Eee! I jumped! I actually JUMPED! *pics and vids*

MrsMozart said:
Blinking brilliant! Well done lass :D

Ditto all the other comments re. stirrups (usually up two or three from normal riding length). You'll find that as you start to twist your head looking for the next jump (as you progress and they're not all in a straight line), the plaits will drive you nuts lol.

Have a hot choccy :D
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Thanks!
Gah, thats what I don't like about RS's, I don't have any control over the stirrup leathers!!

Ooh thankyou :D *slurp*
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Weezy said:
Hair - mine is down past my bra strap, I wind it into a bun at the nape of my neck :)
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I'll try that - what clips/bands do you use to keep it in?

Rowreach said:
lol at the plaits :D You looked like you were really enjoying it, and that is the main thing (as I very boringly keep reminding people :o) :)
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I had so much fun, can't WAIT for my lesson on Wednesday:D

Exactly, I wouldn't ride if I didn't enjoy it!
 
thelwell_girl said:
Thanks!
Gah, thats what I don't like about RS's, I don't have any control over the stirrup leathers!!
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You do have control of your stirrup leathers! Can you change them yourself whilst mounted? If not, practise it in 5min of your private lesson and then you can change away whilst waiting for your turn to jump, and find the length that suits you best. Don't accept the length of stirrup for a whole hour's lesson if you're not happy with it - pipe up and get someone to help you, or change them yourself in 'down time' whilst someone else is jumping or something - after all, you are paying to use their facilities, changeable stirrups are a part of these facilities... :) When I used to teach my beginners I would stop them and ask them to up the stirrups a hole or two, so it became common practice for them to ride longer and shorten for jumping. (NB Taught kids unqualified under an AI at non BHS RS, so not proclaiming to be anything special, before anyone questions me lol!)

Well done with your jumping, you seem to be acheiving good results through your constant challenging of yourself, so well deserved praise :D and agree with Weezy, cantering into them, or even just a more active trot will lead to more comfortable jumps.
 
Rowreach said:
Loads of people ride who don't enjoy it and I've never quite understood why!:confused:

I am very glad you do though :)
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Thats madness! Why would you spend the money on something you dislike?!

AprilBlossom said:
You do have control of your stirrup leathers! Can you change them yourself whilst mounted? If not, practise it in 5min of your private lesson and then you can change away whilst waiting for your turn to jump, and find the length that suits you best. Don't accept the length of stirrup for a whole hour's lesson if you're not happy with it - pipe up and get someone to help you, or change them yourself in 'down time' whilst someone else is jumping or something - after all, you are paying to use their facilities, changeable stirrups are a part of these facilities... :) When I used to teach my beginners I would stop them and ask them to up the stirrups a hole or two, so it became common practice for them to ride longer and shorten for jumping. (NB Taught kids unqualified under an AI at non BHS RS, so not proclaiming to be anything special, before anyone questions me lol!)

Well done with your jumping, you seem to be acheiving good results through your constant challenging of yourself, so well deserved praise :D and agree with Weezy, cantering into them, or even just a more active trot will lead to more comfortable jumps.
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I meant to say, they arent always a matching pair, so it just means more work for me trying to figure out a good length on that particular horse, and I am lazy after all...:p

Should've clarified that, sorry! I can change them whilst mounted, and last week for the first time did my girth up whilst mounted too (and was embarrassingly please about that :o :D)

When my instructor told me to canter into the jumps I was not too happy! I did feel ok about it though, just have to sort out my timing a bit, and fold at the right time :o
 
Thewell_Girl I have just recognised where you are i used to work at LEC about 7 years ago! Saw your pics of jumping Albert and thought' aww he looks just like LEC Albert' then i saw the video! Albert was one of my faves bless him he looks like hes speeded up a bit. He used to love getting kisses.

So nice to see him still going! :) lucky you for riding there its a fab place, i loved it!
 
Thelwell girl RE the stirrpus:

I would try and buy a pair of matches stirrups and irons that you can take with you on your lessons and can adjust to fit you! You have no idea how the right length stirrups help, especially when you are learning!

Ive started jumping my horse again recently, took a video and thought my stirrups looked a little long so i put them up a hole. It was so much easier to get a nice position and balance!

