'Pumping' when Cantering/Jumping...

[ConfettiPony]

I have a horrible habit of pumping with my seat when cantering and/or jumping. It's worse when jumping (I don't mean actually over the jump, but inbetween jumps), because I don't have as much time to think about it/correct it.

The big problem is that a lot of the time I really can't feel myself pumping. I had no idea I had been doing it until a few months ago when my instructor pointed it out. Ever since then we've been really working on it. It took me a while to be able to feel it and be able to stop at all, but it had seemingly gotten atleast somewhat better. But my last couple of lessons, particularly the last lesson it was horrible. That lesson she was trying to get me to stop the entire time and kept yelling at me for it. But I could not feel myself pumping at all. Whatsoever.

Any tips on how to feel myself pumping and how to stop doing it? I would really appreciate it.

[Just.Jump]

It's supposed to be rolling, not pumping- at least you aren't flying around like dead weight froma lack of hip movement.

I can tell you one thing- bareback will cure a myriad of balancing problems- pumping is an over compensation for lack of balance, or previous lack of balance. If you get stuck on a horse bareback, you will be forced to ride properly- pumping will probably only slide you around and throw you off balance due to a lack of saddle holding you on.

[ConfettiPony]

I think I know what I'm supposed to be doing... I just can't seem to actually do it most of the time.

Honestly, I would love to start doing a lot of bareback work. Unfortunately my current stable doesn't allow it (legal issues and all that). I might be switching stables at some point in the near future though. But I've been riding at my instructor's house recently a bit. Your post was actually very coincidental as I was just talking to my friend yesterday about how we should ask her if we could do some real bareback work at her house as we're not allowed to do it at out stable. :p

Also, question - I think I pump more due to (subconciously) trying to get the horse to make the horse go faster. I pump a lot more if a horse is being particularly lazy. I think the problem started when I coincidentally suddenly went from being on a lot of very forward horses to a lot of much more lazy-ish ones. So could pumping be more to make the horse go faster, not lack of balance?

[Just.Jump]

Yes, that could definately be it- your asking for something, but your going the wrong way about it. Whenever I used to be on a hard-to-start horse when I didn't quite know how to get them going, my shoulders would pump. I really had to learn to how be a still rider.

Focus on this- you are meant to b following the movement of the horse benieth you. You can adjust your body signals to ask for things, but if you are trying to move the horse forward with your seat, you need to let it relax. Not only does it probably feel strange, but unless you are very aware of your position, you are probably contradicting leg signals. For example- when you are in the lowest part of the pumping motion, it is right beofre you scoop forward. That is the signal for stopping with the hind end undernieth the horse (in western, anyway). When you scoop forward, that is an over exaduration of movement, which really isn't going to signal speed, and then you roll back to start again.

If you are on particularly lazy/unenthused horses, start carrying a crop. I prefer not to use it, and I prefer to work it out myself. But you need to teach yourself the correct way of sitting before you worry about starting a slow horse by yourself. So, ask once with your legs, possibly twice, then a light tap with the crop. Then just FLOW with the horse, rather than drive the horse. You should be working to finesse the movement, not plow the horse on =)

[LongShot]

I had the same problem on a horse I use to ride. He's on the slower more relaxed side and my instructor told me I pumped to get him to go faster but all it really does it slow down the horse with you pounding on there back.

On a Sunday while she wasn't teaching I was determinded to stop it. I just warmed up and got to cantering. I figured out if you starch you rib cage and try to sit taller. Also since I was only doing it in my 2 point possition, I practiced the full seat canter alot more than I normally did. I'm not sure if you pump in your full seat too but once my full seat was stronger and I got use to the horse's slow speed, I didn't do it much anymore and starching the ribcage stopped the rest.

[Marmite]

I used to pump, but only when I got onto lazier horses. I used to get yelled at too :rolleyes: I just learnt to sit really tall and straight, and I found that lengthening my stirrups a hole or two helped too.

Just sit tall, and instead of trying to push the horse forward with your body movements, sit still and drive him forward with your seat and legs. Wrap your legs on, and try getting a schooling whip (yes, I know a lot of people are against this, but with lazy horses sometimes its the only way) and flick him with it when he doesnt listen rather than pumping. Hope this helps XxXxX

[CityGirl]

Ah - the lean - another of my myriad of faults. I am sure you are doing it in order to get your horse to move forward. Of course, by throwing your weight over his neck, you're making it even harder for him but what the rational mind realizes, the body frequently doesn't:rolleyes: :)

During my hellacious lesson a few weeks ago on a schoolie, I was doing exactly that when trying to get the canter depart. Makes no sense but there you have it.

My advice
1) Get yourself videotaped. If you see yourself, you can analyse your position, when you start doing it, etc.
2) My guess is it's also related to a lack of leg strength. You're asking for the transitions with your hands, not legs & then have to really ride off your hand during the process. Get used to asking with your legs & using the leg to move him foward, not rodeoing him with your hand.
3) You're going to have to retrain your body so think to yourself on every stride about what your position is & what you're doing. Maybe just focus on that for a while.
4) Repeat after me - the stick is our friend. Ask with your leg & then tell & then use the crop. It's there as an aid. If the horse isn't respecting your leg, it's in everyone's best interest to change that mindset;)

Like I said, I empathize completely. I have realized lately my leg is non-existent and while I don't ride with my hand, I do need to practice using leg & not seat.

