jump position ...a crash course please

kerryflower

kerryflower

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As some of you may be aware I am having an intesive month of sorting my life out when it comes to jumping afte the appalling ride I gave my wonderful horse at Leyland court xc schooling. General criticisms were that I was throwing myself onto his shoulder before take off so he had me hanging on his neck before he even got his front feet off the ground and that my lower leg would also be v isecure and fling back so i kind of tipped forward from my body. I have shortened my stirrups by 3 holes and have spent last week riding in 2 point position as much as my ankles can cope with.

So am going to jump only pootling over little jump to sort myself out. I had a go yesterday and gfound taht if I looked at the sky approaching jump I couldn't throw myself at jump as couldn;t see it but don;t think thats gona be very helpful going xc or bigger fences.


So any ideas?!?! Also need to pick my horse's head up to stop him from falling on forehand.

Caramel chew chew and chunky monkey ben n jerrys for all hints and tips :)
 
I know I'm only starting out jumping... But the best thing that gets me over the jumps is fixing my eyes on a point and looking at that as I go over the jump. Hope that helps!
 
I'm far from an expert and have the opposite problem to you! I sit back half way over the fence and think its a drop fence, its like an automatic thing :confused:
Well if you're throwing yourself on his shoulder try when approaching the jump get into your jumping position before the takeoff which should prevent you from throwing yourself forward. Imagine his shoulder is some eggs and if you go forward you'd crack them. Sorry if my tips are abit rubbish, i have a funny way of doing things :D
 
Where's your lower leg? If it tends to be back then it will tip your upper body forward. I tend to ride with a "secure" lower leg which has been wellhoned by many seasons of galloping team chasers with the result that it's now physically impossible for me to throw myself forward as my leg won't allow it. Have a look at the thread I've posted about my soggy schooling session at SLM and you'll see what I mean. I'm not saying my position is perfect, far from it as I'm sure a lot of people would say I'm too defensive and my leg is too forward to be safe as I stick like glue to the horse but it does mean I'm never in front of the movement, and has saved me from many a fall following a dirty stop!
 
lots of practise in 2-point seat, with short (properly short) stirrups to help balance and develop a really secure lower leg. this is the key.
if you do a crest release with the hands up the neck towards the ears as the horse takes off, ideally not pressing them down at all, this gives nothing to pivot forward over and keeps weight down in heels.
i have a little mantra I say to prevent myself from throwing myself forwards (bad habit, v hard to eradicate when you've done it for decades, oops) which is "sit in behind while he makes up his mind"... this way, if the horse does add another stride, I won't have already taken off ahead of him...
thinking of sitting up (but not necessarily down) on the approach to a fence.
I also say "I can hold him with my shoulders" on the way to a fence, bringing shoulders up and back rather than using hands.
lessons with a good instructor will be invaluable though, how it feels and how it looks can be a gulf apart.
good luck!
 
kerilli said:
lots of practise in 2-point seat, with short (properly short) stirrups to help balance and develop a really secure lower leg. this is the key.
if you do a crest release with the hands up the neck towards the ears as the horse takes off, ideally not pressing them down at all, this gives nothing to pivot forward over and keeps weight down in heels.
i have a little mantra I say to prevent myself from throwing myself forwards (bad habit, v hard to eradicate when you've done it for decades, oops) which is "sit in behind while he makes up his mind"... this way, if the horse does add another stride, I won't have already taken off ahead of him...
thinking of sitting up (but not necessarily down) on the approach to a fence.
I also say "I can hold him with my shoulders" on the way to a fence, bringing shoulders up and back rather than using hands.
lessons with a good instructor will be invaluable though, how it feels and how it looks can be a gulf apart.
good luck!
Click to expand...

Brilliant advice , thank you. I get in front of the movement too and I am going to memorise your mantra!
 
thanks all for ur advice. Kerilli I am going to memorise that mantra but I best not lose marks for talkignt o myself before every jump hehe. Have booked xc lessons with my instructor and william milfin next week so hopefully will be shouted at and whipped into shape :)
 
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