How is he looking? Steeplechaser to showjumper ...

M

melv1lle

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3 March 2006
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289
Location
London
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After spending a year or so focusing on my ex racers flat work (although he still looks half giraffe most of the time
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) I have now started to focus on jumping. It has been a real learning curve for both of us because he is used to hurling himself flat over a hedge and I have not jumped since I was a teenager and last had a horse (a good few years ago ...) But after a couple of lessons I think that things are starting to come together. I know we have a long way to go but I just wanted people's thoughts on how he is looking (and feel free to critque me as well
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Love the face pulling
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(both of you that is
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)

Yes he looks green but he looks to enjoy it, would he be strong by any chance?!
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THink you are doing a great job
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only CC I would give is to watch your position that you do not get too infront of him and put him on the forehand on landing and make sure you are nice and stable in the saddle and stay as in balance as poss
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err yes I have to say not my most attractive photos
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and yes he is very strong. My teacher tells me I have to "forget all my survival instincts" and give him more space to find his own stride. But it does mean we go very fast. Think it might be a while before we are tackling a course
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You are absolutely right - it is the main thing I am focusing on for myself not to get ahead of him. I think it comes partly from not jumping for so many years - I don't trust him enough to find the right stride and I keep trying to take off one stride ahead! Can you see it in the jumping photos then? That must explain why I sometimes feel like I am hurtling head first to the ground when we are coming back down from some of the larger fences. So am I leaning too far forward the whole way over?

Sorry so many questions
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Your chin may be up but you are looking down - try to look at a tree in the distance for example and let the fence come to you...you should be worrying only about the quality of the canter and if that is good the fence will come (and he WILL jump it!)

Looking at the last pic, you need to get your bum back over the saddle more and if you can, more weight into your heel and your lower leg needs to be more forward and secure. Don't think about a *jumping position*, the fences you are jumping ATM are (rightly) of a height that your body will automatically follow the horse's shape over the fence. It is hard to give good, concrete advice without seeing you in action TBH - photos are a split second in time afterall, but I think you may have a split second of panic and let the horse pull you into position over the fence and you loose your balance somewhat.
 
*stamps feet* God Weezy, you are so damn eloquent!
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It is something I struggled with after a break from jumping, and have had to work solely on that at times, I have to think about waiting, it is becoming more natural now that I trust my horse much more, but when things go t**s up I revert back!
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By getting in front of the movement you are making it more difficult for your horse to lift his shoulders (someone once descibed it like adding 10inches to every fence!
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) over the fence.
 
Yes you are very good at explaining - are you an instructor??

And you are quite right about the moment of panic. I am still getting my nerve back with jumping and although I feel a million times better than my first lesson this year I haven't got that "natural" feel back yet. Or at least not consistently.
 
I am an AI but I don't teach anymore officially, I just help out people who ask - jumping help is what I love to do. It is really hard to make comments regarding photos because you cannot see the whole picture and you cannot make the encouraging noises in tandem with the CC.

I wouldn't get too hooked into trying to strive for the natural feel, that will come in time. For now the only thing you should be concentrating on is giving your horse the best approach you can, so quality of canter and your balance being spot on (or as spot on as it can be, we are only human after all
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If I were you I would do some canter work on yourself - go up into a forward seat and practise cantering round - get your knee out of your horse's side as you are pivoting on it I think and this is making you unsteady. Really feel the way the horse is moving under you and learn to be secure but light. Think about your position in the last pic - if you tried to canter around in that position you would be out the front door over the shoulder pretty quickly. There may be *textbook* positions that people try to emulate, but we are all different in our strengths, weaknesses and body shape, so it is finding what works for you and works for your horse...and breathing helps
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You are doing an obviously great job with him, so just let it come, don't push yourself out of your comfort zone too quickly and just ENJOY
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I know I am TOO sad and am just avoiding work but I have taken the last photo and written a whole load of notes to myself on it to try and help visualise (I am very into visualisation) for next weeks lesson
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To help even more am about to post to ask if anyone has a picture of what a "perfect" or at least very well balanced position looks like going over a fence. I just find pictures helpful - so if you hav anything???

And I promise not to ask you any more questions about my jumping (well this week anyway
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