Jumping

[Emmaa]

Hello Everyone!
Wow, I haven't been on in ages! Hope everyones doing well! Ok, we recently started to learn to jump in my lessons, yey! However I can't seem to get the position right! I always come up and out of the saddle before I should, and then, come down to fast. When I do that I always get left behind :eek: and can't help but feel as if I'm going to fall! It's kinda of a rattling feeling. Good thing is the horse I ride LOVES to jump, so she is always ready and willing to jump. I don't think me coming thundering into the saddle when we jump is the most comfortable thing for her, so does anyone have any hints, tips or tricks I could try? Or just a thought, or similar experience, would be great to hear! Thanks alot!
Emmaa:D

[Maci]

Several magazines and books I have read have suggested this- Ride a quiet, trustworthy horse that has been nothing but good to you, that you can trust completely, and go over a jump (small to start out) looking away from the jump. Everything's still the same (head up, back straight, etc.), except you're looking away. This will make you dependant to wait for the horse to jump- not making you jump too early or too late. When you feel him jump, let your body be bounced up into position, and follow the movement. It makes sense that it would work, but I've never tried it! ;) Try going to www.newrider.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=6353 for some jumping tips.

Hope This Helped (Some)!
Maci :)

PS- Why not have your instructor actually say, "Jump position!" (or something like that) before you go over jumps, for the first while, that way it'll give you a feel of when you should go into two-point (jump position).

[belle]

It can be a good idea to get into jumping position even before the jump, and grab a handful of mane. Thats what I used to do, and I'm alot more confident now!:)

[Bebe]

I've been taught the jumping position in two different ways, or rather when to go into jumping position.

First way was to go into jumping position 3-4 strides away from the jump. The thinkin behind this was that it gave you time to get balanced before actually jumping and also saved the horse from having the riders weight thrown forwards at the last minute. Good thing about this is that your position does get better as you have time to sort yourself out, bad points are that it taught me to get ahead of the motion (v.bad!!!). Also, if the horse runs out, refuses, etc you aren't in as good a position to rectify the problem as you are if you are sat in the saddle.

Second way was to not consciously go into jumping position at all and let the horse lift you out of the saddle as he takes off. Kind of like how you do when you're rising to the trot correctly. You need to be careful with your hands on this one as you can get left behind (bad but better than getting ahead of the motion).

The best way to get a solid jumping position is to practice it going around the ring without actually jumping. Also, as has already been said, have lessons on a confidence giving horse who will just pop over jumps. Doing low grids and crosspoles will also help with confidence.

Good luck
Amanda

[kathrynd]

Last night during my lesson the instructor annouced that we were going to work jumps. I informed my teacher that I had never done this before and would she please provide a bit of extra help for me.

First she watched my canter closely, made a few instructive comments and encouraged me where I was correctly applying aids. Then had me watch a bit, then she said those words "Now I want you to try, slow at first just trotting, then we will work up to canter" Okay the jumps were baby ones really just the normal inside school size but I was not sure about this.

I knew my horse though, I had ridden him many times before and he was lovely, a real goer! So placing my trust in him, and balancing off we went. A bit hesitant the first time, but we did it. Over trotting poles and small jumps. A breeze! After a few more tries the jumps were made higher and we were instructed to work it at canter. Again, I watched someone better than I manage the jumps before I tried. Okay, I can do this, my horse perked his ears up he was ready to go in an instant.

I worked him to a nice canter and off we went, one jump, two jumps, three jumps. Didn't touch a single one. Then four more times all sucessful, he never broke stride, or hesitated. Okay he cheated once and skipped the last jump but I was not bothered at all, I didn't force him I wanted him to just do it because he wanted to with me. It was lovely, very exciting. I love moments like this. I have been riding for a long time but this is the first time I have ever jumped anything on a horse.

I am looking forward to more moments like this. My 13 year old son is in total shock. He said "You did what!? Wow! Can I come and watch?" Well it's not the Grand Prix but it's fun.

[HunterGurl01]

Hello. I've got two helpful little stories/hints for you.

1) My friend used to always jump ahead and sit up to fast and catch the horse in the mouth. To help her, I made her do LOTS of ground poles. She would go into position ONLY after the horse started stepping over the first pole. Then, she would have to wait until he was completely past the last pole before sitting up. Soon we moved up to X's. I had her wait for him to jump. She had to look up past the jump then I would make her wait a FULL stride before she could sit up again from the two-point. After a few weeks of this she finally got it! Now she doesn't catch his mouth!

2) The horse i'm planning on purchasing likes to be... uhh... stupid (?) to the jumps. He goes easily up to them but one stride away gets a little hoppity canter stride. So, naturally I sit up to keep him slow. Only one problem... then he has a hard time jumping! So, we've found a great 'center meeting point'. I lift out of the saddle more and 'post' at the canter (instead of sitting deep). If you've ever watched a Grand Prix it's the way the riders ride. They never sit to the canter! So, anyways, I shorten my riens and get out of the saddle making it much easier for him to jump.

I hope this helps,
HunterGurl01 :cool:

[Mazpup]

If your getting left behind, make sure you continue leaning fowards throughout the jump, I know it sounds obvious, but in my last lesson i kept getting left behind as i hadnt jumped 4 a couple of weeks. And the problem is its that its a vicious circle, not leaning foward = getting left behind = pulling in horses mouth (causing horse to hollow its back) = horse doesn't trust you when jumping = refuses/runs out = you concentrating on getting the horse to jump rather than your positon = not leaning foward again. OK enough blabbering - basically get a horse that enjoys jumping, and is steady, lean foward, and think about STAYING foward. Hope this helps!

[rockstar7]

you'll get used to it! just keep practicing... the best thing to do is to practice without stirrups. it's the best way other than practicing without a saddle at all (which i think you might not be ready for), because you'll really feel the motion of the horse, and you'll be able to follow it a lot better. good luck! :)