Defensive position, may be a silly question

[Vikki89]

What is a defensive jumping position?

 

[FigJam]

Not a perfect position by any means (hands could prob be better), but below is certainly me being a little defensive at my first XC comp this year!

I was actually quite annoyed with my position in this picture, although was reassured that it wasn't all that bad and was a good defensive position to be in- better than half way up her neck I guess?!

I'd say the key ingredients are lower leg nice and secure and as close to the girth line as possible, certainly not behind it, and body not too forward, shoulders up.

 

[Weezy]

Reins slip, leg firmly on girth and underneath oneself and bottom slipped backwards rather than upwards

 

[kerilli]

it varies, but basically it is lower leg forward in front of you (a little as exemplified by WFP and most other top event riders, a lot as exemplified by Matt Ryan, Mary King etc) so that if the horse stops, hits the fence, or pecks on landing, you will stay in the plate. Upper body position varies, but the further back it is, the more defensive.

 

[kit279]

 

[Kenzo]

You'll see it a lot on the hunting field and those riders than tend to do more XC etc, more so than in showjumping anyway, its hard to describe but with showjumpers (typical example) hmmm how can I explain it....here goes you dive with the horse when coming over and landing, where as a defensive jump, you let you the horse do the work and you park your bum and let him take you over but without getting left behind, keeping in balance but not hindering the horses jump or his mouth, because unlike showjumping you ride XC fences differently and your horse will have various styles of going over them, so you'll see a defensive position more so in XC.

sorry....went on a bit there

 

[oofadoofa]

Something like this:

As opposed to this:

 

[Fourlegsgood]

Umm, maybe reins slipped a bit, lower leg stable and slightly forward, bum out to back rather than upwards, upper body not too far forward.... all things in fact that mean that you don't pop out of the front door if the horse refuses, pecks on landing or does something else unexpected.

This is not extreme but it has served me well in many a sticky moment.

 

[MontyandZoom]

I think I often jump in a defensive position.....but willing to be corrected!

and slightly extreme!:

http://www.ultimate-images.co.uk/cg...48-1420-1450;i=50;img=1028031-vasr-02793b.jpg

 

[bigboyrocky]

something a bit like that? thats possibly a bit more left behind, than defensive, but you get the idea... reins slipped, lower leg stable/forward/underneath you, but i would just say, keeping your upper body out of the way of the horse, and possibly staying behind the movement slightly, so that you arent going to be tipped forward if anything happens

 

[MontyandZoom]

Teehee! Ellie, your defensive position is justified over that hedge.....what's my excuse with my weeny hedge in the link I posted?!

 

[Stormy123456]

I often ride with a defensive position on my youngster too, it's not a bad thing, it's probably more instinct driven, to protect yourself.

I still need to get around to buying these, but:
http://www.shawshot.co.uk/events201...-1656/pages/NW8I0764-1653-20100328(0001).html

^ In my defence this hedge was about 6 foot! Actually If you go back to thumbnails on the page, nearly everyone there is riding defensively.

 

[bigboyrocky]

Teehee! Ellie, your defensive position is justified over that hedge.....what's my excuse with my weeny hedge in the link I posted?!

Haha, it wasnt even big that hedge! It was ony PN!!! In his defence it had a bit of a downhill landing, but i think he just wanted to give the photographer an impressive picture over an unimpressive hedge haha