Sorry - another "how cr*p is my jumping but don't be too cruel" ....

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SueAllen

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....question. In fact I don't mind cruel as long as it's constructive. This was from today's lesson and, believe it or not, we have actually improved - it was not pretty to start with!! Horse is more than capable but I am fairly pants - particularly at jumping. BUT am DETERMINED to get loads better and match the horse's ability and enjoy some local jumping classes this year. Any tip/hints very welcome please. I'm not aiming to jump particularly high but improve technique and ability overall.

http://s39.photobucket.com/albums/e157/SueAllen2/?action=view&current=Atticusjumping006.flv
 
Yep - I can see I need to do that. When I started the lesson I was hurling my hands up to his ears and I do this horrible funky chicken thing with my elbows. When instructor had stopped wetting herself laughing she asked me to not be quite so enthusiastic about trying to 'throw' him over the fence, whilst trying to fly at the same time. I took those comments to heart and rather went the other way!! One day, maybe I'll reach a happy medium!!
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i think you look good! one thing i did notice is that your hand move quite a bit,so maybe just try to be aware of it and try and keep them stiller,your lower leg does slip back slightly..but not atm dangerously so, but could definatly be somethng to work on
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Thank you. I am always being told off for moving my hands too much so am trying to work on that. And am always trying to work on my lower leg being still so let's hope I get there. I have trouble trying to remember everything at once and nearly always forget to breathe!
 
hehe its hard work getting everything to work, but im sure if you try hard enough one day it will just click!!
 
God, that just reminds me how I hate how instructors just like hearing themselves talk and mostly spout meaningless things.
 
towards the end your legs were getting better but yes your lower leg does slip back and the first thing i noticed was your hands and you upper body every now and then rocks a bit to much but you looked fine to compleat just little improvements but nothing to much to worry bout
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GT's wot are u referring to?

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The lady in the background said something every stride......
 
Well my instructor gives me a running commentry. Not all the time, but sometimes. It may seem meaningless but when you have so many things to think about it just helps to jog your memory and help you focus on the things you need to remember. Well i think so anyway.

But back to the video of you jumping....you look great
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You have a happy little horse there! Looks like a lovely chappy.
 
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Well my instructor gives me a running commentry. Not all the time, but sometimes. It may seem meaningless but when you have so many things to think about it just helps to jog your memory and help you focus on the things you need to remember. Well i think so anyway.

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So do I. I pretty much play her voice in my head when I am trying stuff on my own. I know it is not everyone's preferred method (obviuosly not GT's for example) but it works for me and she is a very helpful instructor who goes above and beyond just teaching in the school.
 
Lovely Jump.

I can't add anything original but just watch the legs. Try and imagine that your legs are attached to the girth and keep them as near as possible even whilst jumping. To keep a central balance don't be afraid to stick bum backwards.

A little give with the hands, nothing massive, just enough to allow the horse flex his neck.


All in all, a lovely patnership, good luck!
 
Lovely horse! you two look like a good team. Just remember to keep your heels down so you lower leg doesnt swing back too much. Also your horse gets a bit fussy with his head coming up to the jump this may be because your holding him back a bit so maybe try letting him go forward more. Dont worry about giving with your hands too much at this height as he wont be stretching his neck too much but as you jump higher you will need to give more with your hands.
 
Lovely horse. I think you need to work on keeping your lower leg still and on, and ride him up into the bridle, which will probably settle him and keep his head stiller...but well done, he is a super dooper jumping machine!
 
I'd think about changing your instructor - some of what she said didn't really make any sense to me and the first time she tried to count you into the jumps she made a hash of it.

Maybe practise cantering in jumping position to find your balance and think about your "jumping seat".
 
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I'd think about changing your instructor - some of what she said didn't really make any sense to me and the first time she tried to count you into the jumps she made a hash of it.

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My thoughts exactly!

Thought you looked great!
 
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I'd think about changing your instructor - some of what she said didn't really make any sense to me and the first time she tried to count you into the jumps she made a hash of it.

Maybe practise cantering in jumping position to find your balance and think about your "jumping seat".

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She is pretty good for me at flatwork and gives me loads of help and advice for free in other areas o I don't really want to change her but I have the opportunity to do SJ clinics and training days through my riding club so I'll give those a go. Good tip about the cantering thanks.
 
I would perhaps suggest shortening you stirrups one or two holes. Then you might find it easier to get the weight down through you heels which should help stabilise your lower leg, and also help you get yourself and little lighter in your seat which may help with him fighting and hollowing against you going into the fence.

But you look good! Don't be hard on yourself!
 
Thanks for the comments about shorter stirrups - will be doing that next time.

My instructor has just asked me to add this bit in reply to those who were a little less than complimentary to her style (but as I said before, it suits me just fine) -

"I may well have deserved the harsh comments but can't get the volume up loud enough to hear much of what I'm actually saying.

In my defense - I can hear myself counting the strides and I'm not out of rhytmn at all so I'm not sure what the issue is with that - but perhaps they are criticising because I said 'one' again as Sue went over and they feel I should have stopped or said nothing? all I'm trying to do is to help her feel and maintain the rhythmn by counting out loud in 4's- not telling her where to take off.

As for some of the stuff not making sense - I can't tell due to the volume problems but if something has come out as rubbish well I hold my hands up - it happens sometimes but I do try to clarify what I'm saying if it's not clear [I hope]. I would also like to say that I've never claimed to be a specialist and fully encourage Sue to get as much experience as she can from clinics etc - plus I said from the beginning that there will come a stage when I've taken her as far as I can and she does need to move on and find another instructor.

But having said all that it's a pleasure to watch her riding so well - she has come on in leaps and bounds and is now riding a good track in a good rhythmn and really thinking about how her horse is going. We are working on her position and I fell shorter stirrups for jumoing may help with the lower leg security but all in all she's an absolute pleasure to teach as she works very hard and is very focussed [most of the time...!] and enthusiastic."

Just to set the record straight.
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