Improving jumping position (CC, pic)

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Dobby

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Hi again - another jumping question!

I haven't had lessons for a while and I've got into some really bad habits - well, habits - I'm just doing it totally wrong when jumping. Most people's problem seems to be they jump out of the saddle too far, jumping for the horse, but I'm the opposite - I just don't come out of the saddle at all.

I've kind of got it into my head that you sit up straight until the horses front end comes up, THEN you fold forward, but I've been keeping my backside firmly in the saddle the whole time as well. I fell off today because a horse with a much rounder, springier jump than I'm used to just pushed me right out of the saddle.

jumperrrr.png


This is basically what I'm doing every time and I haven't given it much thought until today. Any tips / constructive criticism (been patronised and made to feel like a child about my riding already today by a lovely instructor) is very welcome!

I'm very confident jumping, so I'm not sitting back because I don't want to jump it. I don't know how this has developed!

Thanks :)

P.S, horse is not mine and he's not the problem anyway so just comments on my riding :)
 
Practice off the horse :D Pretend to count the horse strieds before the jump then fold, so go 1,2,3 fold and use a mirror to see what your position looks like, once you have it to perfection get on a horse and test it out, even just over trotting poles count 3,2,1 fold, you get better at timing/counting the strides before you do it, I still do it after being told when I was 10 to do it so ever jump in my head im counting 3,2,1 fold, I find it helps the horse know when to take off too, but thats probably just my opinion because it gives me more to think about than whether my horse is woung to skid to a halt like she sometimes does :p

But basically get someone to help you and shout out 3,2,1 fold, even over poles on the ground or weeny cross poles, it all helps ;)

And if you want to see your position over a jump/course ask someone to film you, then watch it, you spot all your mistakes then work on improving :D
 
Dobby said:
I've kind of got it into my head that you sit up straight until the horses front end comes up, THEN you fold forward
Click to expand...

I don't fold 'till the horse starts to jump either or my lovely mare (who likes to stop from time to time) will have me off! Possibly it's more your position over the jump, and the bit about bum out of the saddle. Practice cantering round in a forward seat, then sitting up, forward seat, sitting up again, then over poles like that.
 
I am the same as you not jumped in a long time, and have started having weekly lessons on YO's horses!
Getting my confidence back :) but admittedly, had lost my position.

My RI (also YO so knew horse perfectly) got me to trot P round the school, stand out of my stirrups and keep stood up (difficult!) From this, she asked me to almost lower myself in the stirrups to hovering just above the saddle, folded forwards whilst horse was still trotting round (luckily he's very good :D) and after reminding me, heels down, back straight, to give my hands a little if needed (not a problem for the height I was jumping) she told me THAT was my jumping position.
Try it in walk first then go into trot and then try canter - stand up in your stirrups for a good few strides, get your balance then, lower yourself to just above the saddle and fold forwards as though taking off for a jump.
And you should stay riding sat straight until the horses' front legs leave the floor, or so I've been told, and its always worked for me :) plus she said P likes to occasionally pull a dirty stop and if I get in front of him and he slams the brakes on I'm over his head and its a long way to the ground!! :p
K x
 
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Hellooo :)

Finally found this thread!

Now, I am the first to say I am pants at jumping.

But... What I would say looking at that picture, is watch your toes! Remember to keep stirrups on the ball of your foot, and it'll help you balance and keep your heels down.

I will keep an eye on this thread, I cant seem to fold at all :o You are doing far far better than me! xx
 
pop your stirrups up at least a hole and get your bum out the saddle. She looks like she really rounds her back so probably bopping you up the bum!

Try not to come into the jump too upright as then you just throw yourself forward. As you come in think weight in your stirrups, weight in your stirrups (not on your bottom). Practise cantering around the arena stood right up in your stirrups and then folding into jumping position, think about pushing your bottom backwards, not folding forwards. Whe you've got the hand of it, come into a small fence stood up in your stirrups, you will fold naturally over the jump.
 
Sorry Dobby, I can't see the photo!

All I can say is think about that scummy public loo, you don't want to plonk your bum on that! ;)
 
what TG said - the stirrups are a little far back on your foot, so your toes are slightly down and your leg has slipped back slightly therefore making you less secure. You should be able to remain in jumping position if the horse was taken away from under you - you might face plant ;) Dont put yourself down though you're not doing badly at all! Also I would ignore my advice as my jumping position is pooooo - i tend to get way too in front of the horse ;)
 
The important thing is to not over fold, you see some people clinging onto the horses neck over a 1ft x pole.

Practice your jumping position at a standstill with an instructor tellling you what to do or with mirrors so you can adjust yourself, then once you feel happy with this trot and canter remaining in this position until you really know what it feels like.

My instructor said to me pretend I have something funny written on my bum so when I jump I'm trying to show everyone the writing, this made me fold over the jump because I was sticking my bum out over the fence.
 
Practice trotting and cantering around the arena with a forward or what is known as a 2 point position, with really short stirrups.

Going up and down your transitions, this trains your lower leg which in turn will keep the rest of your body correct when practicing over fences, keeping your knees open (no gripping) your heals down and where the girth is, just your calf on the horse sides, your knee giving and taking like mini shock absorbers and looking ahead between your horses ears, you need to be able to go up and down without loosing any balance, so unless you can do this on the flat really well, you'll stuggle over fences.

Having said that, I freely admit that my jumping position is not very good :o but it is a stable one and keeps me in the saddle even on a green horse, but I think thats just years of doing it and learning to stay on, rather than being taught correctly on a weekly basis.
 
Thanks Kokopelli, that's what I worry about - looking like I'm going over 5ft when I'm just popping over 2ft something!
And Kenzo - I think that's what I've been doing, not having regular, proper instruction so just winging it!
 
Practise cantering round in the two point position - with your hands slightly forward and your seat just out of the saddle, stirrups slightly nearer your toes and heels down and behind you, as they are on the pic. Then practise changing from the normal canter position to the 'jumping position' remembering, as you say, not to be checking the tips of his ears over a fence! You actually aren't that too far off the position you should be in for that height of fence and the moment the pic was taken. Are you relaxed? Practise over a pole on the floor but TBH, if you simply push your hands forward a tad and follow them you'll be there. I think you aren't maybe giving enough, but again over that height of fence, you don't look particularly bad!
 
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