Hi Karen,

You’ve judged pictures of me and my horse before and mentioned that I need to work on more of an uphill balance for First Level. My horse has been leased out for the school year and had some minor issues that he’s coming back from. 2 weeks before I came home he sliced his leg open and got six stitches put in, but now we’re ready to get back to some serious work. We’ve done really well at Training Level, but I’d like to start showing First Level some more, meaning I need to get him balanced less levelly and more uphill. Could you suggest some exercises to help this? I’ve done quite a bit of transition work, but he gets bored after a while and just shuts me out. Yesterday I popped him over a cross-rail or two at about 2′ and our canter work was much improved after, but I’m looking for some other things to try. I’ve done counter-canter work before, but since my leaser was riding at a different level than me, he’s gotten out of shape and more unbalanced.

We have a show coming up in a month or so and I’d like to give First 1 a shot. Also, could you give me some ideas on how to properly teach a good lengthening? He seems to think it just means race. A judge last year said she wrote galloping at the canter for my lengthenings so I’m hoping you could help with that too.

Sorry for this crazy long post, but I’m struggling on my own without a real instructor/trainer for the summer. Here’s a picture of the trot and canter from summer of last year to give you an idea of what I’m working with. I really appreciate your help and if I haven’t mentioned it before, I’m really glad you’ve joined the JMR team.

Thanks!

Just wanted to let Karen know that I got the copy of her book. I started reading it the next day and finished it in less that 48 hours. It was fabulous. I was expecting another training guide on dressage, but the novel format was a wonderful surprise. I really enjoyed it and I’d recommend it to any horse enthusiasts looking for a good read. It’s called  The Dressage Chronicles and definitely worth a look at.

Thanks again Karen

I’ve posted this photo before, but I was hoping to get the opinion of the new JMR judge. This is me and my horse Berger at Ride for Life this summer in warm up. I’d mostly like him judged because I know I am looking down and leaning forward and that my elbows stick out. Since this was taken I’ve started the Equine Studies program at my University so my position has changed.

Thanks!

Heather has already judged this, but others should fee free to judge I know I’m looking down, but I love this picture.  Taken at our first rated show (Ride for Life in MD)

Welcome to JMR I know I’m super excited that you’re willing to volunteer your time to help us out by judging so thanks times a million.

Anyways, this is my 18 y/o OTTB that I’ve owned for 2 1/2 years now. These photos were taken from rising trot at Ride for Life in MD this year (my first ever rated show). He was simply amazing. We ended up with 6th the first day in Training 1 with a 66.07% and 2nd the next day in Training 2 with a 68%. If you could please judge both of us I’d really appreciate it. In the second photo I know I’m sitting slightly forward and I know I look down (bad habit). I’ve been really working on keeping my hands up and quiet and keeping my eyes up. It’s a work in progress. Anyways, thanks in advance for your comments.