Jumping Positionn

[tonitot]

When I jump my hands go like hackers hands

I only noticed today and when I tried to sort them out the rest of my position went kaputt

its not that good anyway ...
You can kinda see my hands in this pic if you look closely but other than this I dont have any others ....

Any suggestions on how I can sort them out??

 

[Tickles]

ONLY if your (cute!) pony is very relaxed you could try the 'holding crop under your two thumbs' thing? (Share horsey is far too sensitive about whips around his ears for that to be safe for me but have done it on RS types.)

Assuming here that by hackers' hands you mean they are twisted in a bit and the line from elbow to fingers look 'broken' at the wrist?

 

[tonitot]

Haha thanks he is rather cute .. althoug obviously im very biased

Never heard of the whip under two thumbs .. :s how do I do that? Ted is generally very relaxed when jumping to will give it a shot once I find out what it is

Ermmm by hackers hands I mean basically as if Im riding a bike lol

 

[Tickles]

Ah, Ok, try on the flat first...

You take a (short) crop and put each end under your thumb so you're holding it between your thumb and the side of your first finger with both hands.

It should keep your hands at the right angle and stop you moving them around too much. You can still slide them up pony's neck for jumping but the crop 'fixes' them with thumbs on top and next to each other if that makes sense?

 

[nikkinoo]

I think they mean resting the whip on top of your fingers (but under your thumb) so you have it horizontal , when you try to rotate your wrists in the whip will stop the rotation. I think lol

I got sticky out elbows any tips for that one?

 

[nikkinoo]

yeah tickles thats what I was trying to say xx

 

[tonitot]

Ahh I see

shall give that a go when I next ride the pony

thankss!

Havent got any advice for the sticky out arms ... maybe move your hands a bit more up your horses neck and keep your hands further apart .. just cause people whose arms stick out always look like theyre holding their hands are too close and buried in the horses withers .. just a thought but I dont know if it would work

 

[Kallibear]

If you're position goes to pot when you try to do something else with your hands, it means you've not got an independant and secure jumping position.

Which means practise, practise practise. Grid works is excellent for improving your position. So is jumping with no reins (have to trust the pony!) and no stirrups. Also, jumping with your eyes closed (again, good pony required!) really helps with over-anticipating, which a major cause of poor position.