I've got rubbish timing!

[*katie*]

I've only recently got back into jumping and one of the things i've noticed is i end up getting in front of the horse's movement and sort of hovering in a half jumping position a couple of strides out because i just can't tell when i'm going to take off :o! This makes me drop my contact too, as i tend to sort of throw everything forwards and leave it up to the poor horse to make their own way :o. I can get away with it on the RS horses because they tend to just go through the motions no matter what you do (although a few tend to rush off and flatten - which is totally my fault); but i don't want to just get away with it; i'd like to do it properly so i can actually manage jumping on a non RS horse :p! Any ideas on how i can sort it out :)? My RI is talking about doing some gridwork - will that help?

[anna15]

Im exactly the same! i hate it, i loose confidence as im worried im going to ruin my pony:o
Try setting out grids, like set to 3 strides and say out loud '1,2,3,up!' it helped me anyway!
but if its worrying you perhaps disuss having a couple of private lessons focussing on this with your RI.
good luck! :)

[Iron Maiden]

I was taught to approach jumps in a balanced forward seat and try not to anticipate the take off - it's up to the horse to sort that out, and if you are already in a forward seat you should go with the horse as it jumps, whenever that is. I try not to focus too hard on the jump but just concentrate on riding the horse so it's bouncy, balanced and in front of my leg on approach to the fence - let the fence come to you, don't go chasing it! The trouble with going 3-2-1-hup is that if the horse goes 3-2-hup or 3-2-1-and another little one - hup you'll probably either get left a mile behind or end up in a heap on your horse's neck :eek:

Gridwork will be great for working on your forward seat & getting secure & balanced over jumps, so maybe it's this rather than 'seeing a stride' that your RI wants you to practice.