Tips and jumping exercises to prevent leaning forwards (XC)

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Gingey

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Hiya
I've been having an issue with being too far forwards on the approach to a fence, which I know not only interfers with the horse's approach but also means I'm far more likely to get in front of the movement over the jump, or lose my balance in the case of a stop!
Horse can be very spooky XC and will back off a fence, most of the time I can manage to sit tall and wait, but it seems the more he backwards/spooky he is to a fence, the more likely I am to lean forward and push my hands forward instead of sitting tall, keeping my contact and driving with my seat.
Obviously this makes me a lot less effective (particularly as my TB can go v green and needs me there to keep him balanced and forwards, rather than rushing on the forehand and throwing in a stop)- so, exercises/tips/thoughts (?!) to keep me sitting up and waiting for the fence please?! I've always been told to think 'shoulders behind hips' on the approach which does seem to help (if I remember to think it :( :o )- obviously not taken really literally, ie leaning back as you don't want that either, but just as a reminder about keeping shoulders back it does kind of help.
I did have this problem to a lesser extent with SJ (I know, I'm just useless :rolleyes: :( ) which I've managed to crack by and large, mainly with grids, but somehow when we're speeding along an XC course, and he starts to back off, all the stuff I did to work on sitting back for SJ just seems to go out the window :o

I haven't had any XC tuition since last year so another lesson is definitely on the cards ASAP. In the meantime, any suggestions for working on myself are really appreciated. I did have an SJ lesson last week and my instructor commented on how I had improved with waiting for the fences since she last saw me jump (mainly been working on the flat for a while in lessons).
Thanks!
 
Are your stirrups short enough XC as this will help you secure your lower leg on the girth and enable you to sit up rather than forwards? Not sure that makes sense?
 
Very good point and actually you're right, I probably don't ride as short as I should, and I should think it doesn't help. I've been trying to address this recently by getting used to the right length when cantering round the paddocks and out hacking etc, got a competition on Sunday so will see if that makes a difference! Thanks
 
No probs, perhaps get someone to take a pic of you riding at XC length to see if they are short enough or not? I used to think mine were short enough but ending up hiking them up about 5-6 holes under instruction and the difference is amazing :D
 
ride a dirty stopper for a bit! only half joking, it's amazing what sitting on their ears (or worse), or riding very green youngsters who are likely to spin and run, can do for your defensive seat.
if you train your horse to listen to your body aids on the flat, so that your downwards aid incorporates a 'shoulders up and back as seat sinks softly down' kind of thing, this becomes a very important part of your jumping aids, esp xc. when you can get the horse to shift gear with your body/shoulders, it becomes automatic to 'wait' with them.
i have a little mantra i use to help prevent me going to the hand on the way to a fence, said in my head in time with the canter beat, "I can hold her with my should- ers" and that definitely works for me.
Lucinda Green uses the image of a great big metal spike coming up out of the horse's withers, that's the Danger Area that you do NOT want your body to flop forwards into...
working on core strength (psoas, my Word of the Month!) etc should help too.
i actually find that my Kan also helps, the back is shaped and firm (but comfily moulded) and dips into the natural S of the back, and when i sit up on the way to a fence i can feel it in just the right place, if that makes sense, a sort of very light physical aid to me.
 
MAke sure your stirrups are short enough that your lower leg cannot swing, then work on being able to just see your toes when you glance down.

Just fold forward rather than lift your seat off the saddle.

ALso work over grids with no stirrups - great for keeping your position safe
 
kerilli said:
ride a dirty stopper for a bit! only half joking, it's amazing what sitting on their ears (or worse), or riding very green youngsters who are likely to spin and run, can do for your defensive seat.
Click to expand...

The silly thing is, my first horse WAS a very dirty stopper- I just fell off a lot/learnt to wiggle quickly back into the saddle- I was quite young :o
And up until not so long ago, my current horse (ex racer), although not a youngster, was very green and threw in a lot of stops. He is a huge amount better now- a lot more confident, and we work well together, which I'm proud of, but like I say is still prone to stopping XC if he lacks confidence.
It's frustrating really, because I had a session over grids, combinations and skinnies in the field this morn, and it seemed quite easy to sit up, leg on, keep my contact and let him take me over the fence- and whilst I'm definitely not mucking ALL the time XC, the easiness just doesn't seem to be there yet and I really have to think hard about what I'm doing on the approach- when I do sit up, my position is much better than it was before I got current boy, but when I don't, it isn't (if that makes ANY sense). I guess it came with the SJ through practice, practice, practice over grids etc, so maybe with more experience and practice for both of us it will get easier.
kerilli said:
if you train your horse to listen to your body aids on the flat, so that your downwards aid incorporates a 'shoulders up and back as seat sinks softly down' kind of thing, this becomes a very important part of your jumping aids, esp xc. when you can get the horse to shift gear with your body/shoulders, it becomes automatic to 'wait' with them.
i have a little mantra i use to help prevent me going to the hand on the way to a fence, said in my head in time with the canter beat, "I can hold her with my should- ers" and that definitely works for me.
Lucinda Green uses the image of a great big metal spike coming up out of the horse's withers, that's the Danger Area that you do NOT want your body to flop forwards into...
Click to expand...

Great advice, I do try and ride off my seat and he's not bad with responding to weight changes etc when jumping at home, but I know I don't use my shoulders and upper body enough, and though I do work on it at home it does go out of the window a bit once adrenaline kicks in out on the cross country course. :o Entirely my fault, one of us does need to be relied on to keep their head and implement what we practise at home! :o Definitely will work on this.
I like both the mantra and Lucinda's image :D

kerilli said:
working on core strength (psoas, my Word of the Month!) etc should help too.
i actually find that my Kan also helps, the back is shaped and firm (but comfily moulded) and dips into the natural S of the back, and when i sit up on the way to a fence i can feel it in just the right place, if that makes sense, a sort of very light physical aid to me.
Click to expand...

More situps, here I come- I am pretty wedded to my Racesafe BP though!
This is all great, thanks so much Kerilli.
 
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Pidgeon said:
No probs, perhaps get someone to take a pic of you riding at XC length to see if they are short enough or not? I used to think mine were short enough but ending up hiking them up about 5-6 holes under instruction and the difference is amazing :D
Click to expand...

Yes, before my competition last week, a friend did actually remark that my stirrups looked long, and so I put them up a hole, but more hiking definitely needed :o Especially after seeing the pro photos, they still were too long really. They have gone up another 2 this week so will see if it's any better this weekend.
Was watching my Mary King XC vid :D and I think she said hers go up 10 holes between dressage and jumping? :eek: I've got a way to go..! (In many respects, if I want to be anything like Mary :rolleyes: )
 
Tnavas said:
MAke sure your stirrups are short enough that your lower leg cannot swing, then work on being able to just see your toes when you glance down.

Just fold forward rather than lift your seat off the saddle.

ALso work over grids with no stirrups - great for keeping your position safe
Click to expand...

Thanks this is great- grids with no stirrups, here I come...
 
On XC your body should be really still. I think about my shoulders moving really slowly and pushing my hips forwards which then naturally pushes your shoulders back.

Practice riding in 2 point position and staying in balance through transitions in 2 point. Try pushing your feet out slightly in the stirrups so you create a bit of a triangle as this can help stabilise things.
 
Yes definitely agree shorter stirrups! Riders seemed to be scared putting them up! Gives you more lower leg stability! I put mine up at least 3 holes for xc!! Also work on your core stability x
 
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