Jumping position

[JenTaz]

hey everyone,

just wondering if you can all give me a bit of advice on how to improve my jumping position, at the moment i either get to infront of the movement, or left behind, i'd say that only 1/3 of the time that I get it right. Taz isnt the most easiest horse to jump, he's quite green over fences when he wants to act like an idiot or he rushes so i have to think about him more than me.

i get regular jumping lessons with my instructor once a fortnight, and seem to have a better position (well i feel better) as the jumps get bigger but then again have only jumped up to 3ft (90cms), which for me is pretty big.

So if you could give me any advice it would be greatly appreciated. I will link to a video of me jumping the Spazzy one and put some photos on to see if you can help. Critisise as much as you want, after all it is what i asked for basically.

one of the times i think i may have it right, to be honest i cant tell what a good jumping position should look like

to infront of the movement i think :S

and a two vids to finish as some position is better than the other

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwo2QWH2Ixc this one is on taz please no crit on how bad i rode him into the second fence he hadnt been in an indoor arena in over a year and i was at the college as a student used to horses there behaving

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-QtYxG2oKM&feature=related

thanks again, sorry its long never intended to go on so much and i apologise for the spelling

 

[spotty_pony]

In the second photo you seem to be too far out of the saddle and too upright. (A problem I also have sometimes!) You need to push your bum towards the back of the saddle more and fold through your hips, you also need to look ahead rather than down at the jump. Your leg position is good, you just need to make sure your toes are facing forwards.

Some exercises which will help both you and Taz are:

* A row of canter poles - this will help Taz to keep an even canter rhythm and you can go into your jumping position over the poles to help with your balance. A grid of three to five poles should be enough to start with (set three human strides apart.) As you both get used to this, you can try making the poles into small jumps.

* Practise your jumping position in trot and canter on the flat by going large around the school and riding some circles. See if you can circle and stay in your jumping position without loosing your balance!

*If Taz is green, it might be best to try this exercise on a quieter horse: Jump some small jumps without stirrups. This way, you won't be able to get too far out of the saddle as you won't be able to push up out of your stirrups so you should naturally fold forwards into a good jumping position.

Hope this helps!

 

[JenTaz]

thanks SJ_Superstars - i will definately try to do the canter poles excersise and doing my jumping position in trot and canter, make my self look even more like a wally, i seem to always look down at fences which can get really annoying as i always say to myself look up, as i talk to myself while riding helps me remember to breathe! lol