Lower Leg Over Jumps!

[hearts4ponies]

I’ve noticed over the past 2 years, my lower leg is terrible over jumps. My leg flies almost right down to my horses bum, my toes will be down to the floor. This happens even if i’m jumping a tiny crosspole or a barley off the ground vertical. as soon as i lean foward, my leg flies back. I would really appreciate some tips! I know this might seem like a silly question, but I really struggle with my confidence and i’ve tried to many things but my lower leg has just never improved. I have been jumping for a few years by the way.

 

[Korg]

Firstly, welcome to forum!

Secondly, I'd guess that your problem isn't specifically with jumping, but somewhere in the basics. You said you've tried many things, have you tried practicing standing up in the saddle in walk, trot and canter? In a simple, two point position. I find this hardest in walk but I think it's really helpful to get a more stable seat, and you can do it on most horses without it affecting them. You can also, in trot, do two standing steps followed by two sitting down, and continue on like that. Really just practice working with your seat, changing positions and still staying stable. When this works, you may start with small jumps. Small ones with no stride in-between, just a high canter basically (if your horse isn't overly dramatic). I would be surprised if this wouldn't help. However, unless there is some 'hidden' problem you have, it is probably just time and practice you need. Core and leg strength is also important.

 

[DeliaRides]

This is a lot more common than it ever used to be, from what I observe at local shows etc and I wonder if people aren't spending enough time on the jumping position before actually starting to jump. I remember being at riding school years ago and spending half the lesson suspended in 2-point perfecting balance etc. It was agonising and exhausting to start with but it really helped build strength and nail the crucial stability.

I also see these days a lot of focus on the 'fold' to jump, with riders elevating and leaning forward, and often throwing hands forward as well, and as you say lower legs end up going back and stability is lost. I think a lot of riders are folding too much and ending up far ahead on the horse's movement which again impacts on stability. Have you tried getting into jump position when you're not on a horse? Both feet on the ground. If you do, maybe in front of a mirror, you'll see that as your upper body bends forward, your bottom actually moves back to counter balance, otherwise you'd fall over. I think if you can start to think about that while riding, and about your weight staying over your heels, you might stop swinging your lower leg back. Also as I say spending time trotting round the school suspended in 2-point will give you the right feeling.

 

[I'm Dun]

shorten your stirrups and then spend time riding in a light seat. Once youve nailed that go to jumping small jumps with your eyes closed and not moving yourself, just following the horses movement as quietly as you can.

I obvioucly havent seen you but i bet your stirrups are too long and your flinging yourself.

 

[Pidgeon]

Same as others have said. Shorten your stirrups, one hole at a time, stand up in your stirrups whilst remaining straight, more difficult than you think as the natural way is to lean forward. Once your calf muscles have got used to that, hike the stirrups up another hole. Rising twice instead of once is good tip. Plus really concentrate on standing in your stirrups as much as possible as once your calf muscles have got stronger and your stirrups are short enough, this will mean your lower leg remains on the girth when jumping and not going back, which will give you much more confidence and stability over a fence. You also need to only fold as much as you need to over a fence, lots over fold and throw their hands up the horses neck, this isn't a very secure position if something happens. You should, IMO, be aiming for that straight line from the horses bit, reins and lower arms. Attached a few images to show what I mean, my position is by no means perfect, but hopefully gives you an idea of what we are on about.

 

[sbloom]

Fold down, bum back if anything. Danny Emerson, Tamarack Hill Farm, on FB shows grat photos of good, secure positions, though @Pigeon's are good.

Two point work and gridwork, perhaps without reins, can really help. Your saddle may be playing a part but that's not about having a rear block to stop your lower leg swinging, we need to stop the original cause which can include lack of pubic arch and knee support.

 

[DeliaRides]

Agree most people riding at lower levels are folding too much for the height they are jumping. You don't need your body flat on the horse's neck or anything even close. Just elevate and slightly angle your upper body. I also think maybe think about keeping your pelvis in more or less the same place as usual, only elevated. When I see is of people over folding and tipping ahead of the motion, their pelvis ends up hovering somewhere over the pommel, far too far forward.

 

[Titchy Pony]

When I was younger, we did a lot of work on position and the strength to keep that position. One exercise was to stand vertically on your stirrups for one side of the school, then go into jump position for the next side of the school, then sitting for the next side of the school, and repeat. Do this in all three paces. You can then check how stable your legs are by putting a glove between your calf and the horse and repeating the exercise while trying not to lose the glove. If you really want to torture yourself, you can even do this exercise without stirrups (but keep it short!).
Also think about getting your heel down, to help stop your leg swinging back. You can stand in your stirrups and practice going up on your toes then sinking your heels back down in walk to help get the mobility and feel you need to keep your heels down.

