Jumping problems...

[mindymoo]

Hi all, i am a novice older lady ( 41 ) just getting back into riding after having a few lessons etc when i was a child/teenager. My friend is a R I and is always teaching me and helping me improve with mastering the basics, eg nice controlled trot ( not rushed ) nice soft bouncy canter ( not her full pelt ) anyway today we tried jumping. My friend took Poppy over trotting poles, then a small cross jump, we then put a v in front to prevent her from trying to run out and to get her to jump it centrally which she did brilliantly, and then she went on to jump some railway sleepers ( two jumps ) which we made into a spread and a straight forward jump. Anyway then i had a go ... well i got her to jump the first little cross brilliantly, then we went onto the first " sleeper" jump and i think that when she jumped it she may have caught her tail or something on the fence right next to it - anyway she freaked and bucked, farted, and i got bombed off with ending up with me bailing out the side...anyway not to be put off i got on and tried again, as soon as she had jumped she pulled a sharp left hand turn and because i wasnt balanced properly i ended up losing my stirrups, my reins and again i got bombed off with ( luckily it was in my small field )and ended up biting the dust! i am not put off by this - i know ive got to expect a few falls until i get my position, handling and brakes right, just wondered if any of you had any tips? i must admit i find it hard to locate her reins if i lose them with all her mane in the way,( she is a wee hairy highland beasty ) should i plait it out of the way? get a neck strap? knot my reins ? all three??? :D Give up??;)

[casey]

Ah welcome back to riding.:) I think you did very well to get back on, and have no doubt with your positive mental attitude, you will fulfill your dreams of being able to ride competently again.

Sounds like you have a sensitive little mare there, and I would use a neckstrap for the time being. Or get some Ernest Dillon reins, to help you through the transtition.

Good luck:)

[mindymoo]

Hopefulli ive added a picture of her jumping yesterday with emma.
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w239/suzynolan/jumping005.jpg

[mindymoo]

And some more,

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w239/suzynolan/jumping012.jpg

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w239/suzynolan/jumping011.jpg

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w239/suzynolan/jumping009.jpg

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w239/suzynolan/jumping007.jpg

[Iron Maiden]

She's adorable! Does she almost drop her shoulder with you after the jumps? I used to ride a horse who had learned to do this, if the rider a was little off balance on landing he'd drop his shoulder & deck them - very very very naughty indeed! The trick with him was to really ride him away from the jump, sometimes is easy to think 'hurrah, we've done it!' as you go over & forget that you have to ride away from the jump too. Perhaps try riding over tiny jumps & concentrate on riding a very straight, accurate line at exactly the speed you want after the jump, just let the jump take care of itself.

As for all that mane - a couple of plaits at the bottom may be a good idea, and a neckstrap should help steady you if you lose your balance.

[pixiepony]

Its great that even though you fell of you got back on, at least then she knows that she cant get you off on purpose coz you'll just get back on and make her do it again!
I'm looking forward to getting my new pony on Saturday and she needs some work with her jumping so no doubt I'll be posting on here about it, hoping not to fall off but we'll see!!
I'd get a neck strap and if her hair really gets in the way tie it/plait it then you wont loose your reins etc so you'll be more stable (excuse the pun!!) Also it looks like your looking down in some of those photos, remember to keep looking ahead or to the next jump and its easy to think 'jumps done' but the landing and getaway is just as important!
Let us know how you get on!!:D