How can I fix my jumping position?

Lady La La

Lady La La

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Hi :)

I had my first jumping 'session' in a very long time yesterday and I am the most rustiest of rusty jumpers! It was on a my new girl who I'd not jumped before and I found myself doing some very strange things?!

I seem to have developed a habit of standing up in my stirups coming over the fence, rather then folding forwards, and I don't seem to be giving with my hands at all... but I couldnt for the life of me force myself to fold and give, no matter how hard I tried! I got so fed up with myself in the end that I gave up. (have sorted a few jumping lessons out with an instructor, now) but I feel really rubbish. Why can't I do it?

A pic to show you: I know what I'm doing is awful so please don't have a go at me. But any suggestions or tips would be greatfully recieved?!

kit.jpg
 
maybe practice the position in trot and canter so strengthen yourself up? if its been a long time you may have just lost the strength if that makse sense!?
 
It does, yeah. It was so frustrating, as I knew what I needed to be doing and as I approached the jump i was telling myself to fold and give... and then did that ^^^
I felt like crying afterwards! :(

Think I've managed to put a video up on you tube, which may be clearer to see what it is I'm doing!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTmS6bjRVJU ETA: you'll have to ignore OH waving his legs around at the start :o
 
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Imagine that you are going under low hanging trees that will knock you out if you stand up in your stirrups! Years of hunting has made my position problems the exact opposite to yours, I dont come out enough and get boffed in the face occassionally, maybe we can find a happy medium :D
 
like posie_honey suggested, I would practise your position in trot and canter, then over trot poles. You need to 'remind' your muscles what they ought to be doing. Just fold while trotting and practise taking your jumping position for a couple of strides, then rising trot, then back to jumping position. Then when you feel stable in your jumping position practise the same thing over trot poles. Helps if your horse will go forwards nicely for you as keeping your balance while maddly kicking on won't help at all!
 
glosgirl said:
like posie_honey suggested, I would practise your position in trot and canter, then over trot poles. You need to 'remind' your muscles what they ought to be doing. Just fold while trotting and practise taking your jumping position for a couple of strides, then rising trot, then back to jumping position. Then when you feel stable in your jumping position practise the same thing over trot poles. Helps if your horse will go forwards nicely for you as keeping your balance while maddly kicking on won't help at all!
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Thank you, Will start practising!
 
Just prepare for super thigh burn! Cantering my 'less than forwards / off the leg mare' in a forward position has burned and toned my thighs like you wouldn't believe!
 
oh hon i know the feeling!! finally got a horse i feel confident jumping and who knows what he's doing and bam my position has gone to pot!! i stand up, or do the clasic jump the jump for him!!! i'm trying to do lots of trot and canter work in jumping position trying to remind my muscles (as said above!) and importantly me that i should be folding not trying to pick him up over the jump!! also going to book lots of lessons to get me going too. oh and never underestimate looking up, that has helped too!! let me know if you get any tips i need them!! :D
 
delberts_racquel said:
oh hon i know the feeling!! finally got a horse i feel confident jumping and who knows what he's doing and bam my position has gone to pot!! i stand up, or do the clasic jump the jump for him!!! i'm trying to do lots of trot and canter work in jumping position trying to remind my muscles (as said above!) and importantly me that i should be folding not trying to pick him up over the jump!! also going to book lots of lessons to get me going too. oh and never underestimate looking up, that has helped too!! let me know if you get any tips i need them!! :D
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Will do, I hope my thighs are ready for this... lol :p
 
I agree with the practice comments and from the video - whack your stirups up about two holes two will help - atm they look far too long for jumping.
 
Just a little suggestion, I have watched your little video and the obvious thing that jumps out (excuse the pun) at me is that a) your stirrups are to long as already mentioned and b) you need to shorten your reins and consequently move your hands forward. Basically, your reins are so long that it becomes pretty much impossible to fold properly and give with your hands from where you are on the horse :)
Also, look up and beyond the jumps - it will stop you jumping of your stirrups ;)
 
martlin said:
Just a little suggestion, I have watched your little video and the obvious thing that jumps out (excuse the pun) at me is that a) your stirrups are to long as already mentioned and b) you need to shorten your reins and consequently move your hands forward. Basically, your reins are so long that it becomes pretty much impossible to fold properly and give with your hands from where you are on the horse :)
Also, look up and beyond the jumps - it will stop you jumping of your stirrups ;)
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Thank you! So, shorter reins, shorter stirrups, and lots of practising the jumping position in trot and canter... then move on to practising it over poles?

Cheers everyone. I really want to get myself back on track, its so frustrating!
 
Yes your reins & stirrups are too long but I really like the fact you are not 'socking' your lovely horse in the gob as so many people do when their jumping position is not perfect - Well done for posting the pic & video & good luck with correcting it! You look like you'll make a fab team!!
 
Ah thank you! Have had a jumping lesson once a week since then and I feel I'm getting much better. 95% of the time I'm folding properly now and my instructor has wacked my stirrups up 2 holes! I've re learnt all about the 'stages' of jumping and unless I get it hiddeously wrong (which I sometimes still do) it's all going very well! I do however still make the mistake of looking down at the jump right before take off, no matter how hard I try to stare up and ahead, as soon as she's about to take off i look down!

I will try and get some more photos in my next lesson and you can tell me if you think I'm looking any better :)
 
Think "bum out" when you jump which makes your bottom go back and get more of a fold

HAHA - This has just reminded me of a great instructor I had as a child - She used to say 'Stick your Bum out like a duck' and would quack loudly as I was approaching the fence!:D:D
 
Yes, Bum out is the way forward. Instructor shouts BUM, SADDLE, NOWWW if I look like I'm about to cock it up! Perhaps I'll start quacking to myself.

I have found that, If I ride into the jump thinking ahead, ie 'sit up after fence, look for next jump, turn' etc then I fly over the jumps with no problems, doing everything I should... But if I approach the jump thinking 'when's she going to take off, I must fold I MUST FOLD I MUSTTTT' then i mess it all up, and have a little panic!
 
a fun thing my instructor used to do (i used to do exactly the same thing) is to ride into the jump (small cross pole to start with) take your reins into one hand (if you trust the horse) have a friend on one side holding out a stick and you have to lean forward and grab it as you jump.

it makes a fun game out of it u forget about jumping and stretch over the jump used to love that exercise

vid showing i used to do the same thing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KW88MaVuCA4

taking the last fence away and after excersise with friend holding my crop for me to grab
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIpWSzLSZjk
not perfect i know but an improvement (dont worry im not planning on taking up bsja any time soon lol)
 
once you've got a bit of strength, practice with no stirrups (if you feel safe enough lol) hard work, but really makes you keep yourself up without launching out the saddle up his kneck. Probs best to have a kneck strap just as a precaution ;) haha but yeah, making sure your stirrups are short enough will help millions. Good luck :)
 
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