http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/orderpage.aspx?pi=003Q002Y000000&po=0   I feel bad for the horses

 I see a lot riders jumping fences that are too big for them, but I don't know the back story.  It is not appropriate to post pictures of others for public ridicule on this forum.  

I dont quite see the point of this post other than to post - without permission, I am assuming - photographs of a competition showing people jumping their horses!

Photographs are purely a moment in time and hardly a platform to start up a thread on horse abuse   I didnt think there were too many horses that should be felt sorry for!!!!

It is in pretty poor taste to post pictures of people on a public forum just to criticise them especially without PERMISSION! 

All of us are ocassionally thrown off balance, jump ahead, pop a fence etc.. when jumping. Yet looking at these pictures, there seems to be a trend as the same riders are out of balance at more than one fence. It is really dangerous that their trainer (if they have one) would allow them to keep jumping as they are not solid enough in their riding to do so safely and effectively. I truly hope that they can get quality instruction that will improve their riding, making it a safer activity for both themselves and the horses.

(Again, off topic)

My curiousity got the better of me, so I thought I'd let you know it was "friver."  Total posts, 3, last visited, 6/19/08.

It's funny that this has come up. I justed posted a new thread called "Lets all try" I was trying to be discreet about the issue of poor puncuation and grammer in posts. I hope it helps, so that we may all stay on subject. 

 So whatever satisfaction came in return for criticizing these riders, I would hope next time that you would think twice. Maybe one of those riders "next time" is one of us.

whats the issue? I only saw the first pic, but I saw a well balanced rider showing a beautiful crest release.  she could stand to heel down a little more, but otherwise quite nice

maybe there were bad pics later on?

I get what everyone is saying about not ridiculing people who haven't given permission and are apparently beginners, etc.

However, I just purchased my first horse this year (a 10 yo Appendix Quarter Horse gelding, 15.3 h, chestnut) and we are schooling over fences, and I actually found these pictures extremely interesting from a training perspective.  It does appear to me that these riders are doing courses that are too advanced for them, which is a shame because so many of them are so obviously off-balance.  I know from years of erratic lessons on school horses that this kind of riding does not feel good.  It also appears, as somebody said, that the riders all have the same trainer, since they are (mostly) all making similar mistakes. 

So for what it's worth, I enjoyed seeing the pictures--not to pick on anybody, because God knows what my horse and I look like over fences ourselves, but because it gave me reminders on what I can work on and remember to avoid doing (heels down!  crest release!  breathe!.)  It also reminded me that there is no shame in doing gymnastics over and over and over until me and my horse have it down pat!

And considering that this was a photographer's web site for people to buy these pictures, I think that the only people who know there is anything wrong here are other riders.  I think the families of the people in the pictures will still get considerable pleasure from them.   And maybe the riders themselves will learn something from seeing them.  I know that I would, and I'd try to improve my form the next time.

ok I looked at some more pics, though it isn't working to well for me.

 I now see what you mean!  haha.  yes people jumping ahead, elbows sticking out, legs banging back,  a 170 degree open hip angle!  the first rider is quite lovely though, which is the only pic I commented on in my first post.

wow! I did not know I was among the elite riders of the world, who were born being to execute perfect releases, walk on their heels and stay absolutely picture perfect over a fence, even when the horse obviously gets in a sticky spot(as evidenced by the next 2 photos)..I am in awe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Id love to see photos of all those who chose to critque these poor people. I saw determined, smiling faces on the riders and that is AWESOME for the horse world.We need these people and can do without the snarky comments.

I am really dissapointed in some people on thie thread... this behavior ranks right up there with that weirdo who does fugly. I will keep striving towards the perfection that so many of you seem to have acheived. :(

I quite agree coyote creek, my above post was a clarification of what I had said earlier as I did not fully investigate.