lower leg when jumping

[izzytoyah]

does anyone have any tips or exercises i can do to help with me lower leg and keeping my heels down over jumps?

on the flat im able to keep my heels down easily but as soon as i go over a jump it swings back so far and my toes go right down into the stirrup.

i’ve been trying to keep my weight down through my heels on jumps and have been practicing it over smaller jumps aswell but i just can’t seem to keep it still.

every time i watch a video of my riding when i thought i kept my heels down over the fences i watch it back and its awful!

its something ive been struggling with for a while so if anyone has any tips it would be really helpful! x

 

[Britestar]

What kind of saddle are you riding in?

 

[izzytoyah]

What kind of saddle are you riding in?

i am riding in a gp saddle but at the moment it’s all i can use as its a loan horse x

 

[marmalade76]

Are your stirrups short enough? So many people ride too long for jumping.

 

[izzytoyah]

Are your stirrups short enough? So many people ride too long for jumping.

i’ve been putting them up 1-2 holes higher.

 

[Britestar]

Try going higher yet. Mark Todd always said minimum up 5 holes for jumping

 

[ycbm]

Try going higher yet. Mark Todd always said minimum up 5 holes for jumping

In my avatar I'm up 8.

 

[ElectricChampagne]

Might you be gripping with your knee as a result of reaching for your stirrups? This would cause your leg to swing over the jump.

It's hard to tell without seeing it but a lot of riders do this.

What I found great is to practice my jumping position as I'm walking or trotting on a quiet horse until I get the leg strength and get my balance working. Hurts like hell for a bit but no pain no gain. Once I've managed that then I try standing straight up in my stirrups and stay balanced for as long as I can...

 

[View]

I agree with the suggestion to try around 5 holes shorter than flat length.

 

[millitiger]

Rising trot without stirrups.
Rising trot but rise 2 beats and sit 1 beat.
Hack out in 2 point position.
Gridwork with knotted reins.

 

[izzytoyah]

I agree with the suggestion to try around 5 holes shorter than flat length.

even when jumping smaller?

 

[4Hoofed]

Rising trot without stirrups.
Rising trot but rise 2 beats and sit 1 beat.
Hack out in 2 point position.
Gridwork with knotted reins.

Came here to say rise for two and down for one in trot and trot into small fences doing it. Impossible to do it with an unstable leg and if you trot into fences doing it creates a bit of a muscle memory.

But if you’re doing it even over smaller fences I agree shorten your stirrups up.

Maybe ride some low fences on a down hill slope? I think hunting/cross country is the key to building a good survival position and finding your personal balance. I rarely jump these days but a solid lower leg is a solid lower leg!

 

[View]

Issytoyah - even when jumping smaller

Yes. If what you are doing now isn’t working, something needs to change.

And wait for the horse to come up to you. Don’t anticipate. Keep your eyes up and focussed on something on the landing side.

 

[SpotsandBays]

If your saddle has removable knee rolls,
Try playing with the position of them. I had this issue and it was partly due to the saddle/knee roll placement

 

[greenbean10]

Best thing I did for my leg position is to do less over a fence. Practice down a grid so you’ll be in the right spot for take off, go into a light seat at the start of the grid and allow the horse’s shoulders to come up to you!

But also saddle can make a HUGE difference so don’t be too hard on yourself!

 

[sbloom]

The wrong GP saddle can make jumping very difficult. Shorter stirrups if you can, going so short as to have your knees up on the blocks will be just as unhelpful. Try folding down rather than thinking up/forward, the hands go forward, the body less so, I see so many people keeping their hands back, the elbows must open and the horse have space to extend head and neck.

 

[jenni:)]

Think about pushing the hips back over the jump. So you don’t throw your centre of balance forward and have you legs swing back to counter it

 

[catembi]

Might be the saddle. I was having all sorts of problems with my lower leg until I got a different saddle, & then it was instantly cured!