CC Please :)

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SillySausage

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[Also in CR] Hello everybody! To cut a long story short, I had an accident when jumping 3 years ago, compressed my spine, totally lost my confidence, etc etc. This was on Lady, my loan mare at the time (now have my new horse at the home of Lady's owners, with Lady).

I have been jumping my current horse for the past few months or so now, I'm still jumping VERY little as I really do struggle with my nerves.

Some friends have been helping me recently, and my biggest problems were going 'up' rather than folding, and not giving with my hands. Therefore, I am not even going to try and jump any bigger until I feel I'm not going to negatively influence my horse in any way with my position.

My little idea was to pop a plait in my horses mane, and try to 'touch' it with my hands to make sure I 'give' with them.

These are some photos from a few days ago, the first time I have jumped Lady since the accident itself - and she has no mane so I was having to try and do it instinctivley (sp)!

I would love for some (gentle!) CC please, I know I am no Mary King and you can barely call them jumps, but I really want to improve and I'd hate to think I'm having a negative effect on my horses!

I will start having lessons again in a few weeks when I return to uni :) - and will then also have more jumps/space available to me so any exercise ideas would be much appreciated!

Thanks :)

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I am also a terrible jumper, but just wanted to say good job on getting the confidence back, as someone who also lost her nerve I know it is not an easy thing to do, so good on you:)

I think the plait sounds a good idea too.
 
Not an expert by any means, but the 2nd pic is better. I think it's because in the 1st you have just moved your hands rather than your bodyweight.

In the 2nd pic you've gone more with the movement of the horse and are better balanced - your whole body has moved forwards rather than just your hands, but you haven't put yourself ahead of the horse. I would be wary of folding anymore than you have done here until the jumps get bigger.

I think you're looking good, and a few lessons when you get back to uni will have you back jumping with confidence in no time.

I'm a fine one to talk - haven't jumped for a good few years......!
 
Bedlam said:
Not an expert by any means, but the 2nd pic is better. I think it's because in the 1st you have just moved your hands rather than your bodyweight.

In the 2nd pic you've gone more with the movement of the horse and are better balanced - your whole body has moved forwards rather than just your hands, but you haven't put yourself ahead of the horse. I would be wary of folding anymore than you have done here until the jumps get bigger.

I think you're looking good, and a few lessons when you get back to uni will have you back jumping with confidence in no time.

I'm a fine one to talk - haven't jumped for a good few years......!
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The second was taken a few jumps after the first, so I think I had relaxed a bit more by then as I knew she wasn't in a 'dirty stop' mood!

Thanks very much for the encouragement, am actually looking forward to getting lessons!
 
It looks to me like your stirrups are a bit too long which doesn't help you get off your horse's back. As for you and your position you seem to be going with the horses movement quite nicely and not snatching at his mouth at all :)

One little thing I found helpful was trying to stand in the stirrups at walk trot and canter and maintaining the position. It really helps strengthen you core and thigh muscles. I found to start with I could only manage a couple of strides but eventually I got better ;) It really helps with holding your position over the jump.
 
Bedlam said:
Not an expert by any means, but the 2nd pic is better. I think it's because in the 1st you have just moved your hands rather than your bodyweight.
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^^^ agreed. Also cos you are looking up! definitely helps IMO to look up and forward at your next jump.

Massive congrats on getting the confidence up, it's so hard to do so :)
 
You have quite a nice position, although your stirrups could perhaps go up a hole or two. You are actually doing most of it right from what I can see, although as someone else said, the second picture looks much better as you are moving with the horse rather than just pushing your hands forward as it looks in the first.

But you look good, better than my technique anyway!
 
Pics are good, you are giving with your hands, which is the main thing. As long as you do that with smaller jumps, you can't really go too wrong.
If I was to tell you one thing it would be you need to slide your bottom back as you fold. Just imagine sliding your bottomup the cantle. Do it whilst in walk to practice, and at the same time, give with your hands.

Great idea about the plait, by the way, will have to remember that one!!
 
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