Jumping critique

[4eva bankrupt]

Hiya,
I was supposed to be going to Sissons Farm for some Show Jumping today, but my boss wasn't feeling to good, so couldn't take me, so I decided to just ride in the field instead. I got my friend/ co worker to take some photos / videos, of me, so could people possibly critique them for me, I have my Stage 3 riding in like 4weeks, so I seriously need whipping into shape.


http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f396/4evabankrupt/mistyandcrackerjune6th07015.jpg
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f396/4evabankrupt/mistyandcrackerjune6th07011.jpg
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f396/4evabankrupt/Mistyjump1.jpg
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f396/4evabankrupt/Mistyjump2.jpg

[4eva bankrupt]

More.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f396/4evabankrupt/Mistyjump3.jpg
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f396/4evabankrupt/Mistyjump4.jpg

Videos
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f396/4evabankrupt/th_mistyandcrackerjune6th07027.jpg (http://s51.photobucket.com/albums/f396/4evabankrupt/?action=view&current=mistyandcrackerjune6th07027.flv)
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f396/4evabankrupt/th_mistyandcrackerjune6th07029.jpg (http://s51.photobucket.com/albums/f396/4evabankrupt/?action=view&current=mistyandcrackerjune6th07029.flv)

Sorry videos a bit grainy, and wobbly but try and see what you can.

[sonnet]

Ok, the main thing that is screaming out at me is that you are really not releasing enough, you're hanging onto your horses mouth over nearly all of the jumps.

This is due to a few main factors. You're going too fast and flat into the fences; you need to concentrate more on impulsion and collection than speed and just-get-over. At the moment he is jumping flat, i.e. not making the correct shape over the fence and rushing. A horse only needs to take off the distance away that the height of the fence is: so if it's a 2 foot fence, the horse only needs to take off 2 foot away.
You can help prevent this rushing by:
1) working on the flat much more and collecting him up,
2) working down through grids which will get him basculing and picking his feet up properly, actually thinking about jumping rather than flinging himself, 3) giving him a solid groundline, as he can't actually see when he's jumping, a floating pole is quite a difficult thing for him to see and remember where the base actually is, so with the fact he's going too quickly he just takes a long one and hopes for the best. This is understandably dangerous, and luckily the fences you're jumping are small, but if they were higher he's probably plough through the top and either go down or do himself (or you) some damage.

You, yourself need to keep your toes pointed in and your lower leg more forward, and of course release more, you can see he's not stretching his head out for fear of being caught and so he's all bunched up and not stretching properly.

You asked to be 'whipped into shape', but if you don't like what I've said then ignore it :)

[CurlyWurlyRach]

your toes stick out a little - mine did terribly in my old saddle.

Like Sonnet says, gridwork is exellent and its actually really fun if you can get someone on the ground to change the grid everytime, you eventually start to feel the horse thinking 'oo whats next?!' and just fly down bouncing up beautifully.

Ground lines are invaluable for a smooth jump, they give the horse a clear place to take off, which will help you to release cos the horse wont be getting in too deep and taking a flyer.

ETA - just watched the vids in slow motion and you need to release much more over the fence to allow the horse to strech out, im guilty of not releasing but i jump with hugely long reins as my hoss prefers it so it still doesnt catch her in the mouth on landing.

[4eva bankrupt]

thanks for your reply.

Definatly recognise what you are saying about my hands, the 1st few jumps while i was jumping I kept thinking she's not stretching her had down, my reins were too short, and i need to let her stretch more, the funny thing is that I am soo paranoid about pulling her in the mouth when i jump that I hold her mane over some jumps, but this i think is part of the problem, because then my hands become a fixed point, and can't give, does that make sense.

I know about the ground lines, but it was a spur of the moment jumping session so didn't really have enough poles, so my bad :o

Just wanted to say also that the horse is not mine, but a riding school horse where i work, boss's daughter said I should get on her for a laugh, so please just critique me.

Got a couple more pics of me jumping a different horse, for more critique

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f396/4evabankrupt/saphyandsavannahmay8th07036.jpg
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f396/4evabankrupt/saphyandsavannahmay8th07037.jpg
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f396/4evabankrupt/saphyandsavannahmay8th07041.jpg

[Laura+Phantom]

In the first pic of you jumping the dark horse, did he just step on that pole and snap it??

I agree with the points that have been made already, especially about jumping flat and not releasing enough. (that isn't a critique of the horse because it's up to you to not let him rush and go flat) Also, look up! :) :)

[jumper-4-joy]

You have great position! You do not "jump ahead" (like 90% of riders do- including myself:p). The release, but it is not bad at all, just be a little more giving,- but too much give and it will look like the reins are too loose.

Try to put more weight in your heel. I know that some peoples heel just does not naturally stretch down as far (thats me again!:p) but just try to concentrate on that.

If you were to take the test based on those pics, I still think that you would pass!

[Nayds]

Did that black pony snap the pole in the first pic?

Still need to bring your heel underneath you more but much better with your hands :D

[4eva bankrupt]

hiya,
thanks for your replys, yeah the black horse broke the pole, it was a bounce, so don't know what happened there :confused: .

I am going to be jumping again tonight on another horse so will hopefully have some more photos.

[sonnet]

The bounce looks quite close together and from his position and the speed of the pic it looks like you were going a bit quick for a bounce. Also, if the other fence was at the top, that would be a difficult height for a bounce...Your toes are sticking out again, and your lower leg could be more forward. Also, your hands are very tight again, possible restricting the horse's movement you cna see how tight his head is, especially in the second pic.

[CurlyWurlyRach]

it looks like youve been left behind abit in the second pic of the dark pony.

The third picture, your releasing better and the ponys head is in a much better position to strech out on landing trhan in the second pic where he looks constricted.

[sonnet]

it looks like youve been left behind abit in the second pic of the dark pony.

The third picture, your releasing better and the ponys head is in a much better position to strech out on landing trhan in the second pic where he looks constricted.

Actually, yes the last pic is better hand-wise- just realised though OP you are looking down in all the photos- look up!! :D

[XmeganX]

hey im new, those ponies are nice jumpers! you should do some work jumping small fences and going over poles without your reins tie them up,it sounds crazy but it takes that to realise you dont need to balance with your reins. you,ll feel more confident to let your horse stretch or get a friend to lunge you and your horse over fences!! hope you get on well you look like a good rider! really like the white horse is he yours? oh look up when your jumping!!!:):):)

[coss]

i would agree with others - toes need to come in.

it looks like you need to work on timing as i think you look a little ahead of the horse in the 1st pic (black pony), behind in the 2nd and with in the 3rd. i think you need to fold more and release the hands down towards the bit rather than towards the ears. you don't give much rein by going up the mane, you have to be stable enough not to need the mane and to be able to go down the neck a bit more so that your hands are going towards the mouth - this will give your horse more freedom to jump and should give you a better overall position :)