Again..good luck on wednesday
 
likkibunni said:
Thewell_Girl I have just recognised where you are i used to work at LEC about 7 years ago! Saw your pics of jumping Albert and thought' aww he looks just like LEC Albert' then i saw the video! Albert was one of my faves bless him he looks like hes speeded up a bit. He used to love getting kisses.

So nice to see him still going! :) lucky you for riding there its a fab place, i loved it!
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Hi :)

I LOVE the LEC, they are the best riding school/yard I have ever been to! (not for hacking though...:rolleyes::D)

Albert is such a sweetie, but SO food orientated! And his funny canter... But hes lovely, a really genuine horse who does try once you've got him going!

Do you remember Bonnie/Gwen/Dawi?

x
 
BobbyMondeo said:
Thelwell girl RE the stirrpus:

I would try and buy a pair of matches stirrups and irons that you can take with you on your lessons and can adjust to fit you! You have no idea how the right length stirrups help, especially when you are learning!

Ive started jumping my horse again recently, took a video and thought my stirrups looked a little long so i put them up a hole. It was so much easier to get a nice position and balance!

Again..good luck on wednesday
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Wouldnt I then have to change everything over? (I also have no idea how to change stirrup leathers! I know the stirrup bar is in there somewhere...)

Hehe, I have to shorten my stirrups more for jumping, lengthen for flatwork, lose them altogether to improve position... So much to remember!
 
WELL DONE tg you look like you had a fab time :D
Loving the flying plaits, perhaps you could fold them up like horse plaits then you will look like Princess Leia from Star Wars, you could fold and band the plaits a bit like a tail plait.
Albert looks a sweetie :)
 
Its usually very easy to change stirrups leathers over. You could get you instructor to show you. It would take no longer than changing the length of stirups
 
daydreambeliever said:
WELL DONE tg you look like you had a fab time :D
Loving the flying plaits, perhaps you could fold them up like horse plaits then you will look like Princess Leia from Star Wars, you could fold and band the plaits a bit like a tail plait.
Albert looks a sweetie :)
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I did! :D

Actually, thats a really good idea! Then I can take them out when I'm just on the yard, and quickly put them up for riding. Thanks!

He is such a sweetie, so forgiving! I mustve been a horrid passenger today, but I gave him tons of polos as a reward for working so hard :)
 
BobbyMondeo said:
Its usually very easy to change stirrups leathers over. You could get you instructor to show you. It would take no longer than changing the length of stirups
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Really?

Hmm, I'll ask my instructor to show me on Wednesday!

If its not that hard, then it might be good to invest in some nice leathers and safety stirrups.
 
Fab! Glad you enjoyed it, I know how hard it can be jumping even the TINIEST cross pole, to now doing 2"6 -3ft jumps :)

Ditto the stirrups going up a bit, what I found really helpful was putting them quite short (I looked stupid compared to everyone else, so don't worry about looking ridiculous) but in the end my lower leg and heel stayed more fixed than anyone elses as I got used to "stretching my ankles" so to speak. Slightly awkward/painful at first but now I'm used to it, I feel so much more balanced! Although at home I tend not to go as short so I shall be going back to jockey length as I can feel my heels coming up.

Keep up the amazing work and the posts coming, as it cheers me up when someone else also gets going jumping! :)
 
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thelwell_girl said:
Should've clarified that, sorry! I can change them whilst mounted, and last week for the first time did my girth up whilst mounted too (and was embarrassingly please about that :o :D)

When my instructor told me to canter into the jumps I was not too happy! I did feel ok about it though, just have to sort out my timing a bit, and fold at the right time :o
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Goof effort with the doing up of girth whilst mounted - I'd say about 50% of my horsey friends CAN'T do it and have no intentions of learning as I usually cave in to their whinging and help them!!

You'll get there with the jumping...the more relaxed you are, the easier it'll be to go with the movement, and then once you're comfortable with that you'll be flying - literally - we'll have some photos of you hooning over a 2'9-3ft in no time!! Fair play to you for being proud of your achievements and sharing it on here, looking forward to the next installment!
 
