Jumping position...(with piks :( )

[Flony_Pony]

I really need help keeping my lower leg stable and giving with my hands over jumps.
This was me last weekend.....
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z187/Flony/xsmalljump.jpg

I tried really hard on tuesday to keep my leg down and stable but it didnt happen!!!!

The lady who i work for suggested putting a neck strap on and grabbing it as i approch the jump to push my hands forward....and a livery (who is a RI) suggested to shorten stirrups for legs...

Any other suggestions??

[Fanshawe]

I'm no expert at jumping at all but I used to do the same thing with my lower leg. That was until some very sensible person taught me to actually move my bum back and fold at the waist rather than go forwards- as the forward movement is only needed with the larger jumps. That then stabilised my lower leg and if it works for you may help you feel more secure so that you can give with the hands. Shortening the stirrups also looks like a good idea. Oh and one really good thing you do which so many don't is you look up! Well done as that is really difficult for most people but really helps the horse.

[Flony_Pony]

Thanks....i do try to think bum back but this never happens....think my body just doesnt listen to my brain when it comes to jumps....its gets too nervous!!

[Fanshawe]

Oh I know that feeling! May be worth having someone shout at you 'bum' every time you get to take off! Just work on building your confidence and I'm sure it will come in time. Good luck!

[joosie]

Maybe working in forward position on the flat would help you work on your leg position? That was recommended to me and it really did help. Especially by practicing on a horse who likes to buck in canter - made me keep my legs right underneath me! :rolleyes:

[RachelEvent]

yes. forward seat on the flat is a very good idea. if you're sat on something not too likely to stop another good exercise is to maintain forward seat in the canter on the approach, over the jump and afte rthe jump, not allowing the leg to move an inch, and only giving more at the elbow over the fence. It's a great exercise to confirm the position. as you get the hang of it, you can sit up more and more on approach until it's all looking beautiful.

You can even practice the forward seat when out hacking, in trot and canter. See if you can build up to 5-10 minutes at a time - it will take a while to get that strong!

If you can, get someone to video your forward seat in trot and canter on the flat - it's just as easy to get this wrong as it is over a fence, and getting the forward seat with all the weight dropping into the heel, and the lower leg forward and strong is crucial to the success of the exercise.

You can think of the jumping position/forward seat as a way of balancing over your feet, folding up the body parts so that they are perfectly balanced over your foot in the stirrup. Imagine a 'W' shape on it's side.

[coverblown]

May be worth having someone shout at you 'bum' every time you get to take off!

I do this to myself!

Untilthe last time when I was going over a grid and had to stay in forward seat but fold over each jump, and get leg on every time.

So i was going

bum - leg - bum - leg - bum - leg - bum - leg - until I wasnt sure if I was lumming or begging....

and laughing my head off so at least it was relaxed

[Iron Maiden]

Echo RachelEvent, you need to develop a stable jump position - at the moment you are out of balance, you seem to be standing up on your stirrups, your upper body is too far forward above the front of the saddle & your leg has swung back to counterbalance this. I used to do exactly the same, one day my leg swung so far back that I kicked myself in the bum - just as well I don't use spurs :eek:! Try riding round on the flat, doing transitions, circles & changes of rein, all in jump position without losing your balance. If you pop your stirrups up & push your heel down and forward, this will be much easier. You probably need to build up some muscles in your legs so you won't be able to do this overnight, but you'll get there ;)

[xloopylozzax]

completely O/T post as i know nothing about jumping but my sister has that jumper (the black one with white horses on)

coincidence :D

[Flony_Pony]

Thanks everyone....going to post how jumping went today....i put stirrups up 2 holes and my leg position is better, however hands and bum arent too good....

I did go up to the jump going hands....bun...hands...bum and shouted them as i went over...good job i keep my horses on my own eh?

[teegee]

What is happening at the moment is that you are propping on the withers - not allowing pony to stretch neck.

Your stirrups should be a bit shorter - but judging by the photo - you seem to have quite long legs and I am not sure that your saddle is forward cut enough for you to do this. I think you are also trying to grip with your lower leg - you will see your saddle flap is actually bunching up under your leg. Although a certain amount of this is caused by your seat not being quite secure enough - this will NOT be helped if your saddle is not correct for you. However it's not always easy to judge from a photo.

Agree with a few others - try and keep your seat more into saddle and fold - if you try to grip with your legs it tends to ping you out of the saddle.

I would however definately get advice on the saddle - if it's wrong you are not giving yourself a fair chance.

[Flony_Pony]

Iv had the saddle 2 years now...was made for her and is very comfy, its a GP i do think the seat is a little large for my bum (OH baught it for his!!!) but its only 17" not sure how the saddle would make much difference

[teegee]

A saddle can make a HUGE difference! My comments re the saddle were that as you have a long leg - it would appear that by shortening your stirrups - your knee might actually move in front of the knee roll.

