Please help! Jumping problem

Rosepup

Rosepup

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Hi all, I am having an issue which I am aware of but cannot seem to fix and it's driving me mad. When I am jumping I approach the jump fine but every single time just before the jump I fold too early and therefore unfold too early in the air. I know I am doing it but it's like my muscle memory will not let me change what I'm doing! I physically cannot make myself sit up before the jump! I need to progress to jumping a metre but I don't want to go any higher until I sort my out of control body out! Would anyone else have had this problem, how did they fix it? If I put down a small cross pole and jumped it without stirrups would this help? My balance is good and my hands are good so I don't think I would lean on my hands without stirrups. It's more like a bad habit that's impossible to break! Please help! I'm considering hypnotism next lol. Thanks in advance.
 
Yes, have solution for you!

As long as your canter is good, and you can do canter poles, put 3 canter poles out 18-21 ft depending on size of horse.

Have horse canter in rhythm, so it is pole, stride, pole, stride, pole.

This will be a nice rhythm, and you can feel the bigger stride over the poles. Once this feel harmonious then...

Make last pole into X pole, your body will already be in the rhythm to accommodate the jump.

When all is going well make 2nd pole into X too, so it is pole, stride, jump, stride, jump.

This will let you feel the rhythm and sort your muscle memory out.



ETA - also make sure you are in balance, as in not trying to stand up over the fence. It should feel as much bum back as fold forwards. Try it at halt first, and make sure you can hold it at trot and canter, with bum back.
 
Like reds suggestion.

I do the same or i fold too late. I find as I am approaching the jump counting backwards helps. Count down for each stride so when you say 1 it's the last stride before the fence. That might help.
 
I do this and it's a complete nightmare habit to get yourself out of.

What really helps me is closing my eyes 4-5 strides out. If I can't see the jump I can't anticipate it.

I'll be trying the exercise that Red-1 has mentioned though, thanks :).
 
I find that looking up and picking a fixed point in the distance to focus on helps (if you're not looking at the jump then it's harder to anticipate it). Also, focus on carrying your hands a little higher than normal - this helps keep you upright for longer!
 
best advice i got was not to fold at all. To just think of standing up in stirrups and not going forward at all, just giving hands forward. when i looked at photos of me doing it it actually put me in the right position!
 
Well I'm sort of the opposite, I always anticipate the horse is going to stop and fold too late, but like you it's a pig of a habit and no idea how to get out of it! Red's idea is certainly a start for both problems though I think, will certainly be giving that a try myself :D Hopefully you can stop going forward too early, I'll stop doing it too late and we'll both hit it in the middle ;)
 
I had this issue its more of a nervous foetal position thing but I have improved it (and this is slightly embarrassing) by thinking Boobs Boobs Bum (as in what bits sticking out) on the approach instead of counting strides to keep me sat up longer. It is important to only say this in your head however!
 
Thank you for all your suggestions! I have been CURED! Tried all suggestions here and also trusted myself and my horse more, relaxed a bit and my confidence grew and the folding too early has melted away. Hurray! :D
 
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