Sigh..it's a never-ending battle:D

[ConfettiPony]

Thanks for all the advice everyone. :)

Longshot - I ride in fullseat normally, so this is a problem with my fullseat. However I have a tendency to lean a bit too far forward, which I know makes the pumping worse, so I will try to work on that.

CityGirl - My instructor last week was saying that she wanted to do a videotape lesson of our group. I'm not sure if it's going to happen or not though. I don't think I really pump with my hands, it's really more with my seat. I'd definitely agree I need to build up strength in my legs though.

I do already carry a crop with all the particular slow ponies I was mentioning. But I'm honestly not the type to use crops excessively, I can't stand when people do that. I only use it to reinforce my leg, when they're not listening. It's several different pony/horses though, which are all slow/stubborn in different ways.

[Bay Mare]

I'm not sure what you mean by 'pumping' but am presuming that it's the same as a 'driving' seat?

Have a look on the 'Kinder Way' section of this website and also at Heather Moffett's site, enlightened equitation plus her excellent book, Enlightened Equitation which gives very good info on how to absorb the movement at all paces.

[Montana]

Mark Rashid talks a lot about this recently. His way of describing the horse's motion makes a lot of sense to me. He views the movement of the horse as circles of energy, linked to his Aikido training. To put it very basically ( I'm nowhere near as good at explaining this as he is!), there are two main circles of energy when your horse moves forward. One involves the front legs, one involves the hind legs.

If you picture a moving horse, these two circles are like giant wheels, front and back, overlapping a little in the middle (where your legs sit). Picture it for a minute, and you can see that if your horse is on the right rein, both 'circles' travel in a clockwise direction. I imagine it almost like the movement of train wheels.

Now imagine yourself on top, doing the scooping action which Just Jump described. This 'scoop' makes you go anti-clockwise:rolleyes: In effect, you're completely 'blocking' the clockwise circles - putting a huge brace in the middle of them - you:p It's probably the quickest way to slow your horse down.....

I'm quite lucky in that since I've been riding seriously (rode for 15 years very badly:D , took a break for 3 then came back to it with the help of some great trainers like Mark), I've had my current horse, who most definitely doesn't have any impulsion problems, completely the opposite:eek: But this image which Mark describes has helped me a lot in picturing the way the horse moves. If you can feel this, you should find it much easier to get in time with it, and move forward in the same direction.

[ConfettiPony]

Bay Mare - Sorry, I think it's a pretty commonly used term in my area, but I'm nowhere near you... I think pumping would be similar to a driving seat, but pumping might be sort of the 'worse' version of it. I think it would depend on your personal definition. I'll check that section out, thanks!

Montana - Woah, I think I finally understand it better. The clockwise/counterclockwise explanation really helped. That makes perfect sense. I really do move in a counterclockwise way (obviously, because I do pump -a lot-, sometimes. Not that I mean/want to! :o ). I can't wait until my lesson on Thursday so I can really try to work on moving in the same direction instead! I honestly do feel so horrible when I pump as I know it's really horrible for the horses. Hopefully I can get it fixed soon.

Thanks again to everybody for all the help! :)

[arabianbaby]

it was just pointed out to me that i did this too.. what really helped me was hearing how to move with the horse in a different way. following the horse's motion didn't mean trying to stay in the saddle and push them.. it meant REALLY relaxing my back and bum.. and pulling myself forward with the motion rather pushing forward and blocking his movement with all that tension on his back. at first it felt like i was bouncing around a lot since it was much more movement on my part... but i was moving WITH him and it made a huge difference in his willingness and ability to go forward.

[kedwards]

It sounds like you've already gotten a lot of great advice, CP, but I just wanted to add a quick comment.

Remember that the secret to a forward horse is an allowing rider (allowing with the hand and allowing with the seat). Start by finding your center and finding the place where you can follow the horse's movement as it is. Then, if you want him more forward, ask once with seat and leg, then immediately follow him again to allow him to respond. If you get in the habit of always thinking about driving forward, then you never relax enough to allow him the freedom to respond.

[ConfettiPony]

Thanks for all the advice. :)

I think I actually am getting better with it. I've only had one lesson since this post in which to try the advice, but my instructor said I was definitely doing better. And I was actually on a slower horse whom I've only ridden once before.

There was a particular lesson that sparked this post, because it was just so horrendous with my pumping. I was riding this pony that I adore (he's an amazing jumper and has a lot of personality) and don't get to ride much. She said I wouldn't be able to ride him again until I could prove that I wouldn't be pumping with my seat so much. Well, I'm supposedly signed up for him my next lesson!

Thanks again!

[Montana]

CP - That's great news:D Hope your next lesson goes as well on your favourite. Your instructor and horse could obviously see and feel the difference this time then:p