please critique my position

PizzazzandMe · 11-02-2009, 07:24 PM

Here are a couple photos of me and Montego at the walk. We had been doing w/t/c work and jumping up to 2'9"-3' but then my trained moved to Florida and Montego got thrush, and then lost a shoe so he was lame for about a month. Lately I've been doing just flatwork and I'm just starting jumping again.

These aren't the best pictures but I figured I could use a critique of my basic position before I can pictures of me doing other stuff. In these pictures I was working on making him calm down because he was all excited and being spooky.

It looks like I have a MAJOR chair seat (I wasn't aware of that), any ideas on how to fix that? I have shortened my stirrups a hole since these were taken, hopefully that helped a little.

Hopefully soon I'll get w/t/c/jump pics and also conformation photos of Montego, I really want to see what y'all think about his eventing potential.

Fork · 11-02-2009, 07:35 PM

Great job so far!

First thing I would do would be stirrupless exercises. The more you do, the better your lower leg will become. You don't seem to be sitting quite deeply enough in the saddle, which is causing your legs to move just a bit too far forward. Ideally, you should be able to draw a straight line from the top of your head to the base of your heels. This will completely fix your chair seat.

I'm going to guess that you were previously/are a western rider.

Relax your shoulders and bring them back. Pretend you're sitting high and perched up on your horse.

Last, you want to have a nice (fairly) 90 degree bend to your elbows. The reason for this being is really simple. Imagine your horse took off on you. Would it be easier to stop him with long, loose arms or short arms with a 90 degree bend? Try it while sitting in your chair.

It takes much less effort and less action to pull back.

ETA: Your heels have a nice bend to them, but they don't need to be quite that far into the iron.

On second thought, I don't believe that your saddle fits you. It's probably the cause of your leg in the awkward position. It looks to me like you might be riding in a pony sized saddle (Anything 16" and below.)

farmeress · 11-02-2009, 07:59 PM

I believe your saddle which the seat does not fit you...is responsible for many of the issues I see with the chair seat.

I do see that one knee is prominantly ahead of the other suggesting a collapse...but again...it could be the saddle or uneven stirrup leathers....but...you are "pushing" the weight into the toe which has the lower leg coming forward and the ankle in a "fixed" drop position.

Mostly...the saddle..it places the seat bone incorrectly as the saddle seat is not large enough for you.

PizzazzandMe · 11-02-2009, 08:09 PM

My saddle is a 16" with "long flaps"...hmmm I think y'all may be right, there are only like 2 inches behind my butt and I've been told there should be 4.

What size seat would I need? I don't know if I can get a new saddle anytime soon though.

ZipItNita · 11-03-2009, 09:53 AM

To me, it looks like you may need to try a riser pad. I only say this because the whole saddle looks rocked back, where the cantle is lower than the pommel, even though the saddle looks to be in the right position on this horse. So, before you go out getting a new saddle, I'd suggest grabbing your riser, or borrowing one from a friend for a ride, to see if that helps at all with the way the saddle's sitting you.

Another way I can tell, is because you've got ample room up front, but then because of the saddle having been rocked back, you're sitting on the back part of the seat, which naturally, will cause your legs to stick forward like they are.

So, try the riser at first, maybe take some pictures and post them up here, and if it's still not working out, then we can look at the saddle size, and the way it's making you sit. For that we'll probably need a side shot of you in the saddle though. :]

PizzazzandMe · 11-03-2009, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZipItNita

To me, it looks like you may need to try a riser pad. I only say this because the whole saddle looks rocked back, where the cantle is lower than the pommel, even though the saddle looks to be in the right position on this horse. So, before you go out getting a new saddle, I'd suggest grabbing your riser, or borrowing one from a friend for a ride, to see if that helps at all with the way the saddle's sitting you.

Another way I can tell, is because you've got ample room up front, but then because of the saddle having been rocked back, you're sitting on the back part of the seat, which naturally, will cause your legs to stick forward like they are.

So, try the riser at first, maybe take some pictures and post them up here, and if it's still not working out, then we can look at the saddle size, and the way it's making you sit. For that we'll probably need a side shot of you in the saddle though. :]

Thanks, I'd definitely rather try that before I spend money on a new saddle! I've never used a riser pad, can you send me a link to one so I can know what to buy?

ZipItNita · 11-03-2009, 10:53 AM

No problamo :]

It's a wee bit pricey, but I have one that I got second hand, and it STILL works!
http://www.doversaddlery.com/equine-...-19122/cn/108/

This one works very well too! I'm not the world's biggest fan of Wintec saddles, but this pad is very effective. It wedges into the pommel, so it won't rub and make the pad rub your horse's withers raw.
http://www.doversaddlery.com/wintec-...-19115/cn/108/

I would suggest staying away from lolly pops. Not only do they become flat and squishy after a few months, but they tend to soak up sweat and can transmit bacteria because it's made from extremely absorbent foam. :]

tryintofly · 11-03-2009, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZipItNita

I would suggest staying away from lolly pops. Not only do they become flat and squishy after a few months, but they tend to soak up sweat and can transmit bacteria because it's made from extremely absorbent foam. :]

I agree I hate lolipop pads I got one for my TB (i was afraid without one my show pad wouldn't be enough lift) Their obnocious and impossible to get in the right position. There fore I do not use it. Also don't use a pad a half pad and a raiser pad. I know one girl who uses saddle pad, half pad, and a lolipop pad and both her horses rush and I belive it's because thier so many pads It makes them feel like hmm if i rush ill get out of these pads! I agree your saddle looks to small and that could be contributing to your chair seat.

