Judge My Ride Official

Hello Claire, This is a very sweet horse. He looks like he's got a lot of experience. He's not jumping with the best of form with his front legs in this particular shot, however. You might want to try some small oxer gymnastics at home . Oxer To Oxer maybe 3 set a bit snuggly ( 20ft apart) but small. ( start around 18” in height ). Set a placing pole two or three strides out on the takeoff and landing side to give your ride a sense of continuity and when you do build the ox or but symmetrical. In other words if you go up a hole make it 3 inches wider as well. Another exercise that might sharpen his front end would be series of bounces three or four row, crossbars set quite low. This should just sharpen him up and get him thinking about his front feet again. When I was a kid I was quite tall too. So I know that feeling of never feeling quite like I fit my horse. However can't deny reality and the fact is that you will probably spend your time in riding on horses that are not picture-perfect for your height. Truth is horses over 16 .3 or 17 hands are not the norm. I would encourage you to embrace your height and try to accentuate it. Try to have a long spine raised and a long leg. You will appear to have a better fit on any horse when you are in a classic position with your position’s lines and angles in the most conventional way. A classic position doesn't call attention to itself whereas compensating sometimes can. Trust me I've learned the hard way myself. So stay tall and keep your eye level up. One exercise that will focus your eye is to jump down off a small embankment, while your instructor stands at a distance but directly in front of you so you can train your eye on their hand. I'm gonna leave you with a picture of someone who could be your role model. His name is Joe Fargis , and I have been lucky enough to meet him and work with him many times over the years. The reason I suggest he’s someone you might consider a role model is his mount for the 1984 Olympics. Finish reading on our Facebook page https://www.instagram.com/p/ChPpEKhLw8D/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Hi Kelsey, thank you for sending this in to us here at Judge My Ride. OK I see some very good things and some things I change. Simply starting with you material I would have made that Oxer wider before I made it that high. The reason being is wider jump also encourages the horse to jump higher so that the arc travels across the back rail . When you write raise the jumps disproportionately with whatever jumping law your horse may have will becoming that much more deeply ingrained. However if you keep the jumps lowish and make them wider that generally tends to give the horse time to correct whatever issue he may have. This is particularly true when three-dimensional oxers are used the context of the gymnastic. This is a darling horse. He looks like he's very comfortable in the air yet safe and effective is his legs. And he will say he's in great condition and has brand new boots on. I would encourage you not to make so much of small jumps. I suspect based on fact they can't see any bend in your knee that you should lengthen your stirrups your bodies angles or hinges are your natural shock absorbers. When you straighten your knee that's can be hard for you land. Generally , I would encourage you to make much less yourself your position when you job just keep it simple. Sink into your heel so you know your secure as you arrive at the base to soften your arm. . A crest release is best implemented on the sides of the crest, around the top of the mane.. Your thumb knuckles are almost touching your chin. You need to unbend your elbows to initiate a bend a following feel. In the arch in your back just below your shoulder blades sup the fact that you are most likely quick snappy off the ground with your upper body. Generally speaking, you want to ride in as alive and organic state as possible .In the moment, rather than reproducing an image of rote position that you saw somewhere and have stored in your short term memories Each moment on the horse should be an original one. What I mean by that is it's it live conversation not yesterday's lesson it's not something you read in Practical Horseman. Read the rest on our Facebook page https://www.instagram.com/p/ChOeCfFL9ex/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Hello Reagan! It's nice to see you again. You're doing great! I try your stirrups either a half hole or 1 holes shorter. I like to see a little bit more angle in your knee which in turn would allow you to keep your hips back behind the pommel of the saddle where belongs, much closer to the seat and you are here. But beyond that your I think you're doing really really well I love your straight line from your elbow to the horses mouth . Note there are two lines from the elbow to the mouth one is the side view which we can all see here and that's pretty good . However you seem to have a little bit of an elbow out,, so if there's another view you want to consider it's what I call the drone view which flies directly above you and looks down those lines need to be straight as well from the elbow to the bit should be one uninterrupted line . I think we can see that in this photo with your elbow out the line goes from the mouth to the hand, and then maybe tension in your try step takes your elbow to the outside. When a rider's position is out of alignment it's generally the cause of tension being held in the position somewhere. I feel your tension lives in your triceps and possibly across the top of your shoulders. And I can't be certain as the photograph is your blurry and it looks like you're biting your lip. That's tension as well .remember his mouth is his your arms are yours but you share the rein your arm in your rein work is one organism. Everybody knows that the reins held direct and regulate the horses forward motion, as the rider sends instructions to that end through the reins. However there's another conversation that gets overlooked and that's the conversation from the horses mouth back to the rider. When you think about it whenever horses can a spook or's span or bolt they stiffen their mouth first this signal is goes dead. If you have a relaxed arm that hangs out of a relaxed shoulder carriage you'll be much more dialed in to what your horse is thinking and feeling so that your response time along with your empathy will increase. Remember you your sharing those reins. Do it in the most nuanced and diplomatic way that you can. ... More on Facebook https://www.instagram.com/p/Cg7TVsTJ4Tu/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Hello Grace Marie! I’ve got very little to add to this. In fact I say you’ve got it all going on. In a perfect world I’d like to have your seat back and closer to the seat of the saddle. Additionally it seems as though your reins ate too short.That’s not the case. Your release is too high. Someone who writes as well as you should not need to balance on the top your neck. What’s your arms relax then be a little lower on the sides of the neck, and you’ll keep your primary connection with the horses mouth which will make him much happier. When you set your hands on top of the neck, you lose any sense of where his mouth is . But all in all I think this is great. Relax your arms and keep doing what you’re doing!!’ Judged by Kevin McGinn https://www.instagram.com/p/CZx0AsVpaAi/?utm_medium=tumblr

