Why don't I fold over a fence

[Sammy1983]

Hi guys looking for some help I've never really folded properly over a showjump fence with my own horses it's never really been a problem but yesterday I rode a friends horse and the not folding caused a real issue. I've always been aware of this issue but have never been able to fix it, I've now decided enough is enough and I'm going to keep going at this until I fix it. So I'm looking at suggestions of exercises or anything to help me to learn to fold more over a fence obviously I want it to become second nature especially as I will be looking for a new horse in the next 3-4 months so I would like to have cured this bad habit by then. Many thanks for any suggestions

 

[xgemmax]

have someone on the ground shouting at you as you go over the fence! or just make a conscious effort to do so!

 

[Sammy1983]

I've tried both of those it's almost as if my body won't be what my brain is telling it. I'm not sure if it's a balance issue or a brain body miscommunication. I'd be perfectly happy going back to pole work Etc if that would help

 

[gunnergundog]

Unless you post a video of yourself jumping it's impossible to say why you don;t fold; one of the most common reasons however for people not folding is that they have a weak lower leg, grip with their knees and pivot around the knee. Is that you? A good instructor on the ground would be my advice.

 

[*hic*]

What sort of height are you jumping?

 

[longdog]

Without pics/videos it is hard to advise, but I would guess that you are riding too long?
A good exercise to get the feel when you are off the horse is simply to practise squats, making sure you fold from the knees & hips, staying in balance by really pushing your backside out (probably do this in the privacy of your own home.......)

 

[wench]

Lessons would be a good idea. Saddle also may be part of the problem. If your jumping in a GP with no knee rolls, this will not help your postition!

 

[Wishful]

Not folding or not folding correctly. Unless jumping massive jumps the fold is largely minimal but the main thing is to keep weight in stirrups and arms soft ready to allow with the hand. Folding early, dropping the contact and having a slack rein on approach (with tight arms) which tightens with a jerk are more likely to be a problem than just not folding. Not being in the right place to fold if necessary is more of a problem.

 

[Sammy1983]

I have a video of me jumping a couple of courses but it's from a bit far away
http://youtu.be/ca3YJw8lJXI
http://youtu.be/v1N930TmH88
http://youtu.be/VBH0lsPQQj0
Hope that helps
We jump anything from 2ft6 to 3ft

 

[Fides]

It doesn't look to me like you are doing anything to interfere with the horse. The jumps aren't really big enough to get massively out of the saddle. Some horse though have big jumps and really use their backs and you have to get off them - could this be what the issue was? I do think you could take your stirrups up a hole though.

 

[[59668]]

I actually think you look fine. I wouldn't say you don't fold.

 

[gunnergundog]

Only looked at the first video, but the fences aren't big enough for your horse to NEED to use his/her back and neck and therefore require you to fold. However, if you go bigger I would certainly want to see your pedals up a couple of holes.

 

[PorkChop]

I agree you are fine for the height you are doing.

Putting your stirrups up and thinking about pushing your bum back will help!

 

[Kadastorm]

i wouldnt say you dont fold! maybe try popping your stirrups up one or two holes and see if that makes a difference.

 

[Sammy1983]

Thanks for the comments everyone it's nice to know I'm not doing it to wrong. I will definitely put my stirrups up a hole or two and try that. Maybe my friends horse and I are just not compatible he jumps at least a stride early and very flat so it felt very left behind and then it felt like he really pulled me forward and unbalanced me I just assumed it was my lack of fold that was pulling me forward opinions as to what May have caused it or would you think it's just because I'm not used to his style I've ridden him on the flat regularly but never jumped before

 

[HotToTrot]

I don't know much about anything, but a few things spring to mind. Your horse is (sometimes) bending the wrong way round bends, losing balance and/or cutting corners, so your rhythm gets a bit lost on approach. Your hands are a bit fixed, perhaps because you're trying to get him to the fence, which doesn't always look easy! I'd work on straightness and rhythm, and try to soften your hands, so they can follow his mouth over a fence. If your hands follow his mouth, your shoulders will come down, to the extent they need to, and you will be able to fold a bit more. The fences in the vid don't merit you folding any more, per se, and if you try to focus on folding, you cld end up over-folding for the size of fence. Think about soft hands instead.

You have quite a defensive position, which is of course useful at times! Perhaps with your friend's horse, this, combined with a slightly fixed hand, made you feel unbalanced if he took a bit of a flyer. So I would think about coming to a fence with soft hands that will follow the horse. It may help to think of doing a slight "crest release" as you take off, because this will mean that you can't pivot fwds onto your hands. It doesn't need to be too dramatic, just a small movement along his crest.

 

[Darremi]

This is my assessment and advice, please do not take it the wrong way I am trying to help .

Your stirrups are significantly too long which means you are not taking your weight down through your ankles and falling back as the horse takes off over the fence. You then get left behind and catch the horse in the mouth. If you ride a horse that likes to stand off a fence and really use his neck these problems will be exacerbated.

Folding over a fence has a lot to do with knee and lower leg strength and core stability. You need to work on these areas before you even get on the horse. If you continue to ride long you will not develop sufficient strength in your legs to enable you to fold.

I think you could really benefit from cycling, this strengthens up the ankles, calves, knees and thighs as well as allowing you to practice the folding position whilst standing out the bicycle saddle. If you have access to an exercise bike (ie. in the gym) that would be even better because then you do not need to worry about balancing the bike.

Riding with your stirrups up about three holes will also help to strengthen the leg muscles. I would start by riding in two point position in trot round the school and every time you hack. Use the neck to balance as this saves you pulling on the horses mouth. I trot in two point when I am bringing my horse back up from his winter holidays to get myself strengthened up too!

Good luck

 

[el_Snowflakes]

I prefer to ride shorter for jumping as I can get off my horses back. You look like your getting a slightly left behind? I'm not a huge 'folder' either. If your anything like me you will naturally fold more when u put the jumps up. I prefer to to do what come naturally to me over a jump instead of creating an unnatural position/copying how other ride as it unbalances me. I think everyones technique is quite unique to themselves.

 

[Sammy1983]

Thank you so much for all your suggestions and for your constructive criticism I was a bit worries about posting the videos but you've all been great. Hottotrot I agree with you completely on all your points my horse is very very strong and would happily charge into fences flat out if I let him hence why I'm quite defensive and fixed with him he does then try to go sideways with the wrong bend into a fence with him I'm not to worried he's 20 now and very stiff and he showjumps because he loves it and it helps keep him active and interested. However I do want to make sure my next horse goes correctly and I don't have a negative impact on him in anyway. I will definately put my stirrups up and try everything you've suggested with my boy then try it again with friends horse