Equilibrium Symmetry Straps - for jumping?

Kenzo

Kenzo

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Never used these and wondered what your thoughts were on them, for those who have used them.

Also has anyone ever used them to help improve there jumping position?

I have a habit of letting my legs come back and not keeping my blooming backside in the saddle when jumping (going with the horse), instead I'm hovering around like a fairy over the pommel on take off and on the approach riding in too much of a forward seat
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, maybe its just something that I did when I was younger galloping around on ponies and bobbing over jumps...I duno
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, its just what I've always done I guess, I've got a good seat as in staying on even when a horse jumps awkwardly or buts in a big leap in so I'm good at staying putt lol and I've got bags of confidence so thats not an underlying issue but still my jumping position is and looks...well quite frankly totally pants!
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and I thought about using these to help improve my lower leg (when just bobbing over little ones) but wondered if it would be safe to do so?, if it was a silly idea and well if anyone else has, because I believe there just meant for schooling but may benefit me in my case.

I've not what you'd call a jumper (as in jumps all the time) so never really acquired a good natural 'jumping seat', I had a jumping lesson last weekend but the trainer didn't comment on it, he was more focused on the horse and just geting him more forward has he's really hard work, so I thought it was ok but it's bloody terrible and I'm not ashamed to say it neither.

Advice/input much appreciated.
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I have some and they are ok I suppose but they come apart a little too easy (I know they are supposed to saftey issue)
Didn't really jump in them sorry!
 

Are these the things that sort of tie your boots to the stirrups?

I would have thought they'd be a bit rubbish due to the momentum in jumping & the fact that you have to pus your legs forward a bit so they would come undone.

Never used them - can't see it would be a safety issue but I think you are probably better off getting someone to stand by the jump and yell 'legs' at you or getting some lessons in.

I am not a fan of fixing legs to stirrups.
 
Sorry I was saying that they come away a little to easy because they have a in-built safety feature that releases the restriction on the stirrup iron when pressure is exerted.
So hypothetically your momentum in jumping would cause them to come undone.
 
Do some gridwork without reins and stirrups instead - that is the best possible thing to sort out giving you an independent seat and a decent position over a fence. Needs to be on an honest horse, but aside from that even over tiny jumps it works. Start with no reins, then do no stirrups, then when you are comfortable, do both! Eventually over 3 or 4 fences you should be able to do different things over each one with your hands (1 stride between each fence is best BTW) - hands on head, hands in jump position, arms out to the side, arms behind your back etc.
 
Hi, yes I jump in them and they are a godsend for me.

I have a problem in that my horse has a huge pop and my leg can go to far back and being the sensitive chap he is, he then panicks and can rush after the fence. By having these on it keeps my leg in the place he is comfortable with (think eventers leg position) and helps me keep my balance to go with him. I have jumped affiliated with him no problem with these.
They come off when needed which is correct but I only actually use them for jumping.
 
Arr right that is interesting thank you, well if there cheap it won't harm to give them ago I guess.

Thing is the lad I'm jumping is green and he's known to take a bigger leap than he needs to (which is fine, its nothing horrid) and because there only little jumps I think I'm over jumping myself (if that makes sense) and the saddle is a TG synthetic which is straight cut (no excuse never the less) I guess I can't get my knee in neither or ride as short as you should do when jumping but its still me fannying around. Also I'm wanting him take off closer to the fence (trainer says let him find his own strides..he's got to learn) but because he takes off a little too soon (not all the time) I guess I'm expecting it so I'm hovering in jumping too soon instead of sitting up and letting the horse do the work, but you have to drive him in as he can weave a little so I'm perhaps it little too enthusiastic but at the same time I'm ready for him if he starts weaving and trys a cheeky run out.

Yes I agree with spotted cat too, as that is what I'd say too but because he's still a bit of green (although I' sure he'd be fine at home in the school) but perhaps if I have some lessons on a good jumping schoolmaster to learn the feel again that would certainly help.

Thanks you guys.
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Wild stab in the dark here but think that you might need to change saddles - I have a forward cut Devercoux - this allowed me to shorten my stirrups so I can really get up and out of the saddle over a big fence, particularly wide oxers. On the way down I have also got really good support for my knees. This having been said - a lot of riding without stirrups will improve matters enormously - if you went to the Pessoa's with this issue they would make you ride 10 horses a day without stirrups until your balence became perfect - so lots of hard work ahead plus a change of tack may well help you.
 
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Wild stab in the dark here but think that you might need to change saddles - I have a forward cut Devercoux - this allowed me to shorten my stirrups so I can really get up and out of the saddle over a big fence, particularly wide oxers. On the way down I have also got really good support for my knees. This having been said - a lot of riding without stirrups will improve matters enormously - if you went to the Pessoa's with this issue they would make you ride 10 horses a day without stirrups until your balence became perfect - so lots of hard work ahead plus a change of tack may well help you.

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hmmm yes I can see what you mean and agree I think I need to do work on my position, lots of riding and jumping without stirrups.

Look, this is what I'm doing, as you can see I need help, I would like to use the excuse that its the saddle but to be honest I think I'd be still doing it in any saddle
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This was in the practice class before the 75cm (i know small but we have an issue with his legs so he needs to get all that right before we go any bigger).
 
Seeing the pic, I have to agree, I also think you'd be doing it in any saddle!

It looks to me like you are pinning with your knees, which causes you to pivot around the knee and lose the lower leg.

You need to think about being open through the thigh and knee, with only the lower leg having a strong contact with the sides of the horse - try consciously thinking about taking the inner front of your thigh and knee off the saddle as you ride round (so you are almost rotating the leg to get the back of the thigh on the saddle), then try and keep them either slightly away from, or only lightly touching the saddle as you approach the fence. That may help?
 
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Seeing the pic, I have to agree, I also think you'd be doing it in any saddle!

It looks to me like you are pinning with your knees, which causes you to pivot around the knee and lose the lower leg.

You need to think about being open through the thigh and knee, with only the lower leg having a strong contact with the sides of the horse - try consciously thinking about taking the inner front of your thigh and knee off the saddle as you ride round (so you are almost rotating the leg to get the back of the thigh on the saddle), then try and keep them either slightly away from, or only lightly touching the saddle as you approach the fence. That may help?

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Right yes, I think you have hit the nail right on the head there, when I think about it it does sound actually what I'm doing...but without meaning to if you see what I mean.
I shall put all everyone's suggestions into practice, its not like I can make it any worse
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LOL, same issue I and a hell of a lot of others have had - I'm not sure anyone does it on purpose so don't fret about it!

Logically, if you are pinning your knee, then the weight is going down through your knee, causing your lower leg to be unstable - my suggestion should help/force you to keep the weight through the lower leg and heel, thus meaning it is more stable underneath you - in theory anyway!
 
So basically my instructor needs to be yelling....
''OPEN YOUR LEGS''!!! hmmm
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perhaps he'll word it differently to that, otherwise I'll be in stitches all the way round.
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