no stirrups when jumping?!!

[lamprellsarah]

i really enjoy no strirrups work i love cantering and have often done whole hacks without them, i have never had lessons so i teach myself and correct my own faults.
recently i have been practising a lot getting things right like head up legs slightly back ect
but when it comes to cantering over a pole in canter with no stirrups i freeze a bit making my horse no meet the pole right and doing an extra step or jumping it, i tell myself off, and push her on the next time and we do it very well, but i still get nervous and worry a bit, help and ideas!!!??

[Rebellion]

That's a pretty common problem that i only just got over recently. It helps to do this on a horse you completely trust to being with, and then practice, practice, practice. Well that's how I got over it.

Good luck

[taffy]

just relax jumping with no stirrups is fun but without reins is better ( i must be mad )Just think positive and your horse will feel ** not scared. !!!!!

(when u get more confident try with no reins trust me its fun, or am i just plain stupid )

[larri]

I've done gridwork with no reins or stirrups - so long as you're pointing in the right direction ( and neddie doesn't run out or refuse:eek: ) it's great fun and the best thing in the world for developing a good secure jumping seat. just start with poles - do loads and work your way up!

Larri

[floppy]

i use to love jumpign without stirrups or reins...we even did it without saddles and just a headcollar..but that was when i was about 10yrs younger and could stick to a horse like glue :D

[heland]

oooooooooooooohhhhhhhh You all make jumping without stirrups fun:eek:

This is what I'll be doing very shortly. I don't mind trot and canter but jumping without stirrups:eek: sounds scarey!!

[HoRsE ChIcK]

relax and practice practice practice!!after only a month of jumping lessons my coach decided that i was ready to do a 2.6 foot course.i can easliy do that with stirrups but withuot might be a problem i thought.i was very nervous but after a while ** confidence will join u:Psome balance exercises r to let go or your reins while going over fences and putting your arms up at your sides like an airplane of putting your hands on your hip etc.

good luck

~Holly~

[lamprellsarah]

thanks i am just going to keep trying i do get such a thrill out of it, because you feel so much closer to the horse!!
i do want to practise with out reins and i am confident she would jump it as she has only ever refused a jump once in the year and a half i have had her, and that was because i chickened out because it was a big jump cross country and i had not set her up well enough to feel she would clear it.
but what speed she may go at if i drop the reins i do not know!!! :) :D
i make the little girl i teach act like an airplane when she jumps on the lunge, as her pony would deffinatly stop!!!

[floppy]

learnign to jump without stirrups is important...when you are doign showjumping or crosscountry you can loose your stirrups quite easy and normally it happens when you are jumping a row of jumps and you cant stop and find your stirrups inbetween a row of jumps so you have to keep going...