Cantering, lead change, soft passage, side passing, jumping

March 17th, 2010

I have been working on getting ready for the wind rider challenge at the Midwest Horse fair in April. I know that I need to be able to jump a small jump, lope circles with speed control, and sidepass, among other things. His canter is getting there, his sidepass is pretty good, and Jackson's jumping is fine.

My jumping skills, on the other hand, aren't so good. That is what the practice is for.

I think we had an almost flying lead change (if there is such a thing).

I was very happy with how well Jackson did.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• horse
• training
• canter
• lead change
• flying lead change
• side pass
• jump
• passage

[QH1100]

.... My only critiscisms, as a student & teacher of dressage, is your "soft passage" is more of a nice forward collected trot than soft passage. You'd have to slow down a bit more, with more collection for a soft passage. And you could use help on balancing your equitation in more of a 3-point manner. Will help horse response signficantly. Never look between horse's ears, but where you're going; & open your chest to allow for shoulders to open & drop back w/ more balanced upper bod....

[ivyschex]

@QH1100 Thanks so much for your encouragement. That video is from a year and a half ago and I still cringe at some of the stuff I did. And then I look at some of the stuff I am still trying to overcome... like keeping my chest up and open. I still struggle with that. My jumping is much better now that I do it in an English saddle. Thanks!!

[SmallShadowOfDoubt]

Nice riding! There's always room for improvement, but you and your horse clearly trust each other and that's something a lot harder to teach. Kudos to you for trying to jump in a western saddle--that just seems painful!

[ivyschex]

@SmallShadowOfDoubt Thank you! I couldn't believe the difference when I started riding in an English saddle. Way better! I actually like jumping now!

[HorseJumperGirl1]

Umm ok i dont ride Western, i do English dressage and show jumping, and not to be rude but his canter really needs to be improved, and your "flying lead change" that was on the ground, that wasn't anywhere remotely close to a flying lead change. You do a flying lead change when in the air going over a jump, allowing you to land on the correct lead and be able to jump the next jump easier and correctly. So yeah that wasn't a flying lead change, you cant do those on the ground...

[ivyschex]

@HorseJumperGirl1 Well, yes, I have a terrible seat and his canter wasn't very good in that video. If you notice, that video is almost a year old. I know it wasn't a flying lead change now. I am continually learning and improving. I rode in a western saddle because I didn't have an English one. Now, a very nice lady has loaned me a nice english saddle and that is what I ride in now. One of the things I am working on is my seat. Thanks for caring to comment. ~Ivy

[QH1100]

@ivyschex No prob! We all need eyes on the ground. And I know what you mean, as rounded shoulders & watching in between my horse's ears are two of my big faults I have to work on all the time - & I've been riding since I was 4!! (which is not saying much for my naturally poor posture OUT of the sadde - LOL!). I've had a time finding an adequaate coach since I've moved to a horse professional no where land in Texas, so I rely on video-ing myself to try & remind myself of these faults!

[QH1100]

If you haven't already studied her, a great resource for understanding "feeling" correct equitation, & for teaching equitation to clients, is Sally Swift's Centered Riding techique. She was "english" but her theory applies to ALL breeds & disciplines (including gaited horses!). And about jumping in a western saddle: get over it, commenters - I'm not a proponent of using it for the balance, but competetive trail riders are requred to jump small jumps in western saddles. It CAN be done safely!

[QH1100]

You have done a lovely job training your horse. Thank you for being amongst the few of us who veiw classical training for all disciplines/breeds a plus! And don't listen to HorseJumperGirl regarding flying changes. I competed in jumping many years - & yes, you do often have to chage after a jump when the course will travel opposite direction, but she obviously knows nothing about dressage - as everything in dressage is "done from the ground". I only see a trot stride in between changes......

[kat100283]

Ummmm why the heck did you jump in a western saddle?you can't get up off his back if your in a western saddle. It you don't have an English saddle then don't jump. That should be common knowledge if you own a horse.

[HorseJumperGirl1]

3rd, dont "jump" with a western saddle, it could seriously hurt his back due to the amount of wait it puts on, if you wanna jump, learn how to ride English, both you and your horse. And 4th push your heels down.. thats half your problem...