experienced horse and maybe see if you can ride that horse in your next show.

I wanted to say this but I was being polite.

You will soon outgrow your Toby, you look a little tall on him already, and I would wager that he is probably an inch or two shorter than 14.2hh, most people tend to inflate their horse's height.

If the two of you are learning to jump together, it makes the sport even more dangerous. Experienced horses with inexperienced riders, experienced riders with inexperienced horses are the better matches. I would strongly recommend taking lessons on a different horse as Pat recommended, one with real jumping experience if that is what you want.

I am 5'2" and my mare is a solid 14.2hh (most people think she is bigger than this so she has been measured a lot to prove it, plus SHE was a hunter/jumper before I bought her--she was shown in pony classes). If you notice, I don't look nearly as tall on her as you do on Toby, although I don't know how tall you are. If you are anywhere near my height, Toby is shorter than 14hh.