The lost art of following through with the hands.

[Kokopelli]

Sadly didn't remember your advice today about legs xc schooling, did the first few fences then I began panicking (I hate xc) but the few fences I remembered I got a much nicer jump and felt much more secure.

Thank you, will try it next time I sj so I'm not nervous.

 

[Littlelegs]

What a great post. Don't have anything constructive to say myself but think auslander deserves a thankyou for such a good post.

 

[Auslander]

Have you been looking at my fb photos by any chance?

I'm the 'master' of dodgy crest release combined with an amazingly unstable lower leg

For some reason I have never been able to jump the chestnut very 'classically' yet with anything else I look a lot better (though still fairly cr@p) Am I beyond hope?

ETA as the jumps get bigger, I tend to look better. Well, slightly less awful anyway

Nope! Another one who does themselves a dis-service. Yes, your lower leg needs to be further forward, and Yes, you could be following through more - but on the plus side, your reins are long enough that his teeth are safe - and you could sublet them for drying numnahs to pay for your entry fees ;-)

I haven't seen any really awful pics yet! I'm now hugely embarrassed about starting the thread in the first place. It appears that the majority are absolutely fine...

 

[Auslander]

A pretty appalling example of my jumping ability - on the plus side he's definitely not getting socked in the mouth - on the downside I think I'm jumping the fence for him - if he'd refused it could have been interesting...

It's really really not that bad!
He doesn't look the stopping sort anyway - bless him.

 

[Kokopelli]

I haven't seen any really awful pics yet! I'm now hugely embarrassed about starting the thread in the first place. It appears that the majority are absolutely fine...

Don't be embarrassed this is a brilliant thread! Although I don't agree the majority are fine, some of the photos I see plastered over facebook with loads of comments like 'how amazing you look' when the back teeth are definitely being removed, and it isn't a one off they always jump in that fashion.

 

[Auslander]

I think you must have been watching me!

Having ridden some seriously dirty stoppers in the past, the sort, that take off, change their minds and land again, my seat is rather on the defensive side Having not done much competing over the last two years, and thus having no photos of me jumping, I was rather mortified by rather awful lower leg, and hanging on hands...! It's seriously being worked on! This was taken a couple of weekends ago.

I have pictures of me when I was younger reaching for ears... Talk about one extreme to the other!

Current horse doesn't look like he'd do that to you - what a nice horse. I feel your pain re dirty stoppers - that's part of the reason I'm guilty of winging at fences and taking strides out!

Might just be the photo, but your stirrups look very long. You'd probably feel much more secure if you whacked them up a couple of holes.

 

[Auslander]

There's also the thing that a photo is a snapshot of a whole course. I tend to look fairly decent over fences- I need to give more, but I would spread my hands on the neck so the fact my hands weren't very forwards didn't matter that much.

But my actual riding between the fences was poor- I'd rather see a less than perfect moment in time with the overall round looking smooth and neat than what I had to offer!

I really like this. Hands in a lovely place, nicely balanced... I think nother thing people do is over -fold and over-give when jumping relatively small fences. You are spot on in this pic, although for 10/10, I'd like to see the hip softer so that your toes re pointing the way you're going.

Incidentally - pointy out toes re often caused by clenched buttocks - another comment the nipple eyes trainer thought he'd shame me further with by shouting it loudly across the school!

 

[GinaGeo]

Thank You. You're right he wouldn't. He's a real genuine boy, he'd jump anything I pointed him at. My issues are stopping him after we've finished the course!

I shall try popping my stirrups up a bit more, I already thought they were short, but I've always ridden quite long! Saying that my flat length has gone up a few holes recently, maybe my jumping length needs to follow suit... Thank you

 

[dafthoss]

Please dont be embarased about starting this post it has been very educational and I would love a lesson with you as it has been a long time since I had a jumping lesson .

I'd love to know what you think of this one, the jump is small and I dont think my hands are text book but he didnt ask for more rein over it.

as I seem to be a lot further back than lots of others when I jump, pony has a history of dirty stopping though so I do tend to go on the deffensive and it has really made me more consious about not getting in front of him.
ETA thats from a video still so I can post the whole jump if thats easier?

On the topic of aweful pics a friend has just put photos on facebook and her horse is overbent in the air where she has such a tug on his mouth to keep her self on feel very sorry for the poor thing its very honest to keep jumping.

