How do you sit a horse with a huge jump?!

O

OneInAMillion

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 August 2008
Messages
4,897
Location
norfolk
Visit site
I have a 15hand connie who can jump very very well but only uses just enough effort!
I now have the ride on a 15.3/16hand tb mare. But she has the body length of a 17hander! When she comes into a jump whatever size she does the most enormous leap. (sorry the pics wont load onto pc for some reason). The first time I jumped her the pic shows her stomach at the height of the top of wings about 5 and a 1/2 foot. How on earth do I sit to it, I'm really careful not to catch her mouth. She just pings me out of the saddle. Is it just something I will get used to?!



ETA because of how she pings me out of the saddle I struggle to gather up the knitting before she throws in a lovely few broncs!
 
My daughter has the same problem with her horse, I could show you some photos but she wouldn't thank me :D She's going to ask her RI to help her with it when she can actually get to have a lesson
 
When my horse was a baby and just starting jumping he liked to do huuuge leaps over any jump (even trotting poles at one stage!) I found doing lots of jumping out of trot helped to contain things, and really concentrating on my lower leg and keeping it secure to anchor me.
Another thing is to always be ready to slip your reins, so that even when you are struggling at least the horse won't suffer! I used to sort of slip my reins into one hand, so I was ready with the other to grab them back on landing quickly, not sure how to explain this any better though!! Perhaps a neck strap might help you whilst you get used to the different movement?
 
Keep the weight in your feet with your heels down and try to sit light

don't grip with your knees as you'll lose your lower leg security (they'll shoot back and your balance will shoot forwards - not where you want it!)

There is no shame in grabbing a chunk of mane as well - I've done it plenty of times - it's quicker, easier and more natural than hunting for a neck strap at times of stress - also there's plenty of choice of where to grab it!

As you push your hands forward, grab the nearest section of mane on the top of the neck - it'll help you keep forward, in balance and stop you losing too much rein on landing too (don't forget to let go of the mane lol!)

I wish you lived nearer as I could give you more help in person!!
 
You will get used to it but it takes a while. I used to find myself getting hit in the bum with the saddle as I only have short legs. I ended up having to almost stand up rather than folding... With time I got used to him and adopted a more orthodox position ;)

I went from this

maxjump3.jpg


To this a few years later (and a few pounds heavier :()

maxjump.jpg


Never did get him to take things slower - he was 25 in the second pic. Didn't retire until 27 :)
 
my big wb (bay in my siggy) used to do this, i used to go very forward so the saddle didn't whack me up the bum, and grab a bit of mane occasionally, better to lose a tiny bit of cred and stay on imho! if you stay upright or defensive you can get totally fired out of the saddle, up the neck is safer... obv not ideal though, but usually they grow out of it...
 
Ah, I used to have this problem with my boy! But you do get used to it. When I first started jumping him, there was often about 5 feet between my bum and the saddle! But now we are much more 'together'. I can't really give any more advice, just that it will take time. Perhaps grids will help so that you can concentrate on your position rather than worry about the horse.
 
My event mare second from the right in my sig used to do that, Grab the mane!!!! Its a life saver.
I had problems in my lesson getting Riley to jump a one stride double on one stride (kept putting in 2) so i grabed the mane incase he launched it or decided to chip in and after 2 attemps he was flying on one. It has taken me long enough to teach myself to grab the mane as it didnt right and kept forgetting but once i found it.....no looking back :)
 
the only way is practise, I used to struggle alot as alot of our young ones go into orbit a bit too often - I have learnt pretty sharpish now that I have one who is super sharp with a massive jump and mighty fine back end with an almighty bronc and spin on her after the fence, Ive hit the deck a few times now but you learn really fast!!

Grab mane or have a loose neckstrap to hold on approach and during, dont anticipate the take off and plan a really precise getaway to keep your mind thinking about other things, that should all held.
 
LOADS of work without stirrups to get your seat really tight. it takes time and core strength but it will come. Last thing before you go into the ring trot a circuit ith no stirrups to help tighten you up for the course too!
 
Not only do i understand i can give you an answere! I have a 17:2 warmblood who jumped 4 foot no matter how small the jump or ditch. How i stayed on at times was luck and sadly sometimes the luck ran out. at 52yrs i could not take the chance I would bounce, I had a lesson with Rob Stevens (he and his wife have both competed around badminton!) last year and he totally got me and my horse I had a good lesson but could not really replicate it again. Decided to go to him recently for a 2 day intensive =4 lessons over 2 days, all i can say is AMAZING. Not only can I jump grids at TROT he makes afab shape and i am secure. Wish i had done this years ago
 
Ahh a topic close to my heart at the moment! I'm very similar to op as my horse is a 14.2 Arab with a nice but efficient jump, and he rarely throws in a leap.
Youngster however is SJ bred (was bought not knowing breeding as a RC allrounder) and my god does he have springs! It's also all terribly good fun at the moment so he also likes to throw in some huge bucks to keep me on my toes.
I have found (as per kerrilli and a few others above) shorter than normal stirrups, weight forward slightly (tend to sit back on my other boy so that's been a bit of a change) and a hand on his neck/in his mane is a massive help especially with the post jump bucks. Sj we are working a lot on jumping from trot and keeping everything steady and he is starting to overjump less. Been xc today and he's now getting quite bold but if he arrives on a dodgy stride does just tend to leap....did get several 'oohs' and 'ahhs' and even one 'h*ly *****' from my xc companions today!
But most of all practice and time helps masses :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top