Jumping advice please

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sky2

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My horse is really honest and genuine, he has never stopped with me but I have a really bad habit of leaning forwards 1/2 strides away from the jump, looking at the base and also fiddling with the reins/taking a half halt where I don't need to instead of keeping my hands still. I think it's a nervous thing as it's worse with new fillers, jumps I'm worried about. Has anyone got any tips to help me stay upright with my leg on up to the fence and keep my hands still?

I'm worried that although my horse is genuine I will knock his confidence if I keep "dropping" him in front of a jump.

Thanks in advance!
 
Hi, yes I do have an instructor but just wondering if anyone has other suggestions. I can't seem to stop doing it, it has become a really bad habit.
 
working on grids with no reins and stirrups is great. it stops you being able to lean and fiddle. if you lay out poles in front of the jumps it will get you used to just letting the horse jump in a rhythmn.

its easy to get into bad habits competing, so it could be handy to work with a sports psychologist or do NLP to try and break the nervous habits. Otherwise its a case of keeping the jumps low enough that you know you won't start fiddling, and then raising them so slowly you don't really notice it.
 
if you have particular fear of heights and fillers, then its good to stick them at the end of a grid. that way you get the confidence that you can get over them, but you don't need to fiddle or lean
 
Echo grids with no reins and no stirrups. No way to fiddle! Stirrups cross over the saddle before you begin - or bareback. Knot your reins so they rest in a more or less normal point on the neck. Turn into your line so you are straight and one or two strides out drop your reins and either hold your arms out to the side or place them on you head. You can do single jumps on the lunge this way if you want someone else in control.

Leaning forward too soon is often a sign of nerves. Work with an NLP or sports practitioner might help?
 
Come ride one of mine...if you do that on him he has an amazing stop in him that flings you right over his tiny short neck. Taught me to stop doing it! Ofc i am now the other way and if anything a bit behind the movement if its something i am not sure of. :)

On a more serious note I 100% agree with grid work. And the next progression for me was canter poles into a single fence. I only properly faff now if i am having a real panic.
 
Thanks for the replies, no reins and no stirrups sounds quite scary but will have to give it a go as I really need to break the habit.
 
Grid work is definitely a good exercise to do.

I'm terrible at dropping my eye and looking at the jump if I think its particularly scary. What's helped me is my other half standing so that I can see them as I approach the jump and him waving his hat in the hair to give me something to focus on instead of the jump. Silly but I find it really helps!
 
Great advice up thread. Just wanted to add, counting strides just before a fence - shout the count out loud, last three or four strides, as it will distract you from fiddling, and makes it harder to deviate from your self defined rhythm.
 
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