It's so funny how whenever you finally remind yourself to look up while you're riding everything is so much smoother and the experience is so much more enjoyable for both rider and horse. Especially when you're in beautiful scenery and you can enjoy the beautiful nature more. Plus like Amelia mentions, when you're feeling more than looking you are connecting with the horse on a stronger level and the whole ride is so much more awesome. I look down too much to make sure I'm on the correct diagonal/correct lead.
I really love your Chanel and the way you explain and demonstrate the techniques, I simply can tell that i feel that I'm taking the session on the ground ❤
And now for a safety reason to look up……. I’ve had or seen near collisions because one of the riders is looking down, paying no attention to the other riders in the arena. “If you don’t know where you’re going , you won’t know when you get there!”
I look down a lot! My trainer even had us wear special glasses for one lesson that blocked us from looking down and it was pretty freaky. which proved my trainer’s point about how much I depend on looking down. I think it’s going to take a while to break the habit, but now I realize how much it plays into other problems I have when riding.
So many great suggestions. The actual visual images that you show of looking down and looking up while riding makes me understand how much it affects the horse. Thank you so much.
When I was in college, I was in an equine and business program. They had two professors who also taught the lessons at the barn and they both now ride for their home countries of Canada and Puerto Rico. they both told us to never drop your head to always keep it directly on top of the end of your spine like the ball on top of the carousel pole and to imagine that you are looking ahead with your nose up in your chin up and when you need to glance down to check your horses flexion at the pole or position of their neck or to maybe look at their shoulder for timing of your aids or whatever else, to imagine you are like a snob that is looking down their nose. Don’t be a snob of course but just that action of glancing down the nose with just your eyeballs and then looking back up ahead. Another time One of them said to imagine you have one of those foam neck braces on that does not allow you to ring your chin towards your chest and they actually had a couple of people ride in one of those old foam neck braces to keep from looking down and rounding the shoulders and leaning forward. That particular student really had an issue with looking down and it really seemed to help.
Thx SO MUCH! Perfect timing 😉 This is exactly what I’m working on. I’ve noticed how much more confident & balanced my horse is when my eyes are up & Im balanced. Simple, but not so simple. Repetition is the key for me. Love the sunglasses tip
Its about performance. We think our eyes are really good at assessing our horses performance. Its really about what you feel is going under your saddle, not what you see. We look down because were questioning our horses performance, instead of our own performance above the saddle. There more obstacles out in front of you than under you. Look up. Feel the horses movement. A win-win for you and your horse.
Thanks for this! I used to have much worse problems with Looking up back in January, luckily I got much better about it! But this is really helpful and i loved the sunglasses trick that was pretty smart. I may not do dressage but a lot of your videos can be good for everyone to improve their riding!
This made me realize that while I've been having trouble with my canter recently...I've been looking down at my horse's head. Like monitoring it will somehow help. I'm going to try looking up next time, I bet it will help a lot with my tension. Thanks for the reminder!
Thanks for this. I am really hard working on myself not to look down constantly. Plenty of new ideas to try on my horse. It helps seeing how bad the riding position can get
I've become very bad with looking down these days. Had a ten year break and I feel no where near the standard I used to be. Espcially for my diagonals just can't seem to feel it. 😞
It's a hard one to fix. Did you see that I have a free rider position webinar coming up? I think you'll enjoy it, I hope you'll come: amelianewcombdressage.com/free-rider-position-webinar-23/
Yes I also look down. However what happens to me is when I look up then my concentration on my legs goes out of order. I put my feet forward. Any help with that? Also when I align my heels with my head I find it very difficult to rise the trott Kindly assist
Make sure your hip bones are pointed straight up and down. It's less about pulling your heel back under your head, and more about moving your leg from your hips. Hope that helps!
Join Strides with Amelia!!! Learn more: www.amelianewcombdressage.com/strides
It's so funny how whenever you finally remind yourself to look up while you're riding everything is so much smoother and the experience is so much more enjoyable for both rider and horse. Especially when you're in beautiful scenery and you can enjoy the beautiful nature more. Plus like Amelia mentions, when you're feeling more than looking you are connecting with the horse on a stronger level and the whole ride is so much more awesome. I look down too much to make sure I'm on the correct diagonal/correct lead.
I really love your Chanel and the way you explain and demonstrate the techniques, I simply can tell that i feel that I'm taking the session on the ground ❤
That makes me so happy to hear! Thank you for sharing
I try to remember my head position but your visual is a Eureka moment! Thank you. Will be even more aware of this.
That's makes me so happy to hear!
And now for a safety reason to look up……. I’ve had or seen near collisions because one of the riders is looking down, paying no attention to the other riders in the arena. “If you don’t know where you’re going , you won’t know when you get there!”
