This is going to end up a rather large blog, that could be seen as a rant, but it's not really intended as such.  Just keep in mind that this is my opinion, from my experiences and you are free to disagree.

I find the more I browse the internet or go spectate at shows the angrier and frustrated I get at many of today's horse people's attitudes.  I've banned myself from looking at riding photo's for the most part or getting involved in any kind of training conversation as I usually just end up frustrated, baffled and mind blown.  I avoid conversing with certain people about horses as the stupidity that comes out of their mouth is just too much to take.  I by no means am perfect.  I definitively have a lot to learn.  I am open to new suggestions.  I am also my own worst enemy.

Periodically I will get a friend or family member come to my barn and photograph and video my riding.  I don't do it as often as I should but I have become pretty decent at setting the camera while on horseback alone.  Convincing the average person to come sit on there butts for hours, in a place that stinks and that they will get molested by my goats the entire visit doesn't seem too convincing of a good time.  I have people I know stink at photography and videography but at least they try and I can get something out of anything as long as they actually take film.  I also have a couple who are amazing photographers and seem to be able to catch horse and rider at just that right moment.  These make for great photo's to share!

On the other hand, there are the people who don't have this talent.  It's the terrible photo's that I can learn the most from.  The chances of these hitting the internet or any form of public place are slim to none but are never deleted as I can self evaluate and see improvements.  That being said, once I have an initial video and a video of progression that I will post even if it's not perfect.

When I look at a photo I first look at the state of mind of the horse.  Are the horses ear's back? Forward? Out to the side? Pinned?  I fined these day's a lot of people don't understand the actual meaning of ear positioning and when it comes to other's posting pictures this can possibly be the most frustrating.  One must understand that the horses ears are used for much more then ours.  For instance, if a horse has his ears back, this doesn't necessarily mean he is angry or agitated.  Did you know that the position of the horses ears face the direction in which that eye is looking?  If your horse looks at you with one forward and one to the side.  He's checking out what's going on around him and you if your standing in front.  

When I look at a photo of horses being ridden I also have to take in the body language of the horse as well as the ears but as long as the ears aren't pinned flat against their neck with their nostrils flared, lips tight and this look in their eye that would scare Lucifer himself then we've passed step one and must be doing something right.  Are their ears forward, head set up and perked?  If so, chances are they aren't paying attention and are debating if whatever ahead of them is to be spooked at or eaten.  Is the neck relaxed?  Whether it be in the classic, modern dressage, western, hunter or whatever discipline the horse is doing that requires a certain headset the neck should still be relaxed.  He shouldn't look tense or stiff.  If he is relaxed, he is supple.  Now, obviously if the horse is just in training there more then likely will be certain level of tension as they get used to this new idea.  In dressage, if you're practicing the traditional French style, the theory is to work the horse from back to front and the head will naturally come into a correct set of round lightness.  German theory is that you work front to back as without a relaxed jaw you will not achieve light movement.  I personally like to incorporate the two.  My goal is to teach the horse to work from behind, but also be sure of the horse being relaxed throughout his entire body.  

One of the ways I do this is by not using a noseband.  Not even when my babies are just being backed.  They need to be able to talk to me in whichever way they know how.  No, a properly fitted noseband should not restrict the movement of the horses jaw... then again... it does even to a light mental state. Flashes only make the situation worse.  Some people will argue that they are to "set the bit in the correct place."  Well that may be what you tell yourself to sleep at night, but I have yet to see one "hold a bit in place" and if you need something to "hold the bit in place" you better look at the fitment of your equipment.  This, much like the martingale, is a crutch to make up for crappy training.  When I first bit a horse I expect him to put his mouth in twisted faces, tongue to venture out the side, head high as he figures out what this contraption is that I just put on him.  Once he is figured this out and we are onto the riding phase of training, if he makes faces or avoids the bit chances are I'm doing something wrong and I want him to be able to tell me.  If everything seems to be fine as for my riding wise then I look into equipment fitment as well as his physical state.  As they go through training they are going to change and maybe something that once fit or once was not a problem now is.

So, as I am sure you have figured out by now.  These pictures of people riding horses with these tense body postures, terrible rider positions, and every piece of equipment ever invented, piss me off!  I can have some sort of self relaxation if something is said about it whether by the owner of the picture or what not, but most of the time these pictures are quickly commented with a "He looks beautiful" "You're an amazing rider" and any kind of constructive criticism is attacked faster then a hungry dog on a wiener.

In the same category is the people that go "oh look at my horses headset! Isn't it wonderful?!" followed by comments of "oh wow, your doing a great job, he looks fantastic, your an amazing rider" yet the horses head is clearly behind the vertical. Now, I admit, this can be a tough one.  If the horse happens to throw his head back for a second, or toss or whatever it can make it look as tho this is how you ride all the time, when reality is the camera just caught you at the wrong moment.  It annoys me when people think this is right.  In ANY rule book, classic training book they will all say that the highest point should be the horses poll and the head should be on or just ahead of the vertical.... NOT behind. This then flows into the poll.  These horses where their poll is clearly not the highest point, the point in the crest of their neck is, is being taught as "correct."  NO!  Sorry but your horses head is too low and most horses that do carry their necks in such a way are slightly behind the bit, making the whole picture incorrect.

Next would be rider posture.  Nobody is perfect, everyone has a bad day, everyone has something to learn and these days there is more then one "correct seat."  I will never forget going to the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto and watching the supposed top horse and riders show an over fences hunter round.  There was the odd rider who did a beautiful job, most being pro's, but not all.  Then there was a few (or maybe it was the same person over and over again?) that was downright terrible.  How they stayed on is beyond me.  They had no idea how to ask for a lead change subtly and when asking over a fence they would damn near go off the side of the horse.  It was terrible!

Then there is the "over supple rider."  Most commonly seen in dressage and hard to pinpoint in picture.  Those riders who's body (usually torso up) look like they are doing a vertical version of the "wave."  How that is even comfortable is beyond me and never mind the rider, the poor horse must feel like someone is scraping the top of a fork across his back.  Hopefully those who do this have some good cushioning on their booties, but often this is not the case.

Then there is the jumping photos (usually amateur, playing around the farm pictures) where the person is air born, yanking on the horses mouth, falling over their neck or about to fall on top of the horses butt. As stated before, everyone has a bad ride, a bad moment or whatever.  But usually these are filled with "omg that is so funny" or the really uneducated comment of "you look great."  These comments make me want to rip my hair out.

There was a few pictures posted on facebook a few weeks ago of someone who I'm friends with and I must say, what a gorgeous rider!  This horse and rider looked like strived for imagine of "one."  If this horse needed to stretch his neck, his rider was right there with him, there was always just the right amount of slack in the rein to allow the horse to do as he needed but allowed the rider to be there to balance him if needed.  Just beautiful pictures.  Funny thing is, is this person trains with one of the riders that I quite liked at that hunter show I watched at the RWF.  Amazing what proper training can do.

Well, I think I should cut it off here.  I've said enough that I'm sure someone will unfortunately be offended by for one blog.  Maybe my next blog I'll post some pictures of myself riding my horses and critique the poop out of it.  Until then, happy riding.

See, look, I even exhausted Bambam... I think I killed him.... Poor soul.... that will teach him too run a muck around the barn like a drunk college party.

-Sarah