|
Post by Susan on Oct 10, 2007 21:42:20 GMT 1
Funny Heather.. because I keep saying you are actually the same.. as the beardown actually does exactly that your quote I do the opposite to 'bear down' Susan, I 'suck the horse's back up' into a seat which is light, and leaves room for the back. I can lift a horse up and I have had to learn to be able to let them down so they can move.. you seem to get the concept wrong. with the words beardown and the result it has to the horse and just as you say.. soft jaw,soft contact and weight only of the reins in your hands and on their jaw. I am not the rider you are Heather ..and I have a long way to go perhaps never ever getting there but hope this will show you a taste of my last lesson some soft self carriage pics..one I actually let the reins go as I felt him be so soft and it showed he held himself.. tonight I wish I had the camera out as it was one of those sessions when Flynn was so easy and the results I got back lifting up under and moving in in such a soft way. My legs are never looking good and I do add it is hard around that belly! well it is my excuse.. another one
|
|
cokey
Grand Prix Poster
My babies
Posts: 2,224
|
Post by cokey on Oct 10, 2007 21:54:37 GMT 1
It is an amateur forum, but some of the members seem to appreciate it when a professional gives their time to try to help! And, whilst you may not be happy to hear this, there are an awful lot of people who are completely stifled by professional input. They feel that they will just be ignored or ridiculed. Sorry and all, but that's a fact.
|
|
|
Post by Donnalex on Oct 10, 2007 22:11:50 GMT 1
Cokey I think you are over reacting ever so slightly. I am not put off showing my riding pics and I lean forwards too much and my lower leg slips back, my back is too hollow sticking out my tum and as Jen1 says I need to put my boobs on full beam!!! This is not an amateur forum at all, it is an open forum for anyone interested. I am very interested to hear the view points of better riders than myself and to see pictures to illustrate what is being said, after all pictures say it all so much more easily. If it helps I will put up a recent pic of my boy to be criticised!
|
|
|
Post by jennywren on Oct 10, 2007 22:16:06 GMT 1
Cokey,
Well I am always interested in 'professional' input or otherwise ; after all this is a 'discussion' forum.
Heather description of 'self carriage' is spot on. I have ridden for 35 years and it is only in the last 2 years since having lessons from a classically trained instruction that I have felt true self carriage and this is from my rather heavy weight but fairly light on his feet cob! This feeling is entirely different - it's as if with only the slightest weight change in my seat/legs my horse is waiting to do anything from walk to canter or piaffe all with just the weight of reins as Heather describes.
I only wish I had been taught this many years ago - it's magical and there is no mistaking this self carriage it's as if horse and rider become one.
Sorry just had to put my point across.
xx
|
|
|
Post by Susan on Oct 10, 2007 22:16:41 GMT 1
well I might be in for it soon but I do put myself up for it if I put the pics.. and yes it is good to get another set of eyes
I wish I could be the rider Heather is!
could be a log thread..
|
|
|
Post by Donnalex on Oct 10, 2007 22:22:43 GMT 1
Susan you have my habit of legs creeping backwards! Oh well, Im not alone.
|
|
laura
Grand Prix Poster
going for a splash
Posts: 3,867
|
Post by laura on Oct 10, 2007 22:27:41 GMT 1
ok , interested in the self carriage question and the definition .. I can understand the principle of getting the hindquarters engaged rather than just tracking up but would kinda like to see some examples Looking at the other criteria I have just been thinking on what we were doing while out on a hack today and wondered how it would fit into the total definition . Taz is a welsh cob but rarely has the high knee / leg action that some welshies are reknowned for ..... but certainly can "power" walk / trot . I actually want to encourage softer and lighter paces, especially trot ( and eventually canter) but am mainly working in walk ! Taz certainly tracks up and has an energetic walk ....and will collect ( I cant actually see the legs but intend to video us to see what she is doing) as the tempo is the same but we "slow down".... she will stop with a twitch on the rein ( we are working at the weight aid as she was driven more than ridden) and back up to a shift in weight... . to ask for trot I "lift up" my life and a slight tighten of the calf ..... and we did halt - trot transitions that way today. I would love to see pics of the cob Heather ..... I must admit that it can be difficult to judge whether "ordinary" horses are achieving what is being demonstrated when nearly all the pics are of a warmblood / iberian type. My short necked cob will never look the same ;D ;D
|
|
|
Post by sarahfox on Oct 10, 2007 22:36:00 GMT 1
Gosh,cokey,I'm sure that Heather didnt mean to upset you atall. I for one think it is wonderful to have Heather on this forum,she is extremely generous with her expertise and always ready to give realy kind and non judgemental help to anybody,how many trainers of her standing would do that for free? Surely pics of Heathers horses should be something for us all to delight in and aspire to? It realy doesnt matter what our own level of riding is,there will always be somebody more skilled just around the corner. Its not a competition to see who is the best,its about each of us offering what we have to the melting pot and hopefully each of us taking something beneficial away. I certainly wouldnt have a problem posting pics if only I could figure out this photobucket malarkey!! ( oh,yes and also get hubby to take some!lol!)