 

[Auslander]

Don't be embarrassed this is a brilliant thread! Although I don't agree the majority are fine, some of the photos I see plastered over facebook with loads of comments like 'how amazing you look' when the back teeth are definitely being removed, and it isn't a one off they always jump in that fashion.

I did have a good hunt for an infamous picture of me that demonstrates every single fault I have mentioned in this post, just so people didn't think I was Little Ms SnottyLookAtMeI'mPerfect, but it appears that I may have been so embarrassed that I killed it with fire!!

 

[Auslander]

Thank You. You're right he wouldn't. He's a real genuine boy, he'd jump anything I pointed him at. My issues are stopping him after we've finished the course!

I shall try popping my stirrups up a bit more, I already thought they were short, but I've always ridden quite long! Saying that my flat length has gone up a few holes recently, maybe my jumping length needs to follow suit... Thank you

I jumped quite long all through my childhood/early teens, and used to fall off all the time. Wasn't til I went to work for WFP, that I learned how much more secure you felt with the stirrups hoicked right up. When I was fit and riding properly, my jumping length used to be 7 holes shorter than my dressage length! 45 degree angle behind the knee.

Nowadays, Im just happy to stay on!

 

[Lolo]

I really like this. Hands in a lovely place, nicely balanced... I think nother thing people do is over -fold and over-give when jumping relatively small fences. You are spot on in this pic, although for 10/10, I'd like to see the hip softer so that your toes re pointing the way you're going.

Incidentally - pointy out toes re often caused by clenched buttocks - another comment the nipple eyes trainer thought he'd shame me further with by shouting it loudly across the school!

Thank you- I have many shockers where I'm just holding on and not even pretending to do anything else. Horse was a star and never ever stopped, but he did do what he liked and I had no say in the matter! it resulted in photos like this:

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/36692_1504761706102_1446041645_31335699_3740937_n.jpg
Linking to help oversized photos! Where he took a massive flier, and I just clung on... Normally what happened!

 

[Jesstickle]

Your hands are mostly lovely though, and he doesn't appear to care what you're doing. so I wouldn't worry too much! I've looked at the vid, and the thing that strikes me is that it would be far easier if you cantered into the fences. I can't see a stride for toffee jumping out of trot, and find it a million times easier to be balanced and effective jumping from canter. He's quite relaxed about his jumping, so might benefit from slightly more pony club approach!

I do usually canter. This was his first time XC schooling and he likes time to work out new questions so all in trot. If I force the issue and make him canter he'll nip out the side! I don't have much video of him jumping from canter as my OH is the worst camera man in the whole world

I have this one but I don't like it much as it was before I learnt to find the forward button and we are just crawling into them. Or rather, I am killing the canter dead and I am cross with myself for doing it so don't like to watch it much.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IY3Z8mBLf8g&list=UUxFfSyMkfhYDIib2u30aOcg&index=9&feature=plcp

I'd love to know what you think of this one, the jump is small and I dont think my hands are text book but he didnt ask for more rein over it.

I wish I could look that stylish in the air

 

[Auslander]

Please dont be embarased about starting this post it has been very educational and I would love a lesson with you as it has been a long time since I had a jumping lesson .

I'd love to know what you think of this one, the jump is small and I dont think my hands are text book but he didnt ask for more rein over it.

as I seem to be a lot further back than lots of others when I jump, pony has a history of dirty stopping though so I do tend to go on the deffensive and it has really made me more consious about not getting in front of him.
ETA thats from a video still so I can post the whole jump if thats easier?

On the topic of aweful pics a friend has just put photos on facebook and her horse is overbent in the air where she has such a tug on his mouth to keep her self on feel very sorry for the poor thing its very honest to keep jumping.

I really like that you said "He didn't ask for more rein". Really nice to hear - you obviously have feel. I like the pic - I sit similarly over a fence!

I may have to do a countrywide tour, teaching 'nipple eyes' and 'leaveitsgobalone"

Ohhh - I've just had a brilliant idea!! I could call it the "Tits and Teeth Tour"

 

[Auslander]

I do usually canter. This was his first time XC schooling and he likes time to work out new questions so all in trot. If I force the issue and make him canter he'll nip out the side! I don't have much video of him jumping from canter as my OH is the worst camera man in the whole world

I love BH. Although I know he drives you mad, there's something about him that makes me want one just like him to play with!