 

[hearts4ponies]

By the way, I ride in a riding school, so i’m not able to set out certain courses/obstacles and i can’t really try certain exersises to help because my

Firstly, welcome to forum!

Secondly, I'd guess that your problem isn't specifically with jumping, but somewhere in the basics. You said you've tried many things, have you tried practicing standing up in the saddle in walk, trot and canter? In a simple, two point position. I find this hardest in walk but I think it's really helpful to get a more stable seat, and you can do it on most horses without it affecting them. You can also, in trot, do two standing steps followed by two sitting down, and continue on like that. Really just practice working with your seat, changing positions and still staying stable. When this works, you may start with small jumps. Small ones with no stride in-between, just a high canter basically (if your horse isn't overly dramatic). I would be surprised if this wouldn't help. However, unless there is some 'hidden' problem you have, it is probably just time and practice you need. Core and leg strength is also important.

Thank you so much!

 

[hearts4ponies]

Thanks for your help everyone! Today in my lesson, we did a ton of light seat canter and Wow, did it tire me but i also felt that it helped my position a lot. I’m planning to do a ton more light seat canter, as well as jumping position in walk, trot, no stirrups when i can, as well as that i’m going to exercise OFF the horse a lot more often. (starting with biking, as i’ve heard that helps!) I really appreciate all the advice and will take everything to mind Also i’m not entirely sure how to use this website yet so bare with me

I’ve noticed over the past 2 years, my lower leg is terrible over jumps. My leg flies almost right down to my horses bum, my toes will be down to the floor. This happens even if i’m jumping a tiny crosspole or a barley off the ground vertical. as soon as i lean foward, my leg flies back. I would really appreciate some tips! I know this might seem like a silly question, but I really struggle with my confidence and i’ve tried to many things but my lower leg has just never improved. I have been jumping for a few years by the way.

By the way, I ride in a riding school, so i’m not able to set out certain courses/obstacles and i can’t really try certain exersises to help because my

Thank you so much!

 

[paddi22]

did a clinic before and the instructors advice was to 'land in your heel'. I found visualising that really helpful to push my heel forward and down.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

I was always told the jump should never see anything other than the soles of your boots.

So heels down on approach, jump sees the soles of your boots, puts you in an easier position to just slide your pelvis back and means as you go over it the jump again only sees the soles of your boots.

Has worked for me all these years and kept me more secure and in balance as well

 

[Burnttoast]

Folding is fine if it means closing the hip angle. What you don't want to do is just lean forward while maintaining an open hip angle - that will more or less guarantee that your leg shoots backwards. Many people are riding too long, too. Pull your stirrups up a few holes and practise a light/2-point seat, as mentioned above. 'Bum back, hands forward' is something my lanky friend found very useful even over small fences.

 

[Spotherisk]

As everyone else says, but also one from my youth. We had to practise off the horse (so you can do this ) by standing on a jump pole on the ground, hands in front as if holding the reins. Fold down - you have to stick your bum behind, flatten your back and push your hands forward and keep your head up, otherwise you will tip off the pole. Experiment with where your body needs to be to stay in balance. Illl try to find a good photo example…

 

[I'm Dun]

As everyone else says, but also one from my youth. We had to practise off the horse (so you can do this ) by standing on a jump pole on the ground, hands in front as if holding the reins. Fold down - you have to stick your bum behind, flatten your back and push your hands forward and keep your head up, otherwise you will tip off the pole. Experiment with where your body needs to be to stay in balance. Illl try to find a good photo example…

That is so much harder than it sounds. I remember being a kid and doing that!

 

[j1ffy]

As everyone else says, but also one from my youth. We had to practise off the horse (so you can do this ) by standing on a jump pole on the ground, hands in front as if holding the reins. Fold down - you have to stick your bum behind, flatten your back and push your hands forward and keep your head up, otherwise you will tip off the pole. Experiment with where your body needs to be to stay in balance. Illl try to find a good photo example…

I remember doing something like this at an adult camp as well! Really helpful.

In terms of off-horse, lots of squats (including dynamic squats and weighted squats) should help. I have a personal training session twice a week and was pleasantly surprised when doing some long hacks with a lot of light seat work that my thighs managed just fine despite only doing dressage work for the last couple of years!

 

[sbloom]

Doing rising trot, though something softer than a pole, a rolled towel for instance, on this set up is brilliant for balance generally. Too many of us ride with our balance and weight too far back, or of course forwards, and that only adds to issues when jumping.