Pony_Puzz said:
Fab! Glad you enjoyed it, I know how hard it can be jumping even the TINIEST cross pole, to now doing 2"6 -3ft jumps :)

Ditto the stirrups going up a bit, what I found really helpful was putting them quite short (I looked stupid compared to everyone else, so don't worry about looking ridiculous) but in the end my lower leg and heel stayed more fixed than anyone elses as I got used to "stretching my ankles" so to speak. Slightly awkward/painful at first but now I'm used to it, I feel so much more balanced! Although at home I tend not to go as short so I shall be going back to jockey length as I can feel my heels coming up.

Keep up the amazing work and the posts coming, as it cheers me up when someone else also gets going jumping! :)
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:eek: 3FT!!! :eek: I'll get there one day :D

I'll play around with my stirrups in my next lesson, and try out jockey length :)

Thanks! :o I will definitely keep these posts coming :D xx


AprilBlossom said:
Goof effort with the doing up of girth whilst mounted - I'd say about 50% of my horsey friends CAN'T do it and have no intentions of learning as I usually cave in to their whinging and help them!!

You'll get there with the jumping...the more relaxed you are, the easier it'll be to go with the movement, and then once you're comfortable with that you'll be flying - literally - we'll have some photos of you hooning over a 2'9-3ft in no time!! Fair play to you for being proud of your achievements and sharing it on here, looking forward to the next installment!
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I was terrified doing my girth up whilst mounted the first time, but its so easy! Just pop your leg forward, have a fish around under the saddle flap and you're done!

3ft!! We shall see...;) I'm just glad I actually stayed on after that 2ft straight bar :o

I am so excited, can't wait for my next jump lesson now! :D xx
 
It'll all come together, don't worry :D For years I wouldn't jump more than about 2ft, even though I had the most amazing jumping pony - a proper 'point and shoot' 13.2 who would jump the moon for me - but one day the jump got put up and... I just jumped it! Just don't let anyone rush you :)
 
Sol said:
It'll all come together, don't worry :D For years I wouldn't jump more than about 2ft, even though I had the most amazing jumping pony - a proper 'point and shoot' 13.2 who would jump the moon for me - but one day the jump got put up and... I just jumped it! Just don't let anyone rush you :)
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I definitely won't! I really do love my instructor, she only pushes me when I need it and I can't thank her enough :)
 
With regards to your stirrups, it took me years (and a brand new instructor) to persuade me that shorter stirrups actually make you more secure. If they feel short, you almost force your heels down, keeping you much more secure.

Cant explain properly, but just try it, you'll see what I mean!! xxx
 
flamehead said:
With regards to your stirrups, it took me years (and a brand new instructor) to persuade me that shorter stirrups actually make you more secure. If they feel short, you almost force your heels down, keeping you much more secure.

Cant explain properly, but just try it, you'll see what I mean!! xxx
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I'll try it out in my lesson :D x
 
thelwell_girl said:
Hi :)

I LOVE the LEC, they are the best riding school/yard I have ever been to! (not for hacking though...:rolleyes::D)

Albert is such a sweetie, but SO food orientated! And his funny canter... But hes lovely, a really genuine horse who does try once you've got him going!

Do you remember Bonnie/Gwen/Dawi?

x
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Yes I remember all three! Bonnie and Gwen are lovely. I remember Gwen in all the jumping lessons!I rode Dawi alot, the first time i jumped three foot was with him (major achievement for me!) That horse taught me a hell of lot he is fab! :)

Glad you love it there! best time of my life living and working at LEC :)
 
likkibunni said:
Yes I remember all three! Bonnie and Gwen are lovely. I remember Gwen in all the jumping lessons! I rode Dawi alot, the first time i jumped three foot was with him (major achievement for me!) That horse taught me a hell of lot he is fab! :)

Glad you love it there! best time of my life living and working at LEC :)
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Dawi jumped 3ft?! Good on you! I must say that I hate riding him without a schooling whip :p He is lovely once he gets going though!

Bonnie... I LOVE her! However, I do not love her lunging and kicking :rolleyes: She is a really lovely pony though, taught me to canter, got me jumping a bit more!

Gwen... I'm sorry to tell you that she died in December of Pneumonia at the grand old age of 18! :(
I loved Gwen so so much, she taught me everything I know, and I did 3 Pony Weeks last summer all on her! Here's my thread about her, with a video I made and this is a picture I commisioned of her :o
 
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