Jumping position...help!

[PonyGirlAsh]

I'm hoping my image actually shows up and that it is the right size...

Anyway, I'm just wondering if I could get some comments from you guys about my jumping position...I've only had about 6 jumping lessons (fallen off once already!), and I just got some pictures back from my last lesson...I definitely don't look like all the elegant jumpers out there, that's for sure! Could you guys give me some pointers on leg position, body position, hand position, etc etc.? It would be great! Thanks!! :)

[horseXgirl_]

Looks pretty good for just starting to jump! I'll point out a few things I see that you might need to work on :)
Alrighty...hm well, first off your jumping ahead, and your too far out of the saddle. You need to bring your bum down lower to the saddle and get off your horses neck. Your leg looks like it has slipped back a little, but your heel looks nice. I'm not so good at putting into words what I see wrong, so yeah, lol. You guys look good for just learning to jump, like I said before! Keep it up. Cute pony/horse too ;).

[Styric]

You look pretty good to me actually.

Your release looks decent for the height (I think I can see a slight looseness to the reins), but make sure you are following the horse's head.

You seem to be overjumping a bit and lifting yourself too much out of the saddle rather than folding from the hip, but that's most likely anticipation. Try jumping with your eyes closed (when you're comfortable!!) so the horse lifts you out of the saddle, rather than you launching yourself out in anticipation of the jump, you'll find that you don't really need to move that much.

Part of the overjumping is not enough angle in your knee (are you pinching with your knee slightly?), but that takes practice getting a stable lower leg.

Overall, I like it, especially for a beginner. You've definetly got some talent (that's better than my jumping position on some days).

[PonyGirlAsh]

Thanks so much! You are right, I do pinch my knee and I need to get more strength in my lower leg! Good spot! My trainer is constantly nagging at me about my lower leg. I see what you mean too about overjumping and coming too far forward, and also anticipating. We did some grid work that helped that, and I could definitely feel from that how I needed to jump with the horse rather than for him! I've been doing some gates and oxers now, so I'll try to get some pictures of them so I'm not just jumping that bitty crossrail! :) I'll definitely try all this stuff Thursday and let ya know how it goes...so much to remember, it's difficult! Thanks again for the quick replies, and I welcome more comments from everyone as well!!

[Styric]

Don't feel bad, this is me after riding 8 years, at Chevy's first show (teensy crossrails so he'd feel the big strong man for clearing all the huge scary fences, he jumps 2'6-2'9 at home) :
Though I have to admit I did stop jumping for several years to work on Chevy.

http://styric.no-ip.org/images/other/jump.jpg

See? I have the same problems, and they're aggravated by a badly fitting saddle.

[PonyGirlAsh]

Nah I think you two look great!! What a handsome boy too! What breed is he?

[Pink's lady]

You've got a fairly strong leg position but you've hurled yourself up him neck, which makes it very hard for the horse toi jump.

You need to learn to sit and wait for the horse to take off, keeping your bum back, heels down and hands forward.

Try to think about balancing on top of the horse, not in front of it.

This is me on Chester. The jumps about 3'6" (he's 17.2, so it doesn't look it :rolleyes: ). He's a baby and is still learning to jump, so i have to be careful to keep my balance on him and not make it any harder for him to lift his feet up than he already finds it :rolleyes: Notice how I'm directly about his centre of balance and havn't thrown myself over his neck.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v715/Pinkslady/Other%20horses/meonChester.jpg

It just takes time and practise, but think 'bum back, back straight, heels down and hands forward'. Thats all you need for a good jumping position ;)

[PonyGirlAsh]

Thanks Pinkslady, that's really good to know actually because I've been riding a 4 year old who is just learning as well...they said I work well with him, and I love him, so we make a good team! He does get a bit wobbly over fences though, and he doesn't really know where his spot is, so I have to try to help him!

[CityGirl]

For 6 lessons, you look good. You've pinched with your knee which has caused your leg to swing back & pitch you forward a bit. Lots & lots & lots of no stirrup work will help you keep that leg underneath you. And you want to focus on keeping your arms in. But it appears you're looking ahead & up which is a great thing.

PL is right - you do want to keep your balance over the saddle & not jump ahead. It makes it much easier for the horse. I would make sure however that you're giving your horse enough room to round up (esp if you're going to do hunters down the road). While you want to be balanced, you shouldn't be in the saddle. Best advice - look at GM's column in Practical Horseman every month. That's the master.

Here's a pic of Sheila Burke with absolutely gorgeous eq over a HUGE fence.
http://www.sheila-burke.com/

Also - while I wouldn't normally advocate another message board - I would highly recommend you go through this thread on COTH. It also has a more American bent so will be perhaps even more helpful to you. There are some gorgeous (and not so gorgeous!) pics posted on there...
http://chronicleforums.com/groupee/forums/a/tpc/f/7076024331/m/422200914/p/1

[jumper-4-joy]

Great! Like another post said, read George Morris Jumping Clinic in Practical Horsemen. That's where I learned the right position! You can even send a photo in and have him critique you. Just remember to get your hands foward so you don't catch your sweet little pony in the mouth!

[PonyGirlAsh]

Oooh thanks for that tip about George Morris, I will definitely look into that. I had a lesson yesterday (on my favorite horse!) and was all prepared to practice all the tips I've been given, but unfortunately he was being a very hyper and naughty boy (also due to large amounts of noisy kids playing polo in the next arena), so he was bucking every which way no matter how nice I was. Eventually we lunged him to get it out, and it really helped! We went over a couple small fences, but he really just wasn't on top form, and due to the incessant bucking, neither was I! Saturday though...I'm hoping for better manners! :)

[PunkRockPony]

first - your over bending with the horse. for a small fence you dont need to come out of the saddle nearly as much as a bigger one. try not to lean forwards onto the horses neck as much because it will make it easier for you to fall off... dont come out of the saddle as much you dont need to come miles out of the sadlde for a small fence... all it will do is unbalance you. your hand position seems to be fine for the size fence you are jumping its only the fact your upper body is too far forward that makes them look in the wrong place... your toes need to be pointed in alittle bit more and you need to used the inside of the leg rather than the back... Have you done any pole work in jumping position because i've been doing alot lately in my jumping lessons and its really helped my position... prehaps you could try some if you havent... also trotting and walking round in jumping positon has also helped my position...

I hope that helped a bit :)