Tips to improve lower leg when jumping *pics*

[Jingleballs]

I really, really struggle with my lower leg when jumping.

If I have my stirrups too short I seem to pivot on my knee and my leg swings back.

Slightly longer and I feel my legs stay in a better position but sometimes when my hips get tight or my legs get tired I tighten at the hip and feel that not all my weight is in my stirrups.

Here are pictures from XC schooling the other night when my stirrups were slightly shorter and I was having to use lots of leg (it was warm and pony was sleepy)

And a week ago when I had my stirrups a hole or so longer - I felt my leg was more secure but I was reaching for my stirrups towards the end of the session!

I'm planning on doing lots of work in a light seat so lots of trot and canter out of the saddle with my weight in my heels and trying to stay flexible through my knees and ankles - I'm going to start in the arena with some poles and just built it up - interestingly, my lower leg feels more secure when I go into a light seat in my dressage saddle and it has been suggested several times that my T4 GP isn't doing me any favours but I'm not in a position to buy a new saddle and don't want to use it as an excuse so will work with it for now!

My instructor says not to worry about my position for now and we'll sort that later as I'm not hindering the horse but I'm always keen to improve (I'm a bit of a perfectionist!) so any suggestions will be greatly received!

 

[JessandCharlie]

I do this! I'm getting a lot better though!

An exercise I was given to do, which was really helpful and I do on hacks ( I look mad ) is stand up in your stirrups, sink your heels down as far as you can, slowly lower yourself down and as you do, really try and wrap your legs around him. Repeat a lot and it will help your lower leg generally.

That said, I think, by the looks of things, you are standing and coming forward, (I do this too) rather than folding from your hip, which is making your leg swing back. Try really thinking about pushing your bum back in the saddle, rather than coming forward.

The great Pat Burgess (anyone remember her ) told me to imagine I was sat with my voddy and coke on a table in front of me, and someone else walks into the room. They want my seat and my drink, so you push your hands forward to get your drink and keep your arse over your chair so they can't take either

Imagine this as you jump Keep your bum back if that makes sense?

It's an analogy that's helped me an awful lot, and I don't even like voddy and coke

It's not by any means bad though, and your horse is so cute

J&C

 

[Jingleballs]

Oh thank you - like the standing up and then lowering exercise!

Lol at the other example - yes I definitely stand up rather than fold from the hip so I'll definitely try and keep that image in my head to see if that helps

 

[Tnavas]

Stirrups up a hole or two will reduce the swing of your lower leg. What is happening is that youo are pivoting on your knees and standing instead of folding.

Work in jumping position at home - stay in the position through all phases of the jump - so that all you have to concentrate on is following his head with your hands.

Your jumping position should be - Fold forward from your hips, keeping back flat until your shoulders are in a verticle line with your knees & toes. Look up and sink the weight into your heel. Allow your arms to move forwards as the horse jumps.

Lots of jumping grids with no stirrups - you can then only move your upper body forward correctly.

 

[little_critter]

The best description of jump position I saw on here was:
Imagine you want to go to the loo in a really dirty public toilet and you DO NOT want your bottom to touch the toilet seat. Hovering over the loo = jump position.

 

[kerilli]

i think you need to fold more, and think of bringing your bum backwards as the horse takes off, not just standing up in your stirrups. if you shove your hands forward (crest release, exaggerated at first) as the horse takes off, you won't be able to drop them on the neck and lean on them (common reason for poor leg position, pivoting forward around knees onto hands, i did this for years and nobody pointed out WHY i was doing it.. it was my hands that were the root of the problem). lots of work with shortish stirrups in '2 point' position (bum hovering out of saddle) - you can even do this at walk with a neckstrap or handful of mane - will really help. GP isn't the best thing for it though, so cut yourself some slack...
cute pony, i love a coloured!

 

[Jingleballs]

Thanks Kerilli - some good tips there - I tend not to fold much as pony is quite downhill and can unbalance me when I land but I do need to work on folding more than I currently do and not standing up -honestly at the moment my brain goes blank when it comes to my own position over the fence as I focus so much on getting the right canter rhythm and line into the fence!

A couple of people have said that my saddle is too deep to help me scoot my bum back but like I say I have to work with it for now but would love one day to save up for a proper jumping saddle!