Adivce for 6 year old on jumping

[rafty]

As title really, my daughter loves riding but hates jumping. She is only 6 and unfortunately at her club they have to jump every other week. I do not force her to ride and tell her that she can stop whenever she decides she doesn't want to ride anymore. I encourage her all the time, telling her how well she is doing at getting back her confidence. As you can see from the video her jumping position is really bad as in she flies back and then forwards rather than go with the motion of the pony. What advice or tips would be good for a child to help her move more freely with the pony? I try and tell her to breath out at each jump as this works for me. Annoyingly the instructor doesn;t really seem to take much notice of this!

Thanks and please be nice she is only little.

http://s895.photobucket.com/albums/ac160/quartz85/jump/

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I would not be allowing any-one to force a 6 yr old to jump. Just tell her club that she will leave the sessions before the jumping starts. If she wants to practise at other times, I'd go back to trotting poles until her confidence and position are more secure. Riding is supposed to be enjoyable and IMO if the club force her to jump she could be put off riding completely.

 

[YummyHorses]

Agree with pearlsasinger, would not allow anyone to dictate what happens, either move clubs or ask for some kind of increased tuition for your daughter with the jumping.

No expert - but I jump and so does my daughter. With her I started off with the jump position at halt, then walk, then progressed to jump position over a pole. We then trotted and spent months practising trot and jump position over a pole. Have allowed her to hold onto the front of the saddle and have also put a martingale on the pony so she has something else to hold onto.

Not sure I can explain the next bit but I almost encouraged her to stand up as we went over a pole raised on one side only. Again at walk and then trot. I then raised the pole on both sides (so only height of one pole riser) and continued doing this. I then placed her on a lunge line and we went back to walk, with pole down on one side and built it back up again until she was on her own and jumping at trot.

This has taken months - she has fallen off loads of times - been lots of tears but she is now cantering around on her own jumping a course. She is older - just turned 10 but hasn't been riding for too long despite having her own pony (long story!).

Her jump position is reasonable. I think strength in the leg counts for a lot. I do feel for you. I read a book called 'Teaching children to ride' which I found really helpful.

Best of luck - so tough with kids.