Horseback Heaven

Recently I found out I was taking lessons with this girl that I was sharing the same horse with for a show four months ago. While I was doing 2ft classes, she was doing the beginner w/t and w/t/c classes and she didn’t even get high placings. Since then I had gotten a horse (three weeks ago) and I have been riding. Well now she is taking lessons with me and this other girl! Also, I have jumped 2′3″ and I am working with a green jumping horse on x rails probably the whole winter unless we move up when he gets comfortable. I was supposed to be showing 2′3″ this September if I didn’t stop taking private lessons. It seems every where I look riders who were lower than me or on the same level are jumping 2′6″ and getting better with each passing day. Some are leasing horses and half leasing and I am sitting here wondering ‘how?”. Any tips on really improving my riding? I can’t two point or drop my stirrups on my horse because he freaks out on the xtra pressure and the hitting stirrups (con)
Also, I want to get more familiar with the horse before I start lounging lessons with him and my mom. (We were going to start today because the indoor arena flooded and there was a circle left, but we didn’t have the lounge line or whip and my mom said no riding so we went home after leading him around.)
I recently have been taught how to post right by my mom (one advantage over these other people because they all post up and down and their legs move. I am riding hunters.) Any other tips on really improving my riding at home and on my horse? I am really serious about this because every video I see of me riding after three days of the taping, I want to cry. (not literally).
Yeah I know, 2ft isn’t a big deal, but the highest I am going is 2′6″ so yeah. I know I am not the best, but I really want to be good and do well. I am not trying to brag or anything because I know I have nothing to brag about.
Wow, it looks like I confused some people here!
Okay, the reason I am not riding with out stirrups: I LOVE to ride with out my stirrups because I am crazy. My horse used to be spurred to go back behind the girth and so if a stirrup hits him there, he will gallop. He used to be a barrels horse and speed events. I can do it and I want to do it, but I need to get used to my horse first and train him to see that it is okay.
Two pointing: I have been two pointing my whole life basically. I am training him to except the pressure behind there and the shortening of the reins. We got it at the halt, walk, and we are starting it at the trot. I can’t do it prolonged though because I need to release and sit to reward him.
Jumping thing: I am not going to jump any higher than 2′6″ or 2′9″ probably in my life. So it is not technically fence height, it is equtation.

*****I have a trainer and take lessons 1 a week and ride 3 times a week.*******
Oh and I am training him over the winter. I just said that I will be doing cross rails all winter with him probably to build up his confidence. I just got him three weeks ago and his training WILL continue under the guidance of a trainer all winter and then in the summer/spring of 2008 we are going to show.

Training a Puppy