This girl has a marvelous leg position. She’s unusually supple: although her heel is down so far that it could seem forced and mannered, her leg looks relaxed.
Like the first rider, she’s a little far out of the saddle but in this case, it’s because she’s using her body well. Her horse is a round jumper who’s making quite an effort. Because he’s creating such a good bascule, she’s had to come out of the saddle more to stay with him. Where the first rider was ducking to meet her horse, this one’s horse is coming up to meet her.
She’s using her good hands effectively to deal with the horse’s apparent tendency to jump to the right in the air. Her right hand (which should be down alongside the crest—my one criticism) is releasing him, allowing him to use his head and neck to go straight, while her left hand is working as a direct rein. She’s applying pressure from front to back to hold him straight and minimize his shift to the right.
Her attentive, attractive horse has a beautiful expression in his eyes and ears. He’s very good with his knees, but he’s had a lot of time to get them up over this oxer.
Reprinted from the February 1986 issue of Practical Horseman magazine. Is this photo of you? Email Practical.Horseman@EquiNetwork.com, and we’ll identify you.
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