What makes a good rider?

[snowflake]

Hi everyone So what do we all think makes a good rider (overall & in the show ring)?

So I'll start off....

(List the qualities of what you think makes a rider good & who, can be in Showing or any other discipline, does a GOOD example of this. Please no bad examples or will ask a Mod to delete as that's just mean!) No horrible comments be nice ;D

-Good Seat. I think Laura Betcholismer (sp?!) is a fantastic example- she is an amazing, amazing rider & c'mon you must have a pretty good seat to be able to ride tha long!

-Light hands. I think that Rebecca Harvey always looks like she rides with nice hands & all her ponies seem light & settled in the mouth.

-Showmanship! I was thinking of this one & who would be a good example & haven't quite thought yet - probably Robert Walker or Chris Patrick after watching their shows at HOYS!

-Posture. Georgina Reik sits beautifully on all her ponies & always makes the picture look elegant!

Could go on for a while, but I'll finish now! Post pics of the riders if you want, because we all love pictures ;D

[choppytrotty]

Laura Whittington rides beautifully, and makes the ponies go lovely, no matter how hard the pony is, she makes It look easy!!

[jessie]

good sportsmanship nothing worse than people throwing tantrums because they didnt win ...its always admirable when people can take losing well

[david]

i love poppy duncalf's leg positions i mean she is a great rider but her leg position is fantastic.

[dippykestral]

For me, a good rider must be able to mould to different ponies, and not have a "one size fits all" ethos. A person can look like a lovely neat little rider on a set up pony, but put said jockey on a more complicated horse, then it can be a totally different story. It's a balance of both I think.

I don't usually think of children being examples of good jockeys, because a lot haven't had the experience that a lot of older riders have had, such as Kate Bacon, Katie Jerram, Charlie Letham, Robert Oliver, Martin Skelton and Oliver Hood.

However, I do rate Jasean Spraggett, Catlin Galbrinth, Joseph Thurston and Emma-Jane Holder as good, younger generation riders.

[quintet]

Consideration for the horse they are riding and realising that they are not a machine

[snowflake]

Jun 22, 2012 18:41:11 GMT jessie said:

good sportsmanship nothing worse than people throwing tantrums because they didnt win ...its always admirable when people can take losing well

I agree!

I've got another two Jayne Webber & Danielle Heath. (Partly because Inlove the Humdinger & Oathill Take the Bisucit ;D)

[larkhaven]

A big smile when they win - not taking it for granted, and congratulating fellow competitors.

[tountmarastud]

larkhaven i totally agree! x