Summer: need more help jumping

[Karin]

Hi Summer, Just a couple of follow up questions for you.

I worked on the small XXXs again this weekend without much success. You were right, by keeping my legs on, my balance was better, but I felt a bit like a passenger on a ride not kicking. I tried tapping her as you suggested, but felt guilty like I was taking the easy way our and really should have been using my legs to ask her to jump. Am I being too sensitive?

Also, during this practice session she approached the jumps more deliberately and with much more speed so I didn't have to push her on at all BUT she stopped three times just before "takeoff" right in front of the jump. That hasn't happened before. Is it because I stopped kicking/signalling?

Thanks in advance

[Janneke]

Hi Karin

I'm sorry the jumping isn't going well. I personally like jumping very much.

I think you might have tensed up just before the jump. This take's the horse out of it's concentration and makes it nervous. If the horse isn't confident, and the rider can't/doesn't convince it to jump, it won't.

I there any chance you can get a jumping lesson on the longe? A good friend of mine regained convidence that way. She didn't have to worry about steering, just about her seat and legs.

Also you could try to ride in two point position during normal lessons, just for short periods of time(maybe one or two laps), untill you feel confident in it. That way you learn to use your legs in the position without a jump in front of you to tense you up.

Hope I helped and didn't just confuse you!
Good luck,
Janneke

[CLAUDIA]

I also recommend trotting around in two point for a couple laps. I was wondering just how to answer some of your questions, and then I read Janneke's response, and it dawned on me. I only learned how to use my leg while/before jumping because I had to learn how to do it while I was up in the two-point trotting 'round-and-'round the arena. The horses I rode would slow down or stop if I didn't signal them to keep moving foward. Also, it helps with your leg position, balance, and overall ability to jump. Hope we've helped! :)

[summer]

Hi again!
It's a great idea to ride a few 'laps' in jumping position before you actually start jumping. It will reaffirm your balance and help you get more secure in your lower leg. If she's going a bit quicker, it shows you are using your leg more effectively, just that you aren't holding her together in front. Make sure that you aren't dropping everything (loosening your leg, gripping with your knee, dropping your reins, looking down) at the point of take-off. If that happens, the horse will feel like she's suddenly all on her own, and will stop. Keep looking up, fix your eyes on the other side of the school, and imagine yourself ridng the turn away from the jump, and try to forget about it altogether. It's called 'letting the jump come to you'.
If you're getting tense, take a deep breath when you turn for your approach, and count each stride, concentrating on the rhythm,so that the jump is just one more 'beat'. Try not to get to fixated on the jump, because it's only a small part of the exercise. Think 'I ride a good turn, I ride straight (over the jump),and I ride a better turn'. Are you riding with a neck strap? That might help because then you don't need to worry about catching the horse in the mouth, and you can get used to your hands moving with the horse's neck. Using your stick to tap the shoulder is not 'an easy way out', and it will unbalance you far less and be more comfortable to the horse than kicking (you have your voice, which you can use as well, and cluck if you need it).
Jumping on the longe is fine, but only suggest this to your instructor if you are confident you can ride a canter circle in jumping position without being thrown to the side. If the horse picks up speed, you could find you tip to the outside on the turn. It doesn't sound like steering is your problem, just confidence. Keep at it, and don't forget jumping is supposed to be fun!