|
|
|
Post by Susan on Oct 10, 2007 22:40:10 GMT 1
sarahfox pm me and I will try to sort out your photobucket thing..it is easy peasy..
|
|
|
Post by sarahfox on Oct 10, 2007 22:42:16 GMT 1
Just to say,that the german way that was mentioned earlier,re kicking the back end up to the front and holding it there actually does work,but you have to fiddle a lot,you dont just hold it there,watch carl hester or emile faurie ride,they fiddle with every stride and spur with every stride.If you get the feel and timing right it does work in as much as the horse isnt leaning on your hands and you can slide the reins up the neck in canter to prove it for the sake of a test! Personally I realy wouldnt want to ride like this,but I just wanted to clarify the fact that the 'good' riders arent actually hanging on to half a tonne of horse via the bit!
|
|
|
Post by jennyb on Oct 10, 2007 23:08:37 GMT 1
You haven't put me off posting pics Heather How do I find out more about the Anja Beran clinic? I'd also be really interested, if you can find time, to hear about how you find backing and bringing on older horses, as I'm about to do just that!
|
|
|
Post by Liz on Oct 10, 2007 23:14:31 GMT 1
The horse in the pic I posted ealier in this thread was an Irish cob x TB and he did have the conformation which made self carriage much easier. Although he was young and inexperienced, in my years and years of riding, I'd never before ridden a horse who had this self carriage quite so naturally when ridden: it was quite remarkable in one so young. Out hacking he was a dream, if a bit sharp, who would pass anything and seemed to fairly float along - I'm thankful I experienced it before I had to give up riding altogether ;D I sadly decided to sell this lovely horse as my riding had deteriorated and I couldn't do the horse justice. I then bought the gorgeous Duke who is now with Diane and who is prettyt light on his feet for such a HUGE horse but as yet lacks that sort of self carriage - but he is a superstar in every other way! ;D
|
|
|
Post by heather on Oct 10, 2007 23:23:42 GMT 1
|
|
|
Post by heather on Oct 10, 2007 23:32:44 GMT 1
Its so good to hear so many of you seeking a lighter way to ride.
To be honest, Sarah, the TRUE German way is not about pushing the horse up to the contact. The sad thing is that when Emile came back from training in Germany when he was young, he was a truly beautiful rider, who rode on the weight of the reins.
It is competition which has changed riding. You only have to see pictures of riders like Richard Watjen, Willi Schultheis, and other great German riders of the last century, to realise that the modern German system is a pale shadow of the older German methods.
Cokey, I am sorry that you feelthat my presence here intimidates you- I must admit, it is the first time I have ever been called intimidating, in a 37 year teaching career!
Laura, Welsh Cobs are one of our most talented breeds! They have an inbuilt natural rhythm, an innate ability to 'sit' and engage, plus fantastic extension, a naturally uphill canter- well, what more could you ask?!! I love them!
Heather
|
|
|
Post by heather on Oct 10, 2007 23:33:58 GMT 1
A very good excuse, Susan! There is not a lot of you, and an awful lot of him !! I just find the concept of 'bearing down' so difficult to achieve. I am very aware of lifting my seatbones, not 'plugging them in', (deliberately) which I thought was also part of the bear down concept? Heather
|
|