PizzazzandMe · 11-03-2009, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZipItNita

No problamo :]

It's a wee bit pricey, but I have one that I got second hand, and it STILL works!
http://www.doversaddlery.com/equine-...-19122/cn/108/

This one works very well too! I'm not the world's biggest fan of Wintec saddles, but this pad is very effective. It wedges into the pommel, so it won't rub and make the pad rub your horse's withers raw.
http://www.doversaddlery.com/wintec-...-19115/cn/108/

I would suggest staying away from lolly pops. Not only do they become flat and squishy after a few months, but they tend to soak up sweat and can transmit bacteria because it's made from extremely absorbent foam. :]

Thank you! *runs off to classifieds section*

11-02-2009, 07:24 PM	#1
PizzazzandMe Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,648 Images: 113	please critique my position Here are a couple photos of me and Montego at the walk. We had been doing w/t/c work and jumping up to 2'9"-3' but then my trained moved to Florida and Montego got thrush, and then lost a shoe so he was lame for about a month. Lately I've been doing just flatwork and I'm just starting jumping again. These aren't the best pictures but I figured I could use a critique of my basic position before I can pictures of me doing other stuff. In these pictures I was working on making him calm down because he was all excited and being spooky. It looks like I have a MAJOR chair seat (I wasn't aware of that), any ideas on how to fix that? I have shortened my stirrups a hole since these were taken, hopefully that helped a little. Hopefully soon I'll get w/t/c/jump pics and also conformation photos of Montego, I really want to see what y'all think about his eventing potential. __________________ -Chloe Proud Owner of: Sugar- 13.1h silver bay mare Montego- 17h bay TB gelding

11-02-2009, 07:59 PM	#3
farmeress Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: In my own world 100 miles from Nowhere Posts: 4,477 Images: 14 Blog Entries: 8	I believe your saddle which the seat does not fit you...is responsible for many of the issues I see with the chair seat. I do see that one knee is prominantly ahead of the other suggesting a collapse...but again...it could be the saddle or uneven stirrup leathers....but...you are "pushing" the weight into the toe which has the lower leg coming forward and the ankle in a "fixed" drop position. Mostly...the saddle..it places the seat bone incorrectly as the saddle seat is not large enough for you. __________________ Officially off the stupid patch in 3...2...1...now. I whil let yu know if it has bun sukcesful latter

11-02-2009, 08:09 PM	#4
PizzazzandMe Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,648 Images: 113	My saddle is a 16" with "long flaps"...hmmm I think y'all may be right, there are only like 2 inches behind my butt and I've been told there should be 4. What size seat would I need? I don't know if I can get a new saddle anytime soon though. __________________ -Chloe Proud Owner of: Sugar- 13.1h silver bay mare Montego- 17h bay TB gelding

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11-02-2009, 07:35 PM	#2
Fork Full Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: North Bay, Ontario, Canada Posts: 241	Great job so far! First thing I would do would be stirrupless exercises. The more you do, the better your lower leg will become. You don't seem to be sitting quite deeply enough in the saddle, which is causing your legs to move just a bit too far forward. Ideally, you should be able to draw a straight line from the top of your head to the base of your heels. This will completely fix your chair seat. I'm going to guess that you were previously/are a western rider. Relax your shoulders and bring them back. Pretend you're sitting high and perched up on your horse. Last, you want to have a nice (fairly) 90 degree bend to your elbows. The reason for this being is really simple. Imagine your horse took off on you. Would it be easier to stop him with long, loose arms or short arms with a 90 degree bend? Try it while sitting in your chair. It takes much less effort and less action to pull back. ETA: Your heels have a nice bend to them, but they don't need to be quite that far into the iron. On second thought, I don't believe that your saddle fits you. It's probably the cause of your leg in the awkward position. It looks to me like you might be riding in a pony sized saddle (Anything 16" and below.)

11-03-2009, 09:53 AM	#5
ZipItNita Full Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 34	To me, it looks like you may need to try a riser pad. I only say this because the whole saddle looks rocked back, where the cantle is lower than the pommel, even though the saddle looks to be in the right position on this horse. So, before you go out getting a new saddle, I'd suggest grabbing your riser, or borrowing one from a friend for a ride, to see if that helps at all with the way the saddle's sitting you. Another way I can tell, is because you've got ample room up front, but then because of the saddle having been rocked back, you're sitting on the back part of the seat, which naturally, will cause your legs to stick forward like they are. So, try the riser at first, maybe take some pictures and post them up here, and if it's still not working out, then we can look at the saddle size, and the way it's making you sit. For that we'll probably need a side shot of you in the saddle though. :]

11-03-2009, 10:53 AM	#7
ZipItNita Full Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 34	No problamo :] It's a wee bit pricey, but I have one that I got second hand, and it STILL works! http://www.doversaddlery.com/equine-...-19122/cn/108/ This one works very well too! I'm not the world's biggest fan of Wintec saddles, but this pad is very effective. It wedges into the pommel, so it won't rub and make the pad rub your horse's withers raw. http://www.doversaddlery.com/wintec-...-19115/cn/108/ I would suggest staying away from lolly pops. Not only do they become flat and squishy after a few months, but they tend to soak up sweat and can transmit bacteria because it's made from extremely absorbent foam. :]