[babyruth]

Originally Posted by aBreeze

Wow, she's grown since I last saw any photo's of her! As a baby she showed great potential, however as a big girl... wow.

I would say that $1000 is more than reasonable.

Thanks. The rest of my family thinks I am nuts and under pricing her, but a big factor in that price lies in the fact that I know where she would be going and that it would be a great home.

[SkyeTiger]

Originally Posted by aBreeze

I would say that $1000 is more than reasonable.

I TOTALLY concer w/ this!

[Xiphias]

She looks great for her first time under saddle! Good Job!

Cathy

[babyruth]

Originally Posted by SkyeTiger

I TOTALLY concer w/ this!

Thanks if something happens that this sale falls through - let me know now if your interested or you may not get grandfathered in at this price...lol. She may well be finished and ready for western pleasure by the end of the week so the price may change!

She may also throw me sky high tomorrow.....and the price may change then too.

[Smoke N Lace]

Originally Posted by babyruth

Thanks. The rest of my family thinks I am nuts and under pricing her, but a big factor in that price lies in the fact that I know where she would be going and that it would be a great home.

LOL. Well, I agree with your family. But, price isn't the only consideration if you have found a wonderful home for her.

[babyruth]

Thanks - I hope that this deal does work out because not only would it be a wonderful home, but I know I would get frequent updates and she matures and progresses. And that means a LOT to me, because it breaks my heart to sell her.

[babyruth]

Just bumping this up so more people can be proud of my girl!

[doublebarr]

Originally Posted by babyruth

Unlock those elbows. Also, I'd drop the stirrups about two full holes which will bring you off your crotch and onto your seat and not climbing out the back of the saddle, LOL. This will also help you to get your heels down without feeling like you are climbing stairs.




Elbows are trying to loosen up here, better. But, when you turn keep your hands on opposite sides of the neck, you don't want to cross over. Try not to pull out to the side, but bend the elbow and bring it back to your body to make the turn. You can stay soft, but you won't compromise your center of ballance and open your hips the wrong way. If you look, because you have crossed over, your left hip is open but you are wanting her to turn right. You need to open the right hip and bring the left hip into her body to help move her round. Staying straight and bending the elbow will help to open the correct hip. And, if you look, it has also caused your right shoulder to drop which will put her more on the forehand. For the rider: Body straight, hips/legs move.



Are your elbows/forearms tired yet? LOL. They are wanting to bend and flex. Body is better, but till you drop the stirrups you will be fighting trying to "sit" with her.



Notice how your shoulders are not dropped as far here when asking to turn? And your right hip is a bit more open. It's because you haven't crossed your hands nearly as far over her neck. Now, focus on bending the elbow instead of "pulling" her around and it will stay up and you can open that hip more.



Oops, LOL. Down goes that right shoulder again and the hip is closing. Bend the elbows, open the inside hip.



LOL, keep looking down and your going to buy that piece of real estate She can watch where her feet are going, you focus on the head and her. What's with all the right turns, LOL. Again also, closed inside hip and your leg is on her. Open the hip and take the inside leg off, outside hip closed and leg on.



LOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bent elbows, even shoulders, softer body!!! YEAH!!!!! Now drop those stirrups and LOOK UP!!!!

You look good up there, tense in the beginning, but better later, LOL.



Ok, recap:
Don't lock your elbows/forearms. I can tell you are trying to stay soft on her face, but give her a little more rein and put some bend in those elbows, LOL. The tight elbows/forearms makes for a tense back and she will deffinately feel that. Loosen up girl, LOL.

Bend elbows will keep shoulders even when hands remain on the same side as the body of the horse (don't cross over neck). Shoulders even means body (yours) softens and you can open the inside hip and close the outside, also enabling opening the inside leg and closing the outside.

DROP the stirrups so you can quit climbing out of the back of the saddle, LOL. This will help in dropping your heels. Doesn't have to be much at all, don't overexagerate, but you want a little "down" in the back without pushing the toes out.

LOOK UP!!! Or you are going to kiss the ground. She will put her feet where they need to go, you need to watch the head and body to help her find the "bend".

Good job! I like your red girl.

[Dawn]

She's so pretty!

I agree with doublebarr's evaluation. But also wanted to mention that that saddle needs to be moved well back. No sense in getting her off to a bad start with riding from a mental and physical standpoint due to an improperly fitted saddle.

How old is she now? She's so big!

[babyruth]

Originally Posted by doublebarr

You look good up there, tense in the beginning, but better later, LOL.



Ok, recap:
Don't lock your elbows/forearms. I can tell you are trying to stay soft on her face, but give her a little more rein and put some bend in those elbows, LOL. The tight elbows/forearms makes for a tense back and she will deffinately feel that. Loosen up girl, LOL.

Bend elbows will keep shoulders even when hands remain on the same side as the body of the horse (don't cross over neck). Shoulders even means body (yours) softens and you can open the inside hip and close the outside, also enabling opening the inside leg and closing the outside.

DROP the stirrups so you can quit climbing out of the back of the saddle, LOL. This will help in dropping your heels. Doesn't have to be much at all, don't overexagerate, but you want a little "down" in the back without pushing the toes out.

LOOK UP!!! Or you are going to kiss the ground. She will put her feet where they need to go, you need to watch the head and body to help her find the "bend".

Good job! I like your red girl.

Thanks so much! I will definitely try to focus on my elbows and shoulders and such. I need to read this several times and then print it out and tape it to the back of her head...lmao. One thing to note on my elbows though...and not an excuse but an explanation that they may not be as stiff as they appear - is that my elbows are severely "double-jointed" and hyper extend to the point where I can make them appear broken and/or bend to a certain degree in the total opposite direction. With my shoulders and hips the same way...I made lots of cash as a kid doing party tricks.....and got myself in loads of trouble and precarious situations when I showed some of those same tricks off as a teenager/college student.....lmao. BUt I will focus on what would be considered a natural bend and focus on keeping it in a relaxed manner.