 

[JFTDWS]

I would like to complain about dafthoss taking Fergie's teeth out at Isleham The ridiculous amount of contact she has on his mouth here is vile - it makes me feel ill

 

[Jesstickle]

I love BH. Although I know he drives you mad, there's something about him that makes me want one just like him to play with!

He does drive me mad, but I love him really. I couldn't ask for a more genuine, straight forward horse in terms of his ridden work. Considering he's been taught by me his whole life he's doing remarkably well Credit where credit is due, he has the patience of a saint to put up with me and my incompetence! Hopefully he isn't too broken and he'll stay sound now

Just for you here he is today being particularly loveable

 

[Auslander]

I would like to complain about dafthoss taking Fergie's teeth out at Isleham The ridiculous amount of contact she has on his mouth here is vile - it makes me feel ill

I totally love his spring lamb impressions

 

[Copperpot]

Can you have your stirrups too short? I also feel I jumped better in my old saddle. Although I do feel secure in my new one. Will see if I can find a pic of stirrup length. I ride one length for everything!!

 

[Auslander]

Just for you here he is today being particularly loveable

He's just so elegant...love him!

 

[Jesstickle]

He's just so elegant...love him!

He's a total clown. He makes me laugh so much. I love the face plant one, he's such an elephant!

 

[Auslander]

Can you have your stirrups too short? I also feel I jumped better in my old saddle. Although I do feel secure in my new one. Will see if I can find a pic of stirrup length. I ride one length for everything!!

It probably is, but my knees and ankles have opinions about how short they will allow me to go!

I generally find that the shorter my stirrups re, the more secure I feel. Mind you, having your legs doubled up like a frog does mean that if you get bucked off - you fly for miles!

 

[JFTDWS]

This is probably a reasonable representation of my position

if I have a turn to make after a fence it improves my lower leg, at the cost of the release

I often end up navigating courses like this

and very occasionally I do this over very small fences

I think epic fail was accurate

 

[JFTDWS]

I totally love his spring lamb impressions

very, very accurate

 

[TheSylv007]

Little bit - but the line from elbow to mouth is lovely, and you look pretty balanced. I tend to look t pics and thing "What would happen if the horse slammed the brakes on as he landed" I reckon you'd be ok!

That's made my day! What I forgot to mention is that I fell off at the last fence on the course when Rose decided as we took off that she didn't like the filler. Serves me right!

 

[Mince Pie]

I haven't seen any really awful pics yet! I'm now hugely embarrassed about starting the thread in the first place. It appears that the majority are absolutely fine...

You want a bad one? How's this?

 

[dafthoss]

I totally love his spring lamb impressions

There is certantly some spring in him Thats my hold ***** strap and slip reins as horse takes off so I dont take his teeth out impression.

I wish I could look that stylish in the air

You do and you jump far bigger than us.

I really like that you said "He didn't ask for more rein". Really nice to hear - you obviously have feel. I like the pic - I sit similarly over a fence!

I may have to do a countrywide tour, teaching 'nipple eyes' and 'leaveitsgobalone"

Ohhh - I've just had a brilliant idea!! I could call it the "Tits and Teeth Tour"

Thanks, I'm hopeless on a horse though much prefer a pony. Ok was just hoping its not something I need to stop doing as it seems to have developed more now we are jumping more decent sized fences.

I like the sound of the tits and teeth tour sounds like it could be a laugh.

JFDT I'll send you a link to the picture I'm on about on fb

 

[Auslander]

You want a bad one? How's this?

Ooh - she is a leetle bit hampered there- hence doing the funky helicopter! Maybe worth sticking a neck strap on and grabbing it on either side of her neck to get you going with her a bit more consistently? If your hands were 6 inches further forward, it wouldn't be a bad pic at all. She's a dude - I like!

 

[Mince Pie]

She was an amazing little pony but was far too cocky into fences for a green 5 year old! I was totally left behind on that shot and there wasn't much in front of me so I always rode seriously defensively on her. Sadly she's now at pastures new and I miss her loads, she was too small and was ever only going to be a project - but my god she was fun, typical welshy attitude!

 

[Auslander]

She was an amazing little pony but was far too cocky into fences for a green 5 year old! I was totally left behind on that shot and there wasn't much in front of me so I always rode seriously defensively on her. Sadly she's now at pastures new and I miss her loads, she was too small and was ever only going to be a project - but my god she was fun, typical welshy attitude!

Shame - she's lovely!