I look down a lot! My trainer even had us wear special glasses for one lesson that blocked us from looking down and it was pretty freaky. which proved my trainer’s point about how much I depend on looking down. I think it’s going to take a while to break the habit, but now I realize how much it plays into other problems I have when riding.
Yes! I look down all the time! I have to remind myself to feel and ride mindfully!
So many great suggestions. The actual visual images that you show of looking down and looking up while riding makes me understand how much it affects the horse. Thank you so much.
When I was in college, I was in an equine and business program. They had two professors who also taught the lessons at the barn and they both now ride for their home countries of Canada and Puerto Rico. they both told us to never drop your head to always keep it directly on top of the end of your spine like the ball on top of the carousel pole and to imagine that you are looking ahead with your nose up in your chin up and when you need to glance down to check your horses flexion at the pole or position of their neck or to maybe look at their shoulder for timing of your aids or whatever else, to imagine you are like a snob that is looking down their nose. Don’t be a snob of course but just that action of glancing down the nose with just your eyeballs and then looking back up ahead. Another time One of them said to imagine you have one of those foam neck braces on that does not allow you to ring your chin towards your chest and they actually had a couple of people ride in one of those old foam neck braces to keep from looking down and rounding the shoulders and leaning forward. That particular student really had an issue with looking down and it really seemed to help.
Thx SO MUCH! Perfect timing 😉 This is exactly what I’m working on. I’ve noticed how much more confident & balanced my horse is when my eyes are up & Im balanced. Simple, but not so simple. Repetition is the key for me. Love the sunglasses tip
Its about performance. We think our eyes are really good at assessing our horses performance. Its really about what you feel is going under your saddle, not what you see. We look down because were questioning our horses performance, instead of our own performance above the saddle. There more obstacles out in front of you than under you. Look up. Feel the horses movement. A win-win for you and your horse.
Yes! Exactly!!
Hugely helpful! Looking down is my worst habit, and these are great ideas on how to break that habit!
🙋♀This is so me. Great pointers. So lucky to have a ground person to tell me to look up and stop leading with my chin.
Super helpful! I look down a little bit. I’ve always been told what not to do. Your instructions tell me what TO do.
Thanks for this! I used to have much worse problems with Looking up back in January, luckily I got much better about it! But this is really helpful and i loved the sunglasses trick that was pretty smart. I may not do dressage but a lot of your videos can be good for everyone to improve their riding!
Yay! Glad it was helpful!
I still look down but not quite as bad as I used too! But it's always a great reminder to see why we shouldn't! 👍☺️❤️
This made me realize that while I've been having trouble with my canter recently...I've been looking down at my horse's head. Like monitoring it will somehow help. I'm going to try looking up next time, I bet it will help a lot with my tension. Thanks for the reminder!
I have started looking up more and it makes a big difference. Horse goes more and I know where I’m going next. Thanks
Thanks for this. I am really hard working on myself not to look down constantly. Plenty of new ideas to try on my horse. It helps seeing how bad the riding position can get
Cool idea about the sunglasses))))
I've become very bad with looking down these days. Had a ten year break and I feel no where near the standard I used to be. Espcially for my diagonals just can't seem to feel it. 😞
This is very helpful and just what I needed, thanks! :D
Yay! Glad it was helpful!
Yes! Definitely me!
meeee toooo!
Wow, that horse is beautiful!
Thank you!
The best rider is Amelia
Bad habit of looking down b/c of bright sun in FL. What are your thoughts on competing in sunglasses?
It depends on what the show rules allow. If you can compete with them, then maybe give it a try!
Was this meant for me!?!🤣🤣
Thanks!!
I look down all the time schooling it's really an annoying habit!
It happens to the best of us! Hope this video helps
Yes I look down
I think every rider does at some point!
At times I look down when I ride.
It's a hard one to fix. Did you see that I have a free rider position webinar coming up? I think you'll enjoy it, I hope you'll come: amelianewcombdressage.com/free-rider-position-webinar-23/
My main problem ...😊
Yes I also look down.
However what happens to me is when I look up then my concentration on my legs goes out of order. I put my feet forward. Any help with that?
Also when I align my heels with my head I find it very difficult to rise the trott
Kindly assist
Make sure your hip bones are pointed straight up and down. It's less about pulling your heel back under your head, and more about moving your leg from your hips. Hope that helps!
i am looking
I hope you enjoyed the video!
Get a balance board and it will cure you of looking down in a matter of minutes because it makes you realise what happens when you look down.
😍😍😍
Third!
I look down when i ride 😅
You should tell your brother to look up🤣
hehe
Maybe Joseph will see this video.
If I were trying to raise my chin I'd be putting the duct tape on the top of my sunglasses rather than the bottom.
My opinion 😊
if that works better for you- do that! :)