No matter what sport, video
analysis of the athlete is one of the most important tools for the
biomechanist or coach to assess the athlete's posture, technique
and movement patterns.
There is not a sport in the world where video and film is not used for
scrutiny of every aspect of the athlete's performance, however horse
riding videos and DVD's are only just starting to be used as often.
These days, with DVD's & computers, you can
enhance the image, play again and again, and analyse it yourself, or
send it to experts for analysis.
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What do you film?
► Firstly be filmed from side-on,
making sure that both your helmet and the horse's feet are in the same
shot.
► Then, ride straight towards the
camera, again making sure that the helmet and horse's feet can be seen
by the video at the same time.
► It is also highly recommended to
ride directly away from the camera as well.
► Then, lastly, be filmed both on the
inside and the outside of a circle. Again, making sure
you're not too far away to be valuable, that your helmet and your
horse's feet "frame the shot".
Be careful!
Be very careful what you are filming.
Firstly you have the issues of copyright, then issues of permission for both
juniors and seniors. Then, as a riding coach you need to be very
careful about your positive praise and help for your pupil. And, if
you are burning copies of the DVD, make sure you have permission for
circulation.
Seeing yourself on video for the first time can
be very upsetting for some riders.
What to look for
Straightness - the horse
A lot of information can be gathered on a
straight line, and all centre lines, long sides, jumping lines and
reining sliding stops are done on straight lines.
On your video or DVD of your horse
riding...have a look at:
► The horse's ears. One ear
higher is called head tilt. One ear more forward is simply
crooked
► The horse's nostrils - are they directly
above both knees, not looking right over the right knee, or left
over the left knee?
► The horse's back feet. You shouldn't
be able to see them in the camera. They should be "invisible" as
they're "hidden" by the front legs
► The "cream on the cake". Does the
tail hang central between the back legs (perhaps softly swinging in
equal distances left & right). Certainly, some horses hold their
tail off to one side. But the tail really is the "cream on
the cake", and should be directly behind the horse's nose.
Straightness - the rider
► Your ears are the same as the horse's!
One ear higher - we call head tilt. One ear more forward creates a
very crooked horse.
► Is one shoulder higher? Is one more
forward?
► Your nostrils are the same as the horse's!
If you had a dribbly nose, the nose dribble should be absolutely central
above your belly button. Looking or tilting right or left
creates a crooked horse
► Your legs are vital to the straightness of
the back of the horse. Which stirrup is closer to the
ground? Which foot is more turned out? Which heel is higher?
► The "cream on the cake" for the
rider...are both of thumbs and forearms absolutely straight?
This keeps the front of the horse straight.
Side on
► Is the horse's head carriage in front of
or behind the vertical?
► Is the poll the highest point, or the 3rd
vertabrae of the neck
► Is the rider leaning forward or back?
► Is the horse tracking up for working
paces, under-tracking for collection or over-tracking for extension,
depending on what you're asking?
Send your DVD or video to
us...
There is a lot of information that you can
analyse yourself. However, for the same cost as a local lesson,
you can send us your video and have it analysed personally by Colleen
Kelly.
Instead of just one single hour lesson, we will give
you a full seat, posture and balance assessment, program of months of
exercises, tips and tricks to improve your own personal balance and
posture issues.
You will be able to re-wind the video, or
re-play your DVD, and watch it again
and again, and with the extensive written analysis by your side, you
will be able to see and compare it to what the experts see.
The video or DVD lesson gives you months of work to continue to practice and it
gives you the very best value for money for your education.
Video Lessons More Info >
