Ok, jumping help please!! Opinions needed (pics now working!)!

[KatB]

Please be brutal now!!

I am a bit

about my pics from G horse Sjing at the weekend, yet generally my lower leg is pretty good, just not on my horse!!

Anyone have any ideas please?!

SGO
http://www.equipics.co.uk/viewpicture.tlx?albumid=168922&pictureid=7240758

Goddy (current saddle)

http://www.equipics.co.uk/viewpicture.tlx?albumid=168924&pictureid=7240918

Previous saddle

Original saddle

And my cob

Any thoughts please? Am thinking shorter stirrups maybe the way to go?!!

 

[kirstyhen]

I can't see any pics

I only wanted to see the lovely G too!!

 

[KatB]

No they dont seem to be working!!

 

[kirstyhen]

Naugty HHO/Photobucket!

 

[Rachel_M]

I can see them

Probably because you have just edited the post

 

[redmerl]

I cant be much help, but I didn't know you had a cob.

He is awesome!

 

[madhector]

Not going to attempt to give advice, but think you should have Herman, he and G have the exact same white splodge on thier noses

 

[KatB]

Lol! No longer! He was awesome, he is now with another very lucky forum member.!!

 

[KatB]

You're no use!!

 

[madhector]

[ QUOTE ]
You're no use!!

[/ QUOTE ]

I really dont think I am in any position to offer advice, have you seen my jumping position?!

 

[KatB]

Damn site better than mine at the mo

 

[kirstyhen]

[ QUOTE ]
I can see them

Probably because you have just edited the post

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh dear

KatB - This is probably going to sound stupid, but I don't think you can do a "proper" position until your horse "properly" bascules over a fence. My position over 2ft6 is horrendous, but jumping 1m on Hen and I'm fine, possibly because Hen actually has to put some effort in!
So maybe G just finds it too easy, isn't jumping "properly" and therefore you can't fold "properly"..........

That actually makes no sense and makes it sound like I saying G can't jump, but thats not what I mean!!

I know what I mean.....

 

[Jade2007]

It's a difficult one. There nothing majorly wrong with you jumping position tbh. The only thing is that I think you come out of the saddle too much. Can you see the difference between the third pic of you and G on Equipic and the others? You need to focus on pushing your bumback a bit so that you're not ahead of the movement and fold from your hips not your knees aswell!

Hope I helped a bit x

 

[madhector]

Nah, you look way better

Dont dispair hun, you are just doubting yourself after not so great an ouiting, get going somewhere else and see how he goes

 

[KatB]

Hmm, I DO know what you mean, but I still shouldnt be looking like a monkey up a tree!!

 

[Jade2007]

[ QUOTE ]


Oh dear

KatB - This is probably going to sound stupid, but I don't think you can do a "proper" position until your horse "properly" bascules over a fence. My position over 2ft6 is horrendous, but jumping 1m on Hen and I'm fine, possibly because Hen actually has to put some effort in!
So maybe G just finds it too easy, isn't jumping "properly" and therefore you can't fold "properly"..........

That actually makes no sense and makes it sound like I saying G can't jump, but thats not what I mean!!

I know what I mean.....

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree, my position on my 16.2 is

because he just steps over everything up to 3ft6, but on my 14hh I actually fold because he is basculing over the jump, and it just comes more naturally when they jump like that.

 

[KatB]

Thanks Jade_R, that does make sense, and I know I do jump for G!!

Its just working out how to stop it

Pretty sure I dont do it XC maybe I just try too much?!!!

 

[kerilli]

it's not too bad at all, sometimes you grip with your knees, and you're coming out of the saddle a bit too much at times. try to think of shoving your feet forwards and weight down into heels on take off a few times, if you exaggerate it a bit you should get the feeling. it's easier if you think of taking your knees really off the saddle for a bit, to let your weight travel down.
Lucinda's idea of imagining a big spike coming up from the horse's withers, as if that whole area in front of the saddle is a danger zone, is quite useful too!

 

[KatB]

Thanks Kerilli. Was thinking about it last night. When I came back from being a WP I rode really short in my jump saddle with my knees completely off the saddle, but as Ive worked more on the canter I have crept back to riding long, which has got me out of the habit!!

The spike idea should help

 

[sillygillyhorse]

I too was going to say what Kerilli has spotted. Particularly on Goddy you look much tighter through your thigh and therefore more on your knees which allows you to pivot on them and go up his neck (I am guilty of this too!).

Try to remember it is his job to jump the fence, your job it to get him there in a forward rythmical balanced but relaxed way, easier said than done I know. At times you look like you are trying too hard hence the tension. Really focus on yourself, sitting up with loose thigh, knee off the saddle, weight down through your heal which will make your lower leg more secure and effective to squeeze him on take off. Also remember Lucinda's see-saw effect. If you close your thigh and knee and pivot over his shoulder you make it difficult for the see-saw to come up.

I know you do lots of gridwork which is brilliant as it will allow you to focus on these things rather than coming to single fences etc. I know exactly where you are coming from as tension through the knee and thigh is a huge problem for me to.

 

[kerilli]

lots of work in the 2-point seat with shorter stirrups does wonders too, if you can bear the pain!

 

[MissDeMeena]

Years and years of someone shouting "heels down" would also do the trick

I won a lessons with a top SJ'er a few years ago, and he said that there are muscles etc. in the back of your leg/heel/ankle that need to 'give' and that'll only happen the more you work at it..
Stretch those muscles

 

[juliehannah58]

Haven't read the other replies but have to say when I saw your pics from the weekend my first thought was that your stirrups looked long, looked like you were having to 'reach' for them.

 

[KatB]

Thanks everyone.

MrsT, yeah its strange I seem to mainly suffer with it on my horse isnt it?!!

But yes, will work on keeping knee off the saddle again.

MDM, yeah I know, but its not something I generally suffer from, if you see the pics on SGO I'm not actually bad with my heel position.....

Kerilli, thanks, I do whack my stirrups up every now and again for canter work, am definitely going to go shorter again this weekend on G horse

I think I ride shorter on SGO anyway as he is smaller and my legs have to contact his side!!