Hello Hallie Thank you for sending this in to us at Judge My Ride. I like your horse very much . He looks like he's in great shape well muscled and looks like he's been freshly clipped. I like the tack chosen with the simple snaffle, but I would make some adjustments to the headstall. The “button” on the front of the figure 8 nose band should be higher and it seems as though the buckle for the lower strap is affixed directly over the lips. When you activate the bit and his mouth moves that buckle can pinch the sensitive corners of his mouth. So try to make sure that you avoid that by buckling the nose band either well above the upper lip or slightly below the lower. Figure 8 no stands that have an adjustable cross in the front are more convenient than those that have stitched straps as they make it difficult to make those adjustments. It's important to note that when using a figure 8 the strap that goes under the horses jaw should be that's more snug of the two. In that way the figure 8 does not seem punitive or harsh by wiring the mouth shut and that severe way with the strap that closes to the mouth. (Im not saying that's the case here general note for anyone reading along. ) Lastly your throat latch seems a little too tight. The guideline I like when tacking up is for fingers under the horses throat latch to make sure there's plenty of room so and he flexes that the poll he doesn't get choked. As for you, I'd like you to take a deep breath and relax! There are two factors that define your jumping position over the top of the fence and they have nothing to do with being self-conscious for trying to fit into a mold. I think that perhaps your stirrups could go down one hole or perhaps even half a hole . Generally you are perched too high and far away from the horses center of gravity and have the feeling of having propelled yourself too far up the neck. The two factors that define jumping physician are a lower leg from the knee down to the heel that are perpendicular to the ground. Finish reading Judge Kevin's comment on our Facebook page. Link provided in comment https://www.instagram.com/p/CY14r_9vPbc/?utm_medium=tumblr

Hey Jess Thank you for sending this in. It's funny at first glance I detected some kind of importance or significance in this photograph. I think the simple order and precise set of the jump in the quiet yet attentive way your jump crew is looking on tipped me off. Then of course I recognize the clinician , Ms Anne Kursinski, in the background and so I assume this is an EAP clinic from 2021 A good clinician knows how to reinforce adherence and importance of basics while offering a preview as to what's possible if one applies themselves and stretches just a little bit. I have the sense that this is one of those moments. The square oxer , with the Liverpool dead underneath it seems to possibly be a stretch up for you and your horse and that's precisely how we learn. To see this jumped again I'd like to see a more relaxed arm that has more following feel in in a bit less of a stupid across your shoulders. Additionally I would like to see your horse looking forward and out across the jump bit more but these are refinements that only come with experience and repetition. When given a choice between attending a clinic and competing in a horse show I think most riders and parents would opt l for the show. But riding with the great clinician offers so much more opportunity for education and insights and are in my opinion , invaluable to the development of any rider and I wish more riders would seek out clinicians to augment their practical education that takes place in the show ring. So good for you for pursuing a continuing education and broadening your horizons! It's a big world and there’s a lot to learn in it !! Judged by Kevin McGinn https://www.instagram.com/p/CYhmvGBP2_l/?utm_medium=tumblr

Hi Sydney! Thanks so much for sending this in. What a beautiful effort your horse is making over this jump! I really like your release. What I would like to see is you not closing your hip angle so much in the air, you want to meet your horse halfway - but here your chest is almost touching his withers. I like to work on this by a longer gymnastic - a trot in to a couple of bounces and then a one or two stride. It keeps you focused on the next jump so you have less recovery time, meaning you can’t get too low or you won’t be prepared for what’s next. You clearly have a strong leg which I love to see! Weight in those heels will also help keep your body up. Thanks again! Judged by Sarah Ward-Rupp https://www.instagram.com/p/CVQwI6ghj_t/?utm_medium=tumblr

