Linked to steeplechaser to SJ post - in search of the perfect position

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melv1lle

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Following on from my earlier post (and the excellent feedback I got - thanks Weezy
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) I am very interested to find a photo of the "perfect" jumping position - or at least a picture of someone looking in balance with heel down, etc. etc. I have got very into visualisation (I prefer that term rather than day dreaming
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) and I thought having a picture to look at would help. But when I look in my magazines everyone seems to have lower leg back, heels up, etc. So does anyone have a suitable pic???
 
I remember Forget_me_not had a lovely one of her on her old pony, I always thought that was pretty spot on
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Will have a look for it
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I feel a bit self-conscious posting these!! I can pick out lots of faults but theyre the closest to perfect I've ever managed. My main criticism of myself is that I could be freer with me hands but this horse takes a hard hold and if you give him loops in the air, he lands and runs!!

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See if you can find one of Lucinda Green, she is usually spot on
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ditto that, she has the most amazing lower leg.!!!
 
There is a great series of books called "Visions of . . ." full of fantastic shots as well as interesting bits of information. See if you can dig up the eventing or showjumping one as there are lots of great photos of famous riders. Another good one is "The Horse is Sport", which includes many of the classicists in action.

I actually find "Eventing" often has good pics and the large format makes them easy to use for what you want. Years ago I saw a pic of Mark Todd - coincidentally but I suspect importantly, wearing the gloves I favour - which really helped me get a visual of "soft hands". For some reasons magazines often have more good action shots for use in that way than many books or perhaps it's the format that lends itself better.
 
it is, especially as she is doing a step up out of water, v hard.!! i don't think i have ever seen a bad pic of her.!!
i would LOVE to go to one of her clinics.. they have one near me soon but it is a 2 day one and about £150, a bit too much for me, maybe next year...
 
I had a fab instructor in my first year at uni who explain a good jumping position perfectly, its hard to explain without demonstrating, but basically think of pushing your bottom backwards, that will fold you and push you lower leg forwards naturally (or it did with me).
 
Cool- I was standing just to the side of the lady in blue in the background when that shot was taken!
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I also had only just spoken to the guy watching in green who had asked me how the water jump was riding etc, gave him my opinion/observation and then realised he was actually riding in the three star and not just an interested spectator!
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I can just about make out the top of my head on the other side of Macchiato's mane in the WFP picture too! SO glad I'm not properly in any of them girning away in the background!
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It was fab at Blair this year, weather great and a gorgeous setting.
 
S I have looked and looked at your pics and I keep coming back to thinking that your stirrups are too long which is doing you no favours. I don't think your position is awful, just needs a little refining (don't we all?!).

I would try hitching up your stirrups a couple of holes (or more!) and worrying less about getting 'forward' and more about going with the movement.
 
No, not lower leg back, not at all, just free your knee a little and put your heels down, which will come when you get your bum back anyway. I don't have many great pics online, but I like this one, even though my knees are a bit tight ...

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MissDeMeena's are very good, excellent lower leg position.
the best i've got of me is this
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or this
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neither of which is perfect, but they're a lot better than all the rest!

Lucinda's position is brilliant but it's very hard to copy - her instinct is very defensive with her body but instantly free with her hands and arms, which is unusual. she NEVER socks them in the teeth, unlike a lot of people who try to emulate her.
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Pippa has a pretty perfect position now, and is the only rider i've ever seen who has managed to completely change her style, and not revert to her old ways in extremis.
Mary King's probably the best stylist in the game now, i think.
oh, and this is how i used to do it...
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SCostello, what you're doing is planting your hands on the horse's neck and rotating forward over them, if you try pushing them up and forwards towards the horse's ears, and maybe even keeping them off the neck totally if you can, you won't be able to tip forwards onto them. your weight will stay down in your bum and heels much more easily that way. hope that makes sense.
i think my photos illustrate that i used to do exactly the same thing...! (still do sometimes unforch)

 
lol - but she was riding Just a Token, aka Potty
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ets - she got round I think but had probably done forty something in the dressage.
 
How are these? I can never judge my lower leg! It's one of those things that you always look at pics of yourself and cringe!

sj:
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xc:
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and when it goes wrong and pony banks corner!
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I cant decide, am I the opposite and hold my lowerleg too far forward and push my weight back? my lower leg was awful when i first moved onto horse sbut its starting to improve now hopefully!
 
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