My riding... (LONG VIDEO)

Nicnacs_Mistress · 01-06-2010, 07:51 PM

Tried that TBPA... and if you had read my other post (and read this one properly) you would know there is currently no instructors in my area.

Doing the best I can with the resources I have.

Smash - good videos. Has given me some ideas for our next ride. Thanks for the input everyone.

TBPA · 01-06-2010, 08:03 PM

The problem is that without someone on the ground saying now your right no no no now your wrong you are fighting a losing battle to actually get it right where there are horses there are always instructors you could always go on 'camp' somewhere to learn the basics.

Nicnacs_Mistress · 01-06-2010, 08:07 PM

Yes, perhaps I could go on 'camp' if I didn't have a young family, or work, or Uni, or 3 other horses, cats and a dog that need to be looked after. At the moment it is hard enough getting a day off to go to PC, let alone a camp.

Trust me, as soon as there is an instructor who is available, in an accesible location (in other words doesn't take a 2 hour drive there and back to get there), I book myself and Blendi in, but this year I have only been able to get to 2 lessons.

What do you do when you have no instructor and no 'eyes on the ground'?

opsnormal · 01-06-2010, 08:28 PM

See if you can grab a friend/child/partner to take some photos for you? You can learn so much from watching yourself ride.

Also, maybe get your hands on some books? There was a thread not too long ago recommending some great training books.

As for picking up the correct diagonal "always rise and fall with the leg on the wall", that rhyme helps people to remember. To change, as Smash said, sit for one beat.

Deb2 · 01-06-2010, 09:41 PM

Good on you for doing what you can to better yourself.

I guess some people just dont understand that not everyone can get to lessons all the time, and I certainly think you can get some good pointers from stockies.

Regarding getting the correct trot diagonal, I am only going to say what others have, but perhaps in a different way. You just never know what will make it click for you, so here goes....

....as the outside front leg (shoulder) goes up and forward, so too should your bum, and as the outside front leg (shoulder) goes down and back, so too should your bum. So let your bum copy the outside front leg. Chant to yourself (as you watch that leg) forward, back, forward, back....then do that with your bum....easy!

I cant really comment on your position, as the video wasn't clear enough or close enough for me to see clearly. Sorry.

Keep at it.

Keiko · 01-06-2010, 09:50 PM

I don't think you need to justify why you can/can't get lessons. Even those who get regular lessons can use some extra help and opinions on the side. I think you look good from what I could see. All I can say is what already has been mentioned - be a bit more giving with your elbows/arms. Keep practising with your trot diagonals & you'll get there. It can help to watch other riders and see when they rise. I watch the outside leg - when it comes out I go up. That's what works for me anyways

justjam · 01-06-2010, 10:07 PM

Hi Nicnacs_Mistress

Quote:

How can I ensure that I get the right diagonal each time I trot?

I think that I can help with this...

As you are trotting around on say a 20m circle, have a look down (just glance, don't lean over to look lol) at your horses front outside leg.

If you are trotting around, going in a clock-wise direction, you will be on the right rein... so your your horses front outside leg will his left leg. Got that? lol

Now, when that outside leg goes forward, you rise! When it goes back, you sit. Imagine your hips have elastic attached to them, which joins your hips to his leg... his leg goes forward, you go 'forward/up'. When his leg comes back, you 'ping' back into the saddle (not literally, ofcourse! lol)

You will now be on the correct diagonal.

If you are going the other way (riding anti-clock-wise), his outside leg will be his right leg... so this is the leg your imaginary elastic is joined to.

That was all when you are riding a 20m circle... an arena is just a bigger circle... so exactly the same rules apply!

I hope that helps a bit! lol

oopss... others have coverd that. See what happens when you chat on the phone lol

CCDC · 02-06-2010, 09:03 AM

Hey NM,

I commend you for searching for the best way for YOU to gain experience and advice within your reach!

My computer doesn't want to play the video game this morning so I will try and get the video back up again later on when it wants to be nice too me

.

You might not be the one who is more one sided than the other, some horses that are stronger on one side than the other can 'throw' there riders onto the other diagonal and if this is the issue you might also find that rising on one side is more comfortable than the other. If you can pick diagonals and know when you are on the correct and incorrect diagonal then just keep checking up on it and see if your horse is perhaps throwing you.

One of the girls I teach has very straight elbows and what seems to help her best is if she thinks of it as though when she is straight her arms are straight and when she is bent her elbows are bent (I know it sounds very simple and childish I don't mean to offend this is just how I find wording it works for her

) So virtually you are aiming to keep your hands nice and steady and level just above the whither in front of the saddle.

As I said the video hasn't come up for me as of yet so for all I know you might have lovely hands and I am just rambling on about nothing

.

Brew · 02-06-2010, 09:48 AM

Sorry - I typed a huge epistle on this but the etheral world stole it !!
Your core position is wrong - you seem to have rolled a little forward off your seat bones and this makes for round shoulders etc. Roll your bum a little more under yourself and sit very tal - keep shoulder blades together HARD -You will feel very tense and silly!! Lift thighs off saddle and rotate whole leg to get foot parallel to side of horse and alow legs to hang down - this to stop you gripping with the thighs. elbows jammed hard against your sides and bent - hands clenched so hard they hurt -begin in walk - hold position 30 seconds and make yourself as tense as you can !! Every part of your body should be stiff as as board !! after the 30 seconds take massive deep breath in and then slowly let breath out -concentrate on making every part of your body relax but keep position. As time (weeks/months) goes by make the tense bit shorter and shorter.
For sit trot do not grip -your pelvis should make small movements in a twisting type manner as if you were walking across the floor on your bum when your legs had been removed !!! Sit trot rqrs you to follow the motion and needs long practice
GOOD LUCK
Gone to repair typing finger!!

Anna E · 02-06-2010, 10:47 AM

Bear in mind NM that some horses will "put" you on one diagonal if they are stiff to one side so don't altogether blame yourself for not getting it on one rein. My STB would shift me back to the left diagonal if he could - took us ages to get both of us straight and level (and we don't even do circles!)
Other than that, sit UP as others have said, and when you ask for on the bit you are falling into the trap many people do which is to lower and widen your hands to try and bring the head down and round - which means you roll forward. Sit up, drive from your seat and leg into a forgiving hand and the on the bit will come as the "forward" comes.
P.S. kudos to you for using the resources you have - I know the feeling with isolation, kids, work etc etc. Only I'm not brave enough to post a video up here!
That said - even novice eyes on the ground can be useful, even if all they yell at you is "sit up" and "straightness"! My OH knows "sit up", "look ahead not down" and "ride FORWARD into the transition"" and they are a huge help even though he knows nothing about horses and I feel like the family dog!