Hi Katie! The nice thing about taking care of a horse as they go through life as if you don’t over work them and over jump them and you treat them nicely they will do that job for many many years. That’s kind of the feeling I have about Ripley! Even at 20 his knees could be all the tighter, but the jump is small and maybe his measuring out his efforts as an elder statesman made but look at the expression on his face he is having as much fun. Your position is quite good. However I have an exercise that would be good for you and you can do it at home every night you don’t even need a horse. I would suggest you do is lay on your back find a comfortable position with a thick enough rug that you can lay flat on your back for a few minutes on it and still remain comfortable. Then raise your knees up and bring your feet back towards your seat and keeping your eye on the ceiling just focus on your breathing. Breathe not through your nose, but through your diaphragm down a big muscle that controls your lungs I think that you’re carrying too much tension in your lower back where your lumbar section is. Using your breath, as you’re laying on the floor, trying to fill the gap between the arch in your back on the floor by breathing into your diaphragm and pushing your diaphragm out so your whole abdomen and back expand. You will feel that your back suddenly will be able to connect to the floor all the way from your shoulder blades down to your hips with no separation between your spine and the floor that’s a flat back. A flat back is for one of relaxation allows you to sink all your weight down into your seay bone ,with a heavy yet presence on the horse. OK I hope that was helpful! Happy holidays merry Christmas to you and to Ridley Judged by Kevin McGinn You can read the full comment on our Facebook page https://www.instagram.com/p/CJT5dbenqsk/?igshid=1sr9d2p8iffek

Hello Sarah. Thank you for submitting your daughter's picture to us here at Judge my Ride. If you didn't volunteer the information that this was your daughter's first time out in the large greens ,I would not have known that. I do believe you when you say that Annah has devoted a lot of time to her riding and with with this pony. I see though a nice turnout. The polished boots and then nice braids those things are just extras. I see underneath, a relationship with this pony . And that's just the impression I get from looking at the pony . He is businesslike ,confident and competent , His eye and his expression he seems completely relaxed,and "in his own skin " He doesn't look "Green" perse, Note For those who haven't shown much who may be reading along, a pony who's showing in the large " Green" division at a horse show is qualified as such because he is in his first year showing at this height. Anyway, turned out and jumping well. He seems like an awfully large large which makes the fence is a little bit less impressive for him, and so is forearms or not overly active but he's getting the job done. He certainly is pleasing to look at. Annah looks well also. Her demeanor is very relaxed back is flat not arched . She exudes a very effortless . Which is good for the Hunter Ring. So at a glance this looks like a very peaceful moment. Which is as it should be. Anna has to look up someone who's been to a lot of horse shows and is very poised. Experience helps. If I had to change one thing I would see if she could find a way to not turn her leg out so much don't know if she needed to support the pony off the ground there a little bit or she just has a habit of "toeing out ". If the pony got a little timid there. maybe next time a little bit longer spur, but not sharper. I think that's all I have to say. Very nice picture .The pony is beautifully turned out , I think this is just an example of gaining mileage, gaming experience, and it's a good horse race in the door really two skills involved in having horses and competing. Judged by Kevin McGinn https://www.instagram.com/p/CJATl_VHOM6/?igshid=1cq1shkup9qcx

Hi Sophie.! Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Judge My Ride ! And thank you for sending this in! Well this is certainly a very very cute and promising young horse. That’s very exciting and she seems like she has a lot of the natural instincts that will make her a great sport horse of some sort. I was talking to another young professional up in Canada the other day about one of their young prospects and I had to ask if they were the type of person who read the last page in A mystery novel first. And that’s the conundrum of young horses . I do believe that a horse is talent is born and not made and while training can enhance what’s there it can’t replace what’s not there and that is what this mare seems to have a lot of ,and that is a real desire to leave the jumps alone in the cups ! She also seems to have a technique under her greenness . A jumper has to have two qualities and it can be a quotient or a ratio they need both of the desire to leave the jumps up and the courage to jump up and over them. Just like you would adjust your filters on a smart phone to change the look up a photograph it’s the same principle with horses. Judged by Kevin McGinn Read his full comment on our Facebook page https://www.instagram.com/p/CIPgNcwH63e/?igshid=mqovn8vd9p1m

