How to improve jump position

[little_critter]

Did a bit of jumping last night and while pony was very good it showed that my jump position has got unstable.
I'm conscious that my lower legs tend to swing back so come into the jump thinking 'feet forward' which works most of the time but as I get tired they creep back.
I also feel like I'm collapsing in a heap as we land which probably isn't helping poor pony!
As we cooled down I spent several laps in 'gallop position' to try to get my legs used to staying where they should but kept ending up with my lower leg getting unstable and me either tipping forward or back.
Is it just a case of lots of time practising jump position to develop the strength / balance or are there any good exercises?

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

To ride a horse well, apart from quality instruction, you need to be physically fit. It sounds like you need to get yourself fitter & develope your core strength & leg strength. You can do this off the horse, try Pilates as this will help you.

 

[Skipadeedooda]

Maybe try popping your stirrups up a hole to stabilise your leg. If I haven't jumped for a while then I usually ride a but shorter. Just need to strengthen up which comes with just doing it. Practise jumping position in walk, trot and canter and over poles. Maybe put up some small fences and ride into them maintaining jumping position this will strengthen everything up. You are perhaps "over-jumping" the fence (exaggerating position) which may contribute to the collapse at other side. So the coming in to fence already in position may help that. Just out of practise, happens to us all! 😃

 

[056775]

I would recommend doing pole work and smaller jumps to get you in a nice position in the run up and you will be able to concentrate on you and not worry about what the horse is doing

With the poles leading up - you shouldn't over think the jump as will need to ensure you make the strides first

When you are bouncing up and popping over happily - ONLY then put the fence up.

Also when you are happy with that introduce small combinations and for a real test - get some one to film you doing a very small bounce

Make sure you check your distances!!! Above all - Enjoy.

 

[TrasaM]

I will join you in the rusty jumpers corner when I first started to jump it all came quite easily. Take off position and timing good but not so good getting bum back in saddle quickly. However had a go in a lesson a week ago and I was totally dire. At one point I found myself sitting bolt upright going over the jump then realising how wrong I'd gotten it burst out laughing. Poor RI the rest didn't get much better either.

 

[Scoutie]

I had the same problems which are more or less cured. One thing didn't fix it but a number of exercises that came together.
- Riding fitness however if I get tired hunting I do realise that I start to collapse after a jump (this is when I go home)
- Horse going forward by itself rather than me encouraging on every stride (hunting really helped this as I could concentrate on me at a fence, it also made my horse think forward)
- Jumping other horses, especially those that went into a fence so that I could concentrate on my position
- Lots and lots of lessons with structor shouting at me (and somethimes I shouted back!)
- For a period of time my instructor tied my stirrup leathers to the saddle so that my leg simply coundn't move (not sure if this is safe or not but I survivied)
- Shorter stirrups (initially it felt like ridiculously short i.e. jockey but when I see photos this really is not the case. I also practiced hacking with the short stirrups so that I got used to them as it put a strain on my knees and ankles).

 

[little_critter]

Thanks all - when I used to jump I used to put my stirrups up 3 holes, recently I've only been putting them up 2 holes so will try going back to 3 and see how that goes.
Yes - I think I need to get some doubles etc set up to make me sort myself out. Luckily pony has changed from ploddy to actually taking me into the jump so I can concentrate on waiting for the jump and sorting out my position.
I'll look into getting some jump lessons sorted.

 

[Tnavas]

Lots of work on the flat in a basic jumping position.
Basic Jumping position
Stirrups shorter, fold body from hips until your shoulders are in a vertical line with your knees and toes - keeping your back flat. Your bottom stays in the saddle - the fact that you are folded reduces your weight in the saddle considerably.

Work in this position in trot and canter. Go into jumping position, get it right and after a few stride return to upright. Give your back a few strides to recover and then have another go gradually increasing the time spent in jumping position.

Introduce trotting poles as these help with the movement of the arms over a fence. Introduce small fences where you sit still in your correct position and let the horse do the work.

I have tied stirrups to girths to help with a rider that slid feet back - this stems from pivoting on your knee as you jump rather than folding your upper body forward. I used very thin bootlaces that are likely to snap if put under any pressure.