Want to move up, but...

[TBEventer2002]

I want to move up in height over jumps (I just recently have been hopping over 2' verticals from a trot, barely cantering over 18" crossrails) but I need more confidence and to feel more secure in my position. I know for a fact that I have a tendancy to jump ahead of my horse, but I feel that this was a result of my current trainer insisting that I hustle my horse to the jump (which translated into him bolting over them which made me more insecure and more apt to jump ahead in anticipation...). If I spend the day hopping over X's, I can jump probably 20 times over the same jump and only feel truly secure and like I followed rather than hindered my horse about 5 or so times. He'll jump ANYTHING, so I don't have to worry about him stopping.

I have my horse at my trainer's barn and take only a few lessons when I can afford it from her. She showed hunters but then got into dressage, and I really enjoy her dressage lessons. However, I have quit hunter lessons with her because her insistence that I hustle my horse to the fence started him bolting over jumps (which he NEVER did until I started working with her!). And since my trainer in the winter months is unavailable to me during the summer, I am left on my own.

After the last few weeks of working my horse over small X's and groundpoles to remind him that steady is better than hurrying, I think we are getting somewhere.

Here is what I feel when I jump:

I feel like I am in good balance until I get in the air, then I feel like I am laying on his neck (which only feels tons worse when we land). I got so confident with the horse I showed last year that I could do a pretty decent auto release over the little jumps we showed over, but I quickly lost that confidence with Rumby when he started bolting. With him, I feel like I must do crest releases or else I snatch him in the mouth after the jump. When I give him a big release (he likes those), my upper body comes down along his neck and that is when I feel like I am going to slide right down his neck over his head on the descent and landing of the jump. But when I do a short crest release, I still feel a bit forward but not nearly so bad, and actually like I am not giving enough with the reins.

I know how to do a two-point over a jump (this is all resulting from a confidence breach), but even if I try to exaggerate the proper position in the opposite direction of what I feel like I am doing (I try to really shove my butt back and feet a little more forward to stop my crotch from going over the pommel of the saddle) I either get a brain fart or my body doesn't listen! LOL

I am *seriously* not confident enough to try any jumping on him without stirrups, though I know that will help my jumping ahead problem. Several of you earlier on another thread mentioned gymnastics would help his rushing into lines, so will the same help my position? If so, what are some particular exercises to help?

[kedwards]

Yes, I think gymnastics are great for working on position. Not only does the repetitiveness and quickness of the exercises encourage you to move more effeciently and in balance with the horse, but because the striding is set up for the horse, it frees you to focus on you own position without worrying about trying to "drive," "slow," or otherwise adjust the horse's stride.

For increasing fence sizes, I would definitely set up a gymnastic line, or at least a well-measure, fairly short combination that starts with a cross rail and proceeds to your bigger fence (start small and only raise the second fence after you've got the striding down pat.)

If you are working without a trainer, I highly recommend getting a good book that details a gymnastic exercises. I love Linda Allens "101 Jumping Exercises" and Anne Kurskinki's "Riding and Jumping Clinic," but there are several other good books that can help with that sort of thing.

[FreedomStar]

Have you tried working with jumping on a circle? set up 3 or 4 jumps in a circular pattern so that you jump, turn, jump turn, jump, turn, etc etc. It's a good exercise for balance, rhythm, impulsion, and straightness, the 4 components needed for jumping. You learn to keep your horse riding into the jump correctly, and while you aren't always jumping straight when you do this exercise, you do develop control of your horse. You must think of keeping the same, constant, steady rhythm throughout the whole exercise. You must be balanced properly to complete the turns and go over the jump. and impulsion is a given. :D even if you don't take lessons with your trainer in the summer couldn't you give your trainer a call and ask about your problem? I'm sure she/he won't mind sharing some tips.