Hi Caroline. Thank you for sending this in to Judge my Ride. What a handsome horse! He’s really got that “stamp“ of a junior equitation horse. It looks as though he’s been showing on this day though it what looks like his braids have been let out , in time for a late afternoon lesson. He looks as reliable as they come with an expression that’s both calm and intelligent. As conventional and steady as he appears, I think he’s kind of a “big “ride for you. He’s got quite the broad barrel. And perhaps that’s why your leg has come back a bit behind the girth. You’re doing a lot of things right. Your back is flat but not stiff in your eyes up and active. You have a bit of a disembodied feeling however, that I think we could fix in no time with a little exercise work. Some riders tend to want to jump ahead of the horse. I believe that's related to a bit of an over dependence on the crest release that is so popular in the Junior Eq. Classes. I think the logic is something like this “I know I can balance on the neck once the horse takes off, so therefore I’m as will just get in position now“ which makes riders anticipate the takeoff and by extension quick off the ground with your upper bodies. This can take the heart and confidence out of some sensitive horses, or put the rider in a precarious spot on a tentative horse I think it’s just best to be a little bit more patient in following the horse over the jump, rather than anticipating and sometimes even leading which has no real good influence on the outcome while jumping. If I were working with you I would set simple lines of small jumps (maybe 18 inches to 2 feet in height}. I’d probably start with a standard trot and canter out four stride line (crosswalk to vertical,) and then possibly a turn down across the diagonal through a single into a circle. Just a very basic pattern that doesn’t amount to much. But I would have you do it and insist that you keep your hands about 14 inches apart the entire time, never allowing yourself to balance on the withers or the neck for security or support. ....to be continued https://www.instagram.com/p/CHnz-cAnBS3/?igshid=9yc2b8tiw2q0

Hello Sarah, thank you for sending this into us here at Judge my Ride. I think this is a really solid picture. It would indicate to me that whomever’s working with you at home, has really made you do the real homework that brings rider to the point where they are ready to complete in the 3 foot divisions . Based on what I’m seeing here you have checked all the boxes. You got a great lower leg. Even though some of it is obscured by the jump standard I can still see a straight line from your hip socket down to your ankle which means you got a very strong base of support I see that your toe was elevated which can only mean that your hair was down and out of amount and your crust for lease doesn’t show any indication of dependency it’s just tidy and organized and calls no attention to itself, which is a valuable trait for a rider showing a hunter. Your horse seems to be putting in a good effort here and though she doesn’t really “ decorate” The jump so much is navigate it, I would much prefer something like this,and feel she's perfectly suited as a children's horse . Sadly, when somethings really good I don’t have a lot to say so under the category of no news is good news I think I’m just about finished. I would suggest that you make your standing martingale a little bit shorter. This martingale it’s so drapy that in a worst-case scenario she could get her leg or her mouth through it, which could be unfortunate. Aside from that, I'm also wondering if your helmet is a little bit too big, As it seems to be covering your eyes!! Helmets need to be fit perfectly not only so that you can see where you’re going and not being distracted by it but more importantly as a safety measure. Aside from those two fitting issues I think the ride itself, and your horse a both pretty spectacular!! My overriding impression from this photo is that someone has really worked with you and made you very aware how details matter and the importance of practicing perfectly. Good for you!!! Judged by Kevin McGinn . https://www.instagram.com/p/CHhETWbHGCW/?igshid=1c5g3gwbpz7sg

Hey Lizzy , Well congratulations, how did you do?? I think everybody knows that capital challenge changed venues this year to accommodate social distancing in for other reasons during the pandemic, and so I’m glad that you got there. I have to say your horse looks like he is just made for this job. He’s got great technique in front and he’s beautifully groomed and turned out, as I would expect him to be for a show of this stature. It does look like he produced a rather enthusiastic effort over that oxer, And really used his body, which may explain why your lower leg seems to have migrated to the back a little bit. I’m not too concerned because based on the rest of the picture you don’t seem concerned at all which is a product of experience. Everything happens to everybody at one point or another. But when you practice and practice and do your homework you can have a little bit of a surprise, and it just rolls off your back. It would also appear Your reins got a little bit unmanageable., generally speaking I think had you been able to keep your leg a little bit more underneath you your arm may have been a Little bit more generous and following the mouth. But congratulations again just getting to Capital Challenge is a big deal, so thank you for sending this in !! Judged by Kevin McGinn https://www.instagram.com/p/CGrKJSjnNEK/?igshid=1m91g64i8ozl1

