Correct way of landing after a jump.

[PinkFairy]

Hi, I have been wondering this for a while - what is the correct way to land after a jump? I am comfortable in take off and over the jump, but as the horse starts to land, I'm a bit unsure I'm landing the right way. I usually pull myself back up a little as his front legs go down but in a photo my OH took of me landing on the gorgeous coloured, I look a total twit!

Any tips/advice?

 

[Kat]

Can you show us the photo?

It depends a lot on the size of the fence, the horse and what is happening after the fence.

For example are you jumping a double, do you need to take a check afterwards, are you in an arena or galloping cross country?

I ride lots of different horses as I don't have my own and it is surprising how much you sometimes need to alter your jumping position.

If you feel like you are having to pull yourself back up are you perhaps over folding over the fence? Throwing yourself up the horses neck and letting your lower leg swing back?

The best thing would be to have a few jumping lessons, a good instructor will be able to put you right, it could be something you are doing with your knees or elbows as much as how far up you are sitting!

 

[Hippona]

I prefer to stay on top of the horse as I land

.....

 

[DTMDAN]

[ QUOTE ]
I prefer to stay on top of the horse as I land

.....

[/ QUOTE ]

I find with me, staying on is entirley optional!

 

[Hippona]

You'll note the use of the word 'prefer'......

 

[PinkFairy]

The pic is not the best

I stayed on with no problems, but I feel that the way I'm landing is a bit pants

I'm leaning a bit to one side and I think I'm leaning my hands on his neck

We've jumped higher and have had better landings, but I still feel it's a bit wrong

I know, I have *no* style

 

[PinkFairy]

Just to add, this is the pic of us going over the jump, before we put the poles straight across, just to show the style of going over, I'll have a root in my PB to find more jumping pics.

 

[PinkFairy]

Found them!

 

[SharerSarah]

I don't think landing ever looks pretty!!

For the leaning, everyone is crooked so don't worry too much, try some work without stirrups, draw your knees up towards your chest so you can feel your seat bones, will help you to feel if you're sitting heavier on one side (I personally droop on my right side) then if you can try riding bareback, with no stirrups or saddle to rely on you'll have to have good balance!

For your hands, are you sure your stirrups are short enough? if they aren't on the way down it can affect your ability to hold your upper body up. If they aren't short enough may also be causing you to grip with your knees again causing your upper body and your lower leg to be less secure. Standing in your stirrups at canter is a good way to help secure your lower leg.

Hope that helps

 

[PinkFairy]

Thanks for the advice (do I detect a name change there?

) I'll try that. The thing is, the beautiful coloured has been sold on, and I ride a varied range of horses, so they're all different. I've ridden four so far, and aside from the coloured, they've all been quite 'hot' under saddle so I've not dared risk my neck jumping them, they do work very well on the flat but I've only just re started riding so jumping a fizzy horse isn't an option

The coloured had some issues in canter, he found it a bit of a problem so didn't get much canter from him, but as I say, he's sold on now. I'm viewing two potential loan horses on Sunday and both owners have said that jumping is a possibility when I've gotten to know them a bit more so I just wanted to find some advice on landing as it's one of my problem areas

 

[SharerSarah]

lol very astute! yep there has been a change of name!

Ahh thats a pain!

I'm sure it won't be long until your jumping one of the new ones!

Other thing you can do on flat is go right back to basics and practice your jumping position. An instructor of mine once said when you fold don't think about folding forward but as you fold from the hip think about pushing your bum back and your lower leg forward. it doesnt actually make your lower leg go forward as such but it can help it not to flick back.

Good luck with the loan horses!

 

[FigJam]

I'm no expert, but from the last photo you posted there, it looks like you're tipping forward a little too much, which will make you more unbalanced when you land. It looks like you're possibly gripping with your knee which is making your lower leg swing back and again won't help with making the landing phase feel secure.

Over small jumps, you really don't have to do a huge fold, just enough to go with the movement and allow with your hands so you don't catch them in the mouth. As mentioned above, think of it more as pushing your bum backwards than folding your shoulders forwards.

Hope that helps a little!

 

[PinkFairy]

Thanks for the advice

I will try to remember it all

I will update you all on Monday after viewing the horses, and let you all know how I got on

 

[Kat]

Ok I can't see your pics - just red crosses but someone said check your stirrups are short enough and I'd echo that. I was always taught to go up two holes for jumping but that isn't really enough. Next time put your stirrups to the length you normally jump and then take them up one more hole before you start, jump once then put them up one more, keep experiment until you feel secure but not soooo short you are unbalanced.

You need to concentrate on not over folding, and chucking yourself up the horses neck, a surprising number of people throw themselves forward as if they are in the puissence. You should allow forward with your hands by sliding them up the neck, your lower leg should stay still and you should be pushing your weight down through your heels rather than gripping with your knees. Make sure your elbows remain tucked in and don't let them poke out. If your legs swing back it is because your bum is coming forward. As an earlier poster said think about pushing your bum out rather than leaning forward. My old instructor used to say, imagine you are trying to have a wee without sitting on the toilet seat! Practise on the flat to get more confidence.

You should be aiming not to collapse forward onto the horse on landing but to remain light and not get left behind.

Riding lots of different horses is great for your position, confidence and general experience so don't knock it but allow yourself a bit of time to get used to them and have lots of lessons.

 

[PinkFairy]

Phew!

Thanks for all that, hopefully one of the horses I see on the weekend will be perfect for me and I'll be able to put all this advice to practice!

 

[PinkFairy]

Just to add, I always put my stirrups up 2-3 holes when I'm jumping because I ride short anyway. I think some of my problem is trusting the horse to take care of me as I've been a little nervous after two of them took to bolting and bucking in sheer excitement