jumping

[arabianluver]

i've done a little bit of jumping but I want to improve. anyone got any tips?
-arabian luver

[taffy]

always look ahead and practise jump position in canter !!!

[jUmPingIsLifE]

keep you heels down, don't look in the dirt :)

[Gracie]

Practice over trotting poles, when you hit the trotting pole go into your two point position. Get others watch you ride and offer advice, if you don't like others nagging you get someone non-horsey to video tape it and you be the critic to your own riding.

[FreedomStar]

my 'little' two cents.

Jumping consists of 5 elements, approach, takeoff, suspension, landing, and recovery. In the approach, you must have a steady rhtym that does not change, and your heels should be down, and your eyes up. Try counting your strides up to the jump if you can, like three, two, one. In the takeoff, you immediately go into your two position, still keeping your eyes up. Do a crest or neck release, whichever is easier for you. Suspension is when you are over the jump. This part will be very quick, but it's still a part of jumping. Your position should not have changed at all, and your center of gravity should be balanced to help your horse over the jump. In the landing, you just sit down lightly in the saddle, your eyes still forward. The recovery is just where you are moving away after the jump, or also known as the getaway.

whew! If you think I said too much, just tell me, ok? cuz I tend to jabber on and on when anyone mentions jumping. Ok, I'll shut up now :):):):):):):):):)