Hello Oakley ! Thanks for sending this in to us!! So I’ve been looking at this photograph on and off for the past hour or so. I can’t really quite decide what’s going on here. Your horse is making a very nice effort, really using his body in the air over a very inconspicuous job, so I’m wondering if perhaps he doesn’t generally jump on the grass? And then I look at your position which is quite good, with the exception of a little bit too much emphasis on the stirrup, not enough in the heel. But it just seems like you two guys are on different wavelengths. So I don’t know if his round effort unseated you and set you back in the saddle? I also have a suspicion that that saddle is not perfectly suited for you. I noticed you have quite a long femur( the bone between your hip socket and your knee), so I’m putting on my “ saddle rep “ hat , As I did that for about two years in my spare time a years ago, and I’m wondering if perhaps to accommodate your femur you’ve opted for a larger saddle rather than one that’s cut a little bit more forward at the flap. Again, this is all speculation but I’m just trying to troubleshoot here with you here. I also noticed not only you have a breast collar, it seems to be quite snug across your horses shoulders, which leads me to think maybe he’s got a very pronounced wither, that pushes both you and the Saddle back . It also seems like the straps leading from the girth to the billets have a pronounced aspect to the rear? I’m generally not so indecisive! I just feel I’m seeing something but I can’t put my finger on it. Perhaps you can tell me. If your girth is tied in your saddle fits, I think I would just try to help you get more in the center of the horse, by jumping some low gymnastics making sure that your heels were down possibly even shortening your stirrup one hole as an exercise. and having you pull on the main throughout the length of the gymnastic, to re-orient your position with your Horses center. But I have to admit I am a bit stumped. You can finish reading Kevin's comment on our Facebook page. https://www.instagram.com/p/CGSzdsNnLNz/?igshid=1iff36b9ha10

Hi Grace! I’m so sorry for the delay in getting this judged. This is a great shot of you and your cute horse. You both look focused, and your horse looks very well suited for this job - and has a nice jump! You’ve got a good foundation, but your leg has slipped back a touch, which has caused you to “toe out” a bit, and is also preventing you from giving more of a release. Try going up on your stirrups a hole or two. I’d like to see a bit more release, push your hands up the mane just a bit more, without pressing down with your upper body onto your horse. Thanks for sending this in! - Guest judged by Sarah Ward-Rupp @mrs.ward_rupp https://www.instagram.com/p/CGLfVBSHxO9/?igshid=x4mabgywx5u4

Hello Zoey , thank you so much for your kind words and I apologize for the delay in getting to your submission , i’ll do my best to redeem myself now! Sometimes I just get an impression from a photograph and I’m getting quite a strong one here. You have a very relaxed and soft manner about yourself in relation to your horse. In my opinion that’s one of the intangibles that’s almost impossible to teach, but instead, some natural instinct of empathy, combined with lots of time in the saddle and experience on various different types of horse personalities and types. Though from a purely technical standpoint, there are some minor breaks in your position, namely your lower leg and your lack of flexion in your ankle as well as your horse being a little unconventional with his front limbs of this very small oxer , I would tend to write that off as a passing casual moment, that could be addressed with one or two schools over some snug one stride gymnastics for your horse, Coupled with some balance work such as riding through that gymnastic either with hands out the side or alternating hands behind your back etc. to encourage you to find true balance in your heel, my attention still goes to the general tone of this photograph. I see a rider whose facial expression is relaxed, as if she is in her skin on skin ,and present in the moment.This is backed up by a straight , but soft and relaxed back, and a generous release that shows no tension, not any urgency or dependency on the crest for security. So not a technically perfect jump, it speaks to the larger picture if we zoom out and consider our overarching responsibility which is to be good stewards and at times effective diplomats and getting along with a myriad of horses that we encountered through our careers.The “soft touch”, need never be confused with being timid or lacking an opinion, but instead a way to win horses over to your side.If you were to look up the word "surrender" in a dictionary it would say "to join the winning side" . And I have a feeling this horse would do just about anything for you based on his happy expression. You can read the rest of Kevin's comment in our Facebook page https://www.instagram.com/p/CGC-AqcHaTg/?igshid=1wcwpd4yrq954

Hi Chloe! Thank you for sending this in! So your horse seems a bit annoyed at how close you got to the jump here and possibly your short release, but the short release tells me you knew you were getting too close to the jump and were perhaps still trying to remedy the situation - which is a good thing, because it says you know where you are! You have a great, strong leg, and your horse has a nice and even front end. Work on canter poles, that will help y’all agree on a good distance, and you can work on adjustability. I love to use canter poles or cavalettis just to practice my eye and work on adjusting my horse. It helps to do that without overjumping. Thanks again and let me know if you have any questions! - Guest judged by Sarah Ward-Rupp (insta: @mrs.ward_rupp ) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGC9ftUHOzD/?igshid=1453owgs796g1