Nr 4 - Adult Equitation

Missy Roades
Missy Roades: USHJA ‘R’ gecertificeerde jury , trainer en coach in Hunters en Equitation, 53 jaar oud en woonachtig in Ravenel South Carolina.

1st place. This is our winner today. Her line from hip to heel is exactly correct, and she is looking up and ahead. Her release is a good length for the small jump. The horse is giving a beautiful effort and looks very happy to be jumping. This rider is giving this horse the opportunity to jump in good style because her balanced position is not going to interfere in anyway with the horse.

2nd place: This is our second place today. This rider has a very secure leg and is looking up and ahead over this oxer. However, she has allowed her upper body to duck too far down towards the horse’s neck. Adding this extra bodyweight of the rider to the neck of the horse in the air, can cause a horse to be slower with its front end causing a rub or a rail. Lovely, scopey horse that would benefit from a little bit longer release and less upper body movement from the rider.

3rd place. This photo is our third place today is good overall, but a couple of balance lines are out of place. Her hip is a bit behind her heel, making her look a little bit behind the motion which may lead to her opening up her body early in the air. This can cause a hind rub or a rail or even a horse to get quick through the air. Her back is flat and she is looking up, but I would like to see her hands an inch or two lower as not to interrupt the line from her elbow to the horses mouth. Horse is happy and capable and her shiny boots are a treat for a judge to see!

4th place: This will be fourth place today. Well this rider looks completely capable and brave, but she lacks some fundamentals of Hunter seat equitation. Heels must be lower than the toe in order to have a correct base of support. In this photo the rider’s foot appears to be all the way through the stirrup. There’s no weight in her heel and her legs have lost contact with the saddle. Her stirrup length could be shorter by a hole or two. Perhaps some work without stirrups for lower leg position improvement and extra time with stirrups practicing a two point position will help improve her lower leg. In two point position puts most of the rider’s weight into their stirrups and down into their heels with very little weight in the saddle. This rider could then focus on relaxing her ankle and letting her heels sink down. Also correct placement of the foot in the stirrup is with the small toe against the outside of the stirrup with the widest part of your foot on the stirrup pad. Her horse is very cute, looks game, and if she improves her position they can help each other out in a more stylish way