Giving with hands jumping

[[59668]]

In every single pic of me jumping my ned I don't seem to be giving with my hands enough. It always looks like my shoulders are stiff and I am pulling on his mouth a little.

Does anyone have any tips to help me? I don't want to make jumping uncomfortable for him. I feel awful

 

[vicky_sut]

If you go back to something basic like putting a pole on the ground about 3 ( human) strides before a cross pole then trot to the jump and as you trot over the pole make sure you make an effort to soften and relax your shoulders and arms.
Best thing is to get lessons with a decent instructor.

 

[BorgRae]

I'm certainly no expert!! and am only learning myself at the mo, but my instructor always tells me to put my hands on his mane, half way up his neck, a couple of strides before the jump, then my hands will go with his neck as he goes over.

It's really helped me as I used to give my hands too much! Now I grab his mane and then just go with him

 

[Splish & Masons mum]

NECK STRAP!
Really a godsend - make sure you hold on with both hands a couple of strides out from a jump (I hold on with 1 hand most of the time when jumping!) and if you get a little left behind it will brace against his neck before you brace against his mouth.
Or like someone else said, grab a handful of mane (Unless you have a show cob!)

 

[[59668]]

Thank you everyone

Unfortunately he is a show cob!! What are the odds!

Here are some pics from XC at the weekend. While I am really pleased with how we did, as I was really nervous and he is a baby, I really feel awful about my hands.

What do you think? Am I over reacting?

 

[BorgRae]

He's beautiful!!!

I would still say to put your hand up his neck a little, not too far though. Note a spot on his neck, and stick to it every time you jump. Although you don't have any mane to grab, it will give you the feel of how his neck moves when he goes forward. Ask an instructor to give you a hand next time you jump

That's what i'd do!!

... he is lovely though!!!

 

[[59668]]

Thank you that is very helpful. I will defo get an instructor in to help. I think as I get more confident I will get better, but having a point to focus on will be a good thing to try too.

 

[Elbie]

All I can suggest is moving your hands up the neck, they don't need to move too far though!

When I used to work at a riding school they always used to suggest exaggerated movements. So if someone leant too far forwards when riding we would say lean really far back, and then they would actually be sitting in the right place.

If you maybe think to make a conscious effort to really move your hands forward then that may help. I always used to sit up too quickly after a jump and catch the horse in the mouth. I had to think after every jump to move my hands down. Felt weird and really exaggerated but in reality the position was correct and it just felt exaggerated because I was moving more than i was used to.

 

[K27]

My old SJ trainers used to tell me to fold my position down, and when jumping take my hands a bit wider and lower, give with the elbows and then you will find that your hands will automatically give a lot more when popping a fence!

good luck!

 

[jenki13]

It looks like you need to give with your hands slightly, you just look a little tense through your shoulder & arms. Its not much though & as the others have said just think about pushing your hands up his neck a bit. He looks a lovely horse!

 

[[59668]]

THank you everyone - I am very hard on myself!

Mick is a wonderful horse. He has just come through cancer, and this was our first proper outing since he has been home! It was fab to be enjoying ourselves!

I will try to really concentrate on overexaggerting moving my hands.

Jenki13 that's exactly what I thought - I look tense through my shoulders.

 

[jenki13]

If it was your first outing for a while then you were probably a bit nervous that he was going to get excited and do something silly. Don't be too hard on yourself & next time just think that he's a wonderful, kind horse & relax

 

[little_critter]

I was going to say tie a ribbon in his mane at the coorect spot and aim to touch that ribbon with your hands as you go over the jump.
I ribbon may be tricky with his mane but could you maybe stick a little bit of coloured tape to his mane as a reference point?

 

[posie_honey]

you do need to give a bit more but i think you look tense/nervou - so i'm sure as you do more and relax you'll prob not cling onto him as much

one thing i would say is if you think of putting hands a bit further forward be sure not to throw you're whole body further forwards - think bum back hands forward - like you are doing a squat and feet (aka center of balance) are still in middle if that makes sense?