The effect of the saddle on both horse and rider - was what brought about the modern jumping saddle! It was the study of the effect of saddle and rider position that prompted Toptani to basically design the modern jumping saddle.

It is important for both horse and rider that the balance in the saddle be correct. For example - if you tried to maintain the correct jumping seat in an old hunting saddle - you would find it very difficult. Likewise a dressage saddle is unsuitable for jumping - as stirrup bars set further back.

I could be entirely wrong judging from a photo - but I believe that your saddle is causing you to try and hang on with the lower leg. The seat is definately a bit large for you. Comfy isn't the problem!

[kt_luvs_smartie]

the saddle can make a difference but not that much difference if you get me... i think to work on your position i would start at poles and cross jumps just so that you can concentrate on your position rather than the jump. Think of having you hands on the horse neck and stroking the horse along his crest towards the poll. You could tie your sittrup leathers to the girth but be very careful this is not safe lol but as long as the horse is safe and you keep jumps small you should be fine.:D hope this helps pm me back to let me know how you get on and post any progress pics!!

[jumper_stars]

A trick that helped me is try pushing your hands forward into the horses neck.... that way you dont yank on the mouth! Also try with your sturrips a bit shorter?! And keep that heel down! hehe! You problem isnt to bad though, so you should be able to sort it quickly x

[Flony_Pony]

Thanks KT - will work on position over this week and hopefully drag OH up to stables again next weekend!

This was me yesterday...
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z187/Flony/Ano5.jpg
Putting my stirrups helped my lower leg position but need to practice balancing in them (i was a bit wobbly...so didnt jump very big :) )

Going to work on riding in short stirrups this week in the school and hacking over poles etc...poor flo :D
ETA - Dont laught at the expression on my face please lol :D

[Lubii]

I used to do that.. what helped me is oneday while halted I went into my jumping position and went over everything, what was good and was was bad,
Branch of the stirrup across the ball of your foot, toes forwards, Heels down and forwards, contact with the horse from below the knee to the ankle,bend in the knee, light contact with the saddle bottom backwards more,straight back, shoulders back and down,straight line shoulder knee toe, looking forwards, hold the mane half way up the neck.
=]

[wildponies]

Ok i think your hands are too close together and its making your elbows stick out!

You also look like you're standing in your stirrups when you're jumping. You really don't need to! It looks to me like you're putting quite a bit of effort into jumping.

Let the jump come to you, let your horse carry you over it. You start standing up and doing some funky movements on take off and you're going to throw them off balance! Not that it looks like you ARE doing that, just in an extreme circumstance!

Keep your bum in the seat, ride the canter into the fence. Relax your lower leg and keep your weight your heels. On takeoff, FOLD at the hips. If you fold at the hips with all your weight in your heels, your lower leg will stay in the right position. Don't worry about your hands being too low. In an ideal world you would hold them a little higher and wider but from the pics it looks like you are releasing anyway and so not pulling on the mouth. So you can concentrate on one thing at a time :)

So in summary, sit the canter, fold on take off, trying to keep your bum as close to the saddle as possible and push your weight into your heels.

Hope this helps and good luck!

[Wally]

Stick yer bum out kid! :D :D ;)

Imagine it still touching the saddle seat. fold up from your knee and poke your bum out the back! ;) that might help.

[kt_luvs_smartie]

love the latest pic lovely pony!! hope the schooling goes well. Just think about stretching you backside as far backwards as poss and you arms as forward as poss and as necessary to the height of the jump so that you dont over jump.:D

[Flony_Pony]

wildponies...id never noticed my elbows stuck out until you mentioned it...i think i try to flap and flo over the jump for her!!

Practiced in the school yesterday by NOT leaning down her neck and pushing bum back and hands forwards. Rode her over poles too and shes a good girl bless her just hard on the leg :D

will practice again on thursday out hacking (and look like a fool) and then maybe try some small jumps at the weekend with elbows tucked in and bum BACK!!! i will be 'BUMS' and 'HANDS' going to think about practicing folding without standing up and going down her neck!

Thanks Guys, will update you at the weekend! Poor Flo thinks im mad making her do so much! I'm desperate to be good enough to take her to some small clear rounds. Poor pony is knackered today!!!

[stormy's mum]

stretch out your arms a bit you look scrunched. try to stick out your bum more it helps . trotting on the flat in two point will help do develop a more secure seat

[Devilboy]

When you jump try and think "Ear, Shoulder, Hip and Heel and keep them all in line.Push your weight down in your stirrups which will keep your feet in the right position. With your hands approach the jump holding a piece of mane half way down the neck and stay in the jumping position towards and over the jump. Although it's the basics it will really help you!!!

Good Luck x

[wildponies]

Keep us updated!! :)