Learning to jump!

[Isa7182]

Hey there!

My name is Izzy, I'm 13 and I've started riding lessons. My older sister, who is 30, had her own horses/ponies but stopped riding because of school but I decided that i wanted to ride myself and eventually got my own lessons!

I've been riding for around 5 months and I've had 16 lessons. I starting doing trot jumps on my 14th lesson and since then I've started jumping around 1ft. I can canter, but not steer myself quite yet, so we do trot jumps. I'm just looking for some tips to help me with jumping as I move into cantering them more often

Thanks! Isa

 

[View]

I don't mean to sound harsh, but before jumping in canter (or even much more than raised poles in trot) you really need a secure, indecent seat and able to steer.

Working without stirrups, on and off the lunge, poles and raised pole grids are all good exercises.

Good luck, and keep on enjoying riding.

 

[Tnavas]

I ran a riding school and usually started my weekly riders jumping at around the 13th lesson.

The most important tips I can give you are as follows
Always take your stirrups up a couple of holes before you jump. This places your thigh ahead of you more which helps you keep your balance and position easier.
Always have a neck strap, secured about halfway up the pony's neck. This gives you something to reach for with your hands

Jumping position is all about keeping your centre of balance in the smallest area.
Fold your upper body forward from your hips.
Keep your back straight
Fold until your shoulders form a vertical line with your knees and toes.
Push your bottom out behind you a little.
Shorten your reins and hold your neck strap either side of your pony's neck, so that the line from the pony's bit to your elbow is straight

DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES TRY TO STAND UP if you do your shoulders will be too far forward, your centre of balance will no longer be in line and it becomes easier to fall off.

Approach both trotting poles and small jumps in your jumping position, with reins keeping a soft contact. As you are in a perfect balanced position all you have to think about is pushing your hands forward as the pony jumps.

Sitting in and upright into jumps comes at a later date when your balance has improved.

REMEMBER Jumping position is all about balance not standing up.

Practise your jumping position often, you don't need to jump to do so.

A good exercise to do on the ground to show how folding your body works is to stand on a pole laying on the ground. You can secure it to stop it rolling.

Stand on the pole on the balls of your feet , feet apart as far as they would be if you were on the pony. Get your balance in your flat work position, knees slightly bent, straight line Ear, Shoulder, Hip, Heel.

Now start to fold your body, bum goes back a bit, shoulders over knees over toes. Note that if you lean too far forward you fall off the pole. See how low (small) you can make yourself go.

Have fun, take your time to learn your jumping position, you will find that you are very secure.

 

[autumn7]

you really need a secure, indecent seat ......./QUOTE]

View - so that's where I've been going wrong all these years....been trying to acquire a DECENT seat - is your version gained by something you wear (or don't wear??!)
Seriously though, what a brilliantly informative reply Tnavas. Continue your lessons with the above in mind Isa and you'll get there - and have fun doing so. You're obviously enjoying your lessons and progressing admirably!

 

[View]

you really need a secure, indecent seat ......./QUOTE]

View - so that's where I've been going wrong all these years....been trying to acquire a DECENT seat - is your version gained by something you wear (or don't wear??!)
Seriously though, what a brilliantly informative reply Tnavas. Continue your lessons with the above in mind Isa and you'll get there - and have fun doing so. You're obviously enjoying your lessons and progressing admirably!

Oops, flipping iPad autocorrect - that should have read independent seat!

I'm really pleased that Isa is progressing well and enjoying riding - but it worries me somewhat that she is perhaps trying new things too soon before being really secure in some of the basics - like being in control and able to steer. Everyone progresses at their own pace, and any good RI will adapt to the individual.

Tnavas - fantastic detailed explanation. I wish someone had suggested the balancing on a pole to me forty odd years ago.

 

[Isa7182]

Wow! Thanks a ton Tnavas!That is super helpful, oh my gosh! D.

I work without strirrups, I haven't been on the lunge to do any of my riding, only to practice some useful skills to know and I've already done raised poles and trot poles

I do know how to control and steer in the trot, rising and sit it well. Just not the canter quite yet , hopefully soon.

I should be getting better at sit trot, because I could do that better than before I could rise, which was really weird!

 

[AmieeT]

I ran a riding school and usually started my weekly riders jumping at around the 13th lesson.

The most important tips I can give you are as follows
Always take your stirrups up a couple of holes before you jump. This places your thigh ahead of you more which helps you keep your balance and position easier.
Always have a neck strap, secured about halfway up the pony's neck. This gives you something to reach for with your hands

Jumping position is all about keeping your centre of balance in the smallest area.
Fold your upper body forward from your hips.
Keep your back straight
Fold until your shoulders form a vertical line with your knees and toes.
Push your bottom out behind you a little.
Shorten your reins and hold your neck strap either side of your pony's neck, so that the line from the pony's bit to your elbow is straight

DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES TRY TO STAND UP if you do your shoulders will be too far forward, your centre of balance will no longer be in line and it becomes easier to fall off.

Approach both trotting poles and small jumps in your jumping position, with reins keeping a soft contact. As you are in a perfect balanced position all you have to think about is pushing your hands forward as the pony jumps.

Sitting in and upright into jumps comes at a later date when your balance has improved.

REMEMBER Jumping position is all about balance not standing up.

Practise your jumping position often, you don't need to jump to do so.

A good exercise to do on the ground to show how folding your body works is to stand on a pole laying on the ground. You can secure it to stop it rolling.

Stand on the pole on the balls of your feet , feet apart as far as they would be if you were on the pony. Get your balance in your flat work position, knees slightly bent, straight line Ear, Shoulder, Hip, Heel.

Now start to fold your body, bum goes back a bit, shoulders over knees over toes. Note that if you lean too far forward you fall off the pole. See how low (small) you can make yourself go.

Have fun, take your time to learn your jumping position, you will find that you are very secure.

I also found this very interesting and helpful! Such good advice. Not had a lesson in ages but it gives me a lot to think about

Izzy- I hope you get on OK I'm learning too it's such good fun

Ax

 

[View]

I do know how to control and steer in the trot, rising and sit it well. Just not the canter quite yet , hopefully soon.

I should be getting better at sit trot, because I could do that better than before I could rise, which was really weird!

Yes, control in canter will come, as will sitting trot. It's quite normal for siting trot to be harder than rising trot once you have got the hang of posting (rising trot), You may find it helps to keep the pace of the trot relaxed and unhurried so that it is not quite so bouncy. For both, keep it nice and relaxed - don't stiffen up or you will perch on the saddle rather than sittting into it. If you are bouncing on top of the saddle it is much harder to stay in control, and that includes steering.

Stick with it, and remember that all of those people who make it look so effortless have been riding for a much longer time than you.

Keep enjoying it, keep smiling.

 

[Isa7182]

Thanks hugely for the tips and advice everyone!

I did a large combination today, at trot, but still. It was 4 trot poles, a crossbar (like a foot high) then a wooden plank (same height) and 2 poles at the end. It was super fun and Sarge was a super star at it. No stopping like he always does and jumped cleanly even when he or I was off balance!

 

[Tnavas]

Great news Is, did you work hard on getting your jumping position right?

 

[Isa7182]

Great news Is, did you work hard on getting your jumping position right?

Yes I did! My instructor said I did really well, even when we were a bit off, I still managed to keep myself balanced, so that Sarge could put himself in the right position again