Jumped out of the saddle

[blitznbobs]

So I have this horse ... he’s a poppet safe in every way ... gorgeous to look at and has more scope than I can ever need ... however I am a forty something dressage fanatic that decided to start jumping (still trying to wobbleberry but that’s a different story)

my problem is that if I put up a little jump (ie about a foot) he thinks (quite rightly) that it’s a trotting pole - once we go above about 18 inches he jumps but he doesn’t seem to be able to jump smaller than 3ft 6 in his head (he’s a big boy 17.2)so although he doesn’t balloon the fence he has a tendency to jumo
Me out of the saddle — now I’ve not come off yet but I never feel that wonderful in balance feeling and some time the side door is very open and it’s only willpower and the fact he’s a saint and stops for me that keeps me on... I am having lessons to try and sort me out (others jump him for fun as he loves it, doesn’t stop ever and clears anything you like so it’s a me issue not a him issue) any tips I ride another horse with a small jump In the same saddle and I’m secure as anything on him so It’s not that either

 

[Lois Lame]

I'm surprised this is on page 4 with no replies, so here's my response (FWIW) so that it gets back onto page 1.

Presumably his size is not helping you to stay put.

I know nothing about jumping but I'll tell you something that happened to me one day while out riding a (now dec) very nice pony.

We were heading homewards after a short ride and I decided a nice canter up this stretch was a good idea. The canter grew in intensity but wasn't by any means out of control, but pony was keen. We'd almost reached the top of the stretch where we would have to slow to a walk to turn left and negotiate about four secure poles about a foot high and maybe a metre apart (these make it hard for trail bikers to get through). Pony's keenness suggested to me that he might take it at a jump, because, unlike me, he was a good jumper.

So, instead of (trying to) screech to a walk and turning left, I decided that straight ahead seemed the best option. (Turning right was not an option for some forgotten reason.)

Unfortunately, a roll of rusty wire sat in our path. I was in the forward seat for some reason, even though I had originally thought I should be slowing down for the turn left. I guess I had no confidence in achieving a walk. I now told myself, 'Now I will find out what happens when a horse I am riding gets his legs tangled in wire.'

But, nothing happened. Nothing at all. We were passed the wire. We hadn't gone around it (because it was upon us too quickly. It had been almost invisible). We must have gone over it, for there was no other explanation. It would have been about 2 foot high. The point I am making is that I had felt absolutely nothing other than a normal canter.

A previous (also dec) riding instructor who used to enjoy screaming at us once told me that a jump at the canter feels like nothing much more than a big canter stride. This 'jump' had not been very big, and, in the forward seat, I hadn't had to adjust my position at all. In fact if I had tried to adjust my position, perhaps I would have put myself ahead of the horse's balance and upset him (and me) completely.

So, to sum up, I wonder if you should take the jump at the canter, in the forward seat, and make no adjustments. But remember, I am not qualified to answer your question. Maybe someone else will though now that it is back on centre stage.

 

[Trinket12]

Maybe balance/position? I’ve come off Sugar a few times because I’m over bending in my two point, so trying to do a bigger jump position if that makes sense? Like I’m jumping a meter plus instead of the 2ft we’re actually popping over ?


I have also jumped too early, so I’m in position too soon to the jump and it’s felt unbalanced and like I’m going to pop off?

Could you video your jumps somehow and then watch them back? I’ve found that helps me, because I can see what I’m doing wrong (and sometimes it’s not even the thing I thought!)

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

how’s your leg position? I find my mare jumps me out of the saddle if I’m gripping with my knees. If you can have someone film you and watch it back it really helps.

 

[scruffyponies]

This is no help to you OP, but it may not be the size of the pony. I'm not much of a jumper, but the only time I was jumped off, it was by a fat little 12hh pony. He had never jumped a solid obstacle before. It was a foot high, and he gave it the same again as clearance.
There was clear daylight between me and the pony, and when I came down he wasn't there any more. :/