Wretched jumping photos...critique!

[PonyGirlAsh]

Found some more pictures of my first time jumping Eddie (and my first time jumping in about 6 months or so due to a major setback in my confidence). So I submit 3 pictures (that IMO make me look like I've never been on a horse before!). Feel free to crititque, give advice, etc. Just keep in mind I'd only been on him once before, and this is my first time jumping in a long time!! Also, the flat part of the lesson was so grueling that I was pretty dead by the time we started jumping!! Not that I'm handing out excuses or anything... :D

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a372/ponygirlash/jump1.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a372/ponygirlash/jump4.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a372/ponygirlash/jump3.jpg

And a video of just some fun flat stuff a couple weeks ago...
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a372/ponygirlash/th_Eddie010.jpg (http://s15.photobucket.com/albums/a372/ponygirlash/?action=view&current=Eddie010.flv)

Enjoy! :)

[iluvakila]

u guys look good the only thing is that you need to give more of a release. but nice for the first time in a while! gorgeous horse by the way! :p

[AndalusianSara]

Lovely looking horse :)

[vimto92]

You look great together!:D

Your ideal release is picture 2 IMO. You have to keep the contact remember and as long as you follow the horses on takeoff, over the jump and the landing you won't be hurting your horses mouth at all.:) If you release the contact too much like pictures 1 and 3, your throwing away the contact, so your horse has nothing to work into, and this isn't good on the getaway after a jump, when maybe you want to extend his stride or collect him up.:)

Keep your legs by the horses sides and just a little behind the girth, also push your bum back a tad. I LOVE how your looking ahead and not down!:)

On the flat, Id just keep a straight line from elbow to bit.:)

[PonyGirlAsh]

Thanks guys!!

Vitmo- Yes, I need to work on that whole contact thing...when I'm in a jumping lesson, I'll be told to work on one thing, and I'll get that right but everything else wrong. Then I'll be told another thing, and the previous thing is also thrown away. Really annoying, can't seem to get my body to be in sync!! Getting my leg forward is also a huge problem for me...used to have that problem on the flat, but got so much shouting for it that eventually body learned to keep it back!! Heehee, yeah, never had too much of a problem with looking down! Previous trainer did well with that one! ;)

[LMayhewtx]

I have just been jumping for a shoprt bit, but I really like about your position is how nice and flat your back stays when you fold. I'm jealous - I'm struggling with "turtle back" right now!

[PonyGirlAsh]

I have just been jumping for a shoprt bit, but I really like about your position is how nice and flat your back stays when you fold. I'm jealous - I'm struggling with "turtle back" right now!

Haha...I had a couple turtle back pictures, which OF COURSE I didn't post! ;) Also had some choice ones of me with my tongue sticking way out...what was I doing??!! :)

[Pibstar]

Thanks guys!!

Vitmo- Yes, I need to work on that whole contact thing...when I'm in a jumping lesson, I'll be told to work on one thing, and I'll get that right but everything else wrong. Then I'll be told another thing, and the previous thing is also thrown away. Really annoying, can't seem to get my body to be in sync!! Getting my leg forward is also a huge problem for me...used to have that problem on the flat, but got so much shouting for it that eventually body learned to keep it back!! Heehee, yeah, never had too much of a problem with looking down! Previous trainer did well with that one! ;)

I know what you mean about one thing working really well but something else going wrong, so you work on the thing that was going wrong then something else you didnt even think about goes wrong....... oh well