Worst critic critique

I have been alternating working the ponies and so far it's going well. Today should have been a Mazy ride day. Yeah didn't happen.  I do have pics pulled from video from our last ride last week. And since we are all our own worst critics.... 

If you can ever get video of yourself riding- Do it! It is the best way to see what you are or aren't doing. Pics don't lie. Look at the good things, but also look at the bad. Acknowledge what needs to be fixed and start choosing 1 or 2 smaller things to improve. Above all, don't beat yourself up over this. We ALL have struggles. None of us are perfect and you fit right in! 

Looks like we are jumping right into this with the crap shots.  WTH are we doing? Breezing for the Breeders Cup?

Since we havent really done much riding lately its easy to say we definitely haven't done any work at the canter. We cant fix or improve anything we dont work on. Positives? Well Mazy is on the correct lead. I'm still on her back and I'm not sure there's much more I can say. Lol Negatives? Too many to list. Next pic

This pic much the same. Rider still on board, correct lead and sitting up in a better position. But the big glaring red flag is Mazy's legs. Sure she has a nice spread and reach in the back and also in the front, but between the two it's pretty narrow.  She's off balance and mainly working on her fore. Rider leaning into the speed in the first pic, doesnt help with this. Going to the right Mazy wasn't too bad. To the left it was off to the races. She just wanted to tear around like crazy. Yeah, no. 

Trot work was better. My lower leg needs to come back, stirrups maybe down one more hole which makes it feel like my legs are getting longer, but whateva. Line from elbow to bit is better but not completely straight as Mazy is finally working on a loose rein. Hands can come up a touch to fix this. 

And for the love of all things good- stop. looking. down. Look up where you want to go. Look around your turns. Look at things other than the pony under you. Sit UP a bit taller and lose the "Hunter hunch". Ain't nobody liking that.... 

This one is better. Both of us have our head up a bit more where it belongs with semi loose rein but soft contact. Mazy looks pretty good here but she needs to lighten up the front a little. Lower leg is also back underneath more where it belongs. Yay for that! 

This pic a lot of things about me were cropped out but I love her reach and swing in the stride both front and back. My hands are nice and wide giving her a channel in which to work, Mazy is starting to cross over to make the turn but we are both dropping our shoulders and leaning into it. Add that to the list of "Need to change". Next! 

Legs out in front again. Need to stop that. Inside rein could be a little shorter with contact but Mazy is moving out in a nice free trot. 

Again same issues- hands up a little more, lower leg back a little but at least someone is beginning to look up where they are going. 

Finally things look like they are coming together. Heels down and underneath the leg and seat. Rider looking up where they are going. Hands could still come up a touch but horse is on the vertical with a loose rein so self carriage is happening...  Front right is getting ready to come up, but right hind already has, indicating pony is still on the fore and need a to rock back on the haunches more. 

In the one corner there was a lot of ground gazing going on because as we come around the corner, my eyes spotted something in the dirt. Turned out to be something I won't call a nail, but more like a spike. A 4" long nail. Don't need that in a hoof or tire on the cart. 

I have also been working on my hands a Lot. Rein placement, keeping hands wide, soft contact and here's the big one- not nit-picking at my pony all. the. time. Leaving her alone to do her job. She's so much happier without me micromanaging every single step. She's happier and less fussy, which makes me happier and less fussy too. Know when to take the Win!