releasing hands over a fence?

diggerbez

diggerbez

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how much should you release over a fence?...i'm confused. show jumpers seem to give quite a lot but eventers tend not too so much- they don't pull back but don't seem to throw hands forwards as much- is it as simple as the fences being much smaller?
 
Yes i think your right here, prob because fences are smaller, and prob more defensive riding often in a slightly safer position due to terrain etc.
 
Daisychain said:
Yes i think your right here, prob because fences are smaller, and prob more defensive riding often in a slightly safer position due to terrain etc.
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even in the sjing though?
been down to somerford today for an XC lesson and they had pre event SJing on and when i arrived it was the novice horses (i.e. BE novice, not babies!) and hardly anyone was throwing hands forwards but yet most of the people i saw rode really nicely and had nice clear rounds.... so definitely weren't hindering their horses
 
Maybe it stems from the xc? I know when i look at my pics my hands always seem close to the whithers, but i never restrict my horses in anyway! None of my trainers have ever comented either.
 
Daisychain said:
Maybe it stems from the xc? I know when i look at my pics my hands always seem close to the whithers, but i never restrict my horses in anyway! None of my trainers have ever comented either.
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yes its probably that...coupled with smaller fences. doesn't explain why some people doing british novices spend their time kissing their horses' ears though ;):D
 
Could it be because of the jumping styles of the horses, ie it has been said that a horse that "show jumps" fences can be too slow XC so perhaps they jump flatter? Bear in mind that I only XC low level currently about 2'6 although I have hunted over higher fences.
 
I don't give much with my hands which def comes from the xc as I'm already thinking 'sit back and organise myself' whilst still in the air as I have to be so on my toes with my mare. If I give too much with my reins then I can't get myself or the horse prepared enough for the next fence.... she has to really be listening to me otherwise she will just run out. I don't really know why SJ is that different, I think maybe because the canter is more balanced i.e. not going at a gallop!! Mostly it is just habit, I try and ride more elegantly and fold more in the SJing!! :)
 
Interesting - I was thinking I must go and watch some bsja (ref my other post) as I don't think I have the same style xc - never aware of it anyway - but I think I stay in a more forward seat all the time? So lessfar to cold? Plus of course if you have a drop etc behind or even just sloping ground you can't be up the horses neck too far!
 
I remember reading an article by Blythe Tait years ago about this, which stuck with me for some reason. He said he prefers a "full crest" (i.e. hands well forwards) for SJ but a half crest for xc. I think it was to allow the horse to bascule more in sj. At the time, I had eventing instructors who had competed at 3* and 4* respectively and both preferred me to not release too much, even over sj. I now have an instructor with a sj background who keeps telling me to release more and fold less! I wish I had Blyth Tait's talent (and more time to practice) so I could switch between the two more easily ;)
 
Interesting. I have a low level show jumping background - never evented beyond the annual PC event when I was tiny. I'm always being told off for throwing my hands too far forward. I can't remember the last lesson where I wasn't told to not move my hands in the air. I was instructed to watch the top level show jumpers' hands, particularly on the strong horses who like to run through the hand. Sure enough, their hands only move a few inches even though they're jumping 1.50+m. Naturally some have their hands up by the ears as their style, others do it when they take flyers, but many barely move their hands.

http://www.sportpferde-ehning.com/start.php?typ=auflistung&name=news&lang=en

http://www.horsemagazine.com/thm/2010/07/four-showjumping-masters-–-part-1-george-morris/

Probably better examples, but anyway.
 
If you look at pics of John Whittaker jumping he's still got loads of bend in his elbows but he kind of softens his hand rather than give it if that makes sense? When I consciously think about giving away my 3 lowest fingers and just holding the rein between my thumb and first finger my horse seems to make a better shape over the jump but I still have plenty of rein.

Don't think I'm explaining myself terribly well but heyho!
 
I think it depends on how you were taught - back in the day I had arguments with PC instructors who insisted that to jump a fence you had to put your hands up the neck three strides out and kick :eek: On any of my dear darling :rolleyes: ponies that was akin to having a death wish!
An example of someone that does put his hands well forwards is Paul Barker - he pushes his hands up almost to the horses ears and has since he was on ponies, but he's an extreme example and it seems to work for him.
Personally I tend to be quite defensive, sitting up almost before landing and not giving much with my hands but softening them and being ready to release SHOULD it be necessary - whilst this is in no way ideal, years of riding less than well behaved ponies and horses has taught me that it's a good survival method.
 
MagsnPaddy said:
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Personally I tend to be quite defensive, sitting up almost before landing and not giving much with my hands but softening them and being ready to release SHOULD it be necessary - whilst this is in no way ideal, years of riding less than well behaved ponies and horses has taught me that it's a good survival method.
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Me too! I also think it depends what you have ridden, you and I and no doubt lots of other ride like this for the same reasons others may have been more lucky and not had to learn to be so defensive

I am slowly getting there with my new lad as he never stops.

However I am always surprised at small SJ's to see people folding and throwing hands up as though they think they are jumping a 5ft jump! why?

Friends and I have often said you can see by watching someone jump if they are a Sjer or eventer lol
 
The fastest way to ruin your horse's jump is to be on its mouth in the air.

I am super cautious and always soften on point of take off and give my hands so my horse has as much freedom in the air as could need. My mare will jump a fence cleanly everytime if I allow her to.

I did have a very strong horse who would take any release of contact to mean 'go faster' and hence would land running if he felt me give over an xc fence so he taught me to find a very fine balance but he never used his head and neck much in the air anyway.
 
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