In this photo we see a wonderful example of a rider who is really accompanying her horse and not (as we see far too often) going against the animal’s forwardness. She has a super leg, with heel deep, ankle flexed, toe out and iron angled across the ball of the foot with the outside branch leading the way. Her stirrup leather is perpendicular to the ground, showing that her leg is right underneath her.

|

Her base of support is just right: crotch close to the saddle and buttocks out of it, giving her horse freedom through his back and keeping her center of balance over his. She does throw herself slightly too far down along his neck, which we call a duck. But her posture is very good, with a flat back, head up and eyes looking between her horse’s ears.

Her only real fault — one not uncommon in the hunter ring–is that she rides with a too-high hand and a kinky wrist. This makes her hand passive, unable to steady or turn a horse in the air. On a girl this accomplished–clearly A-show caliber–I’d like to see at least a proper crest release or, better yet, an automatic release, with the hand down along the neck and a straight line from bit to elbow.

This horse jumps beautifully, with an alert expression, a tight front end and a round topline. He is a classy partner for his capable rider, and their turnout reflects their seriousness. Everything is scrupulously clean, from the saddle pad to the horse’s coat.

Reprinted from the January 2006 issue of Practical Horseman magazine. Is this photo of you? Email Practical.Horseman@EquiNetwork.com, and we’ll identify you.

To submit a photo of yourself to Jumping Clinic, send a 4×6 in. or larger horizontal PRINT to Jumping Clinic, Practical Horseman, 656 Quince Orchard Rd., Suite 600, Gaithersburg, MD 20878. If taken professionally, please include the photographer’s name and contact information. Photos will not be returned.

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Sign up for our newsletter to receive tips on training and horse care as well as profiles on top riders in hunters, jumpers, eventing, and dressage.

Tag :
Share this:

Related Articles

motion

Jumping Clinic: Staying with the Horse's Motion

Beezie Madden reviews a video of a horse and rider and explains the affects of being behind the motion.
Read Story
distances

Introduction to Related Distances and Combinations

An excerpt from "Arena Tracks" by Christian Baier.
Read Story
lines

Fabulous 4-Stride Lines

Practice plenty of bending and straight lines at home to improve your horse’s rideability.
Read Story