Critique my position?

okay....

positives: you have a forward eye, following potion, heels down, hip bent, THANK YOU FOR THE CORRECT STIRRUP POSITION, overall nice photo.

some things to change: it looks like you are gripping your knee, in the future try to open your knee so your hip can relax and bend. i think it is just the angle of the photo, but it looks like you are twisting a bit. other than that, just try to lift your shoulders up more and bring your chest up. i am an eventer so i guess my posture is a bit different than hunters, which it looks you are doing.

I agree that overall, it is a very nice photo.

As an eventer or jumper, I would be content with that position. Your lower leg is exactly where it should be, with the correct stirrup length. I do agree that it appears you are gripping with your knees (perhaps you're transitioning from hunter?). I think you could stand to turn your heels out just a hair, and let your knees follow - see if that doesn't do the trick.

I am a little bummed that considering the rest of the position and the height of that fence, that you're riding it with a crest release. I can't imagine that a course would work out well at that hight with that release. If you could drop your hands about 5 inches, and leg them travel with him, you'd be much better off.

As a hunter/eq ride, you've got to get your shoulders back, off his neck, and pull your upper body up.

You seem to be the more talented of the pair. At that stage in the jump he should have gotten his front legs together. He jumps flat, which makes me believe that he's either more comfortable at a higher fence, or that he was just meant to be an eq horse.

ETA: It would be interesting to see him on a bigger fence. As a talented jumper, he should be able to pull himself together over a groundrail just as well as he does over 5'. Either he got his fence flat, which I don't really believe, or he's just a touch sloppy.

Check out how this guy makes it happen even over a x-rail, with obviously very little help from his rider.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v303/AppyEq/Bobb...

Positives:

You appear to be giving with your hands. You're not holding his mane, from what i can see, and if he yanked forward he wouldn't completely dislodge you.

Your feet are good in the stirrups!

You're looking forward to (i hope) the next fence. You look prepared and you look ready for his landing

Negs:

Shoulders back, you're rolling them forward and arching your back a little too much.

Release those knees! From this angle it appears that your knees are bent inward into the saddle a little and so your lower legs will have a higher tendency to fly outward further. Secure with your lower leg and release your knee so you have a better movement and flexibility in the saddle. Using the lower leg also urges the horse on, not to mention not as harmful to your position.

Round your back and push your shoulders up. Don't be slouchy. (:

you are too far forward

and you look like you are falling out of the saddle