A Newbie To Jumping - Tips?

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twiggly

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Hi everyone, hopefully this is in the right places, I've been browsing for a while so fingers crossed you guys can give me some advice. :)

I've ridden and volunteered for many moons (considering I am only 22 lol) at a riding school but have never done any jumping (the school only has access to hacking areas) but I've moved 'op north recently and thought it would be good to give someting new a go, so I've booked myself in for some jumping lessons. I'm totally new to this and don't want to look like a total noob in my lesson on sat with people who have some jumping experience so can anyone recommend some good websites about jumping (i.e. I don't even know what the different types of jump are called!) and/or offer some good beginner tips?

Cheers
:D
 
Kick on, sit up and look forward and a bit up - keep legs on the girth and don't fold too much over little jumps.

Get some strong glue...
 
You won't look like a numpty hun - riding schools are there to help you learn...
You've done exactly the right thing in booking a course of lessons.


In the meantime, perhaps get a book on showjumping for beginners, one for the pony club would be useful perhaps. Most tackshops have Allen photographic guide boods for a few quid - they're thin books/booklets, and there would be one on jumping, that would teach you about different types of fences.

But seriously don't worry. Perhaps try and see your new instructor for a moment before the lesson and tell them you're worried that you don't know enough, such as the name of types of fences, and she will make sure that she goes over that in the lesson without it seeming to be aimed at you...

All you will really need to know initially is -

Trotting poles - spaced out poles that you trot over, to regulate the stride, (and lead you into the fence sometimes). You will probably work over these before you do a jump.

Cross pole - probably the first type of fence you would do - two poles with one end on the jump cups, the other end on the floor. You would jump through the middle, lowest part of the fence.

Upright - A single pole's width - may have more than one pole above each other, or just be one pole (probably with another on the floor as a ground line for the horse)

Spread - More than one pole wide - can have various names - oxers, ascending etc but generally its a wider fence..

Have loads of fun on your lesson, and let us know how you go on...x
 
Thanks everyone, Honey08 that's really helpful, I'm definately getting a book to read on the journey to work!

I like to think of myself as quite confident (years of naughty riding school ponies deciding they like the look of the golf course and not the muddy track! haha) but the thought of me going zooming minus the horse over fences makes me nervous! lol :)
 
twiggly said:
Sorry for being dense but ? It that a piece of tack?
Click to expand...

yup, if your horse wears a martingale its the bit that goes around the neck, just in front of the saddle. If you dont hve a martingale, get a spare sstirrup leather and buckle it around the horses neck like a necklace. It just gives you something to hang onto if you lose you balance a bit so you dont grab the reins and jab the horse in the mouth. When jumping the pointers i often have my little fingers hooked under it...just in case!!!
 
how exciting, so you've never jumped before? you've been missing out hehe, im sure you'll love it. you'll probly start off really small so dont worry about the actual jump as long as you give your hands a bit so you dont pull on the horses mouth as you go over. Usually instructors will go through the jumping position with you- when i first started jumping i folded as if i was juming a 5ft fence lol. enjoy it :D
 
mcnaughty said:
Kick on, sit up and look forward and a bit up - keep legs on the girth and don't fold too much over little jumps.

Get some strong glue...
Click to expand...

It is not advisable to alwys kick on ... a mistake made by many as you are likely to get too deep into the fence and the horse will have to leap to get you both over it if its nice or it will stop !! I would say have pressure in your lower leg but dont kick unless you are on an extremely lazy horse that isnt interested in jumping :)
 
Well, my first tip is to always look up ahead of you; if you look at the floor, that's where you will end up!

second tip, is to not be afraid to fall off! Falling off makes teaches you to not make the same mistake that led to you falling off again ;)
I nearly fell off tonight - riding a 11h pony, over a tiny log (slightly bigger than a pole on floor) little pony leaped the log, cantered 3 strides and then suddenly stopped. Luckily my legs where down to pony's elbows so I have the advantage of leverage :p But I stayed on my the skin of my teeth (and the determination to not fall off a 11hander!)

another tip is to stay with the movement with the horse; but do not worry about getting left behind (behind movement of horse), just slip your reins :)


My last and final tip, is to enjoy it :D
 
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