NO CRITIQUE ON THE RIDER. ONLY THE HORSE.

This is my friend Katie riding my rescue mare, Shylo.
She jumped her up to 3’9″.

Would love a critique on Shylo. No critique on Katie, the rider.

Also, anyone have any idea’s on how to get her picking up her hind legs more? Would gymnastic exercises help? Jacket is there because I don’t think she can see the poles very well.. I’m going to be painting the poles soon, so she can see them better.
She picks up her fronts ok over smaller jumps. I think 4′ is about where she will probably max out when it comes to jumping… I, personally, don’t want to jump higher than 3′, so I’m A-OK with that.

3’9″

And here’s one of her jumping 3’3″, just because she is so scopey over it!

If I could get a critique of my position that would be great.

I haven’t had a coach in two years as I don’t have the funds, but a coach is coming out to work with me soon.

I know my leg needs to go forward, and my heels need to stay down. Those have always been big problems of mine. I think I need to be off Shylo’s neck more. I think my release is good, it gives Shylo her head… Correct me if I’m wrong though!!!

I promise her ears aren’t always back. This is the only “good” photo I had, and unfortunately her ears are back. I’ll post one down at the bottom with her ears forward.

Now, I know with this one that I need a bit more of a release. Shylo’s not picking her knee’s up very nicely. We got a deep spot. My toes are pointing too far out. I am, once again, too much on her neck. I’m also too far out of the saddle for a jump this size. My heels need to go down more, and my leg needs to come forward.

My name is Alex. I am 17 years old. I own a thoroughbred mare named Shylo. She saved my life.

6 months ago, I was severely depressed, I had panic attacks, and I had been very hurt by people that should have never hurt me. I have scars from that time. I had contemplated leaving this earth, and had actually attempted it a few times.

I didn’t trust anyone, which made it really hard on my Mom (who is actually my grandma, but I call her mom). I lashed out at her, and reacted violently to the smallest things.

In June, I discovered that there was a TB mare for sale. Long story short, I ended up buying her. She didn’t trust anyone, she reacted violently, and she hated everyone.

I bought her and told myself that if it needed to be, she would be a pasture pet. I just wanted to give her a second chance at life. Part of me wanting to do that was that I was craving a second chance for myself.

The first day I had her, she tried to kill me. She jumped over me when I asked her to back up. She landed, and kicked out at my head. I got out of the way, but it made me realize just how damaged this horse was.

The past 5 months have been a blur. We have been slowly working on things. She trusts me enough to let me near her when she lays down. I ride her bareback, and can ride her in just a halter. My goal is to ride her with just a neck rope.

Yesterday I moved Shylo to her new home.

Now, when I got Shylo, she was so scared that she would not get on a trailer. It was a very traumatic experience, trying to load her. Took us quite a while.

Yesterday? I walked her up to the trailer and she jumped right in. She trusted me enough to know I wasn’t going to let this scary man-eating cave like thing eat her.

That means the world to me.

So, I guess the whole point of this is that I would not be here today if this horse hadn’t worked her way into my life. I would have, without a doubt, killed myself.

I can trust people now. My mom and I have such a good relationship because of this horse.

So what am I thankful for?

I’m thankful for the love this horse has provided me for.

I’m thankful that she learned I wasn’t going to hurt her, and that I wanted to help.

I’m thankful that I’m alive.

I’m thankful for my mom for pushing through all the hard times, and believing in not only me, but in Shylo as well.

I’m thankful that Shylo has taught me to trust.

I’m thankful for the healing Shylo and I provided each other.

But most of all, I’m thankful for Shylo. Simply Shylo. She is the one constant thing in my life. She has done more for me in 5 months than anyone has done for me my entire life.

I’m not able to express how thankful I am for my mare.