I dont think this is supposed to happen...

[ImaLittleBoston]

Okay, I've been back in the saddle for four years, Riding a 20 (now 24) y/o Appaloosa. I've finally gotten to the point were I want to start jumping, And I have jumped a few times. When just pleasure riding around the ring, I can stay in my seat at all gaits but the trot. I can sit to the jog but trot is kinda hard!. I can post, I have the idea of what the two point position is but.. I've been going over cross rails about 1 foot high, and its smooth sailing on the way up, although I cant seem to keep my feet pointed forward, And I just cant release on the reins enough no matter how hard I try, Now on the way down, My @$$ hits the saddle, and I go backwards to far, Im afraid im hitting the poor old mad really hard. Where when im riding my new 4 year old ad taking him over, I dont need two point position, because he sails over. Any tips for the but smacking? I can showing you some pictures, Just avoid looking at facial expression..
http://s107.photobucket.com/albums/m311/harnisk1/?start=40
Just look at the pictures from riding him that day. Please inform me as to what im doing so wrong :(

[jUmPingIsLifE]

Unless you can do a posting trot, trot while in 2-point, canter and canter in a 2 point I would say hold off on the jumping. physically it will be impossible if you arn't stable on the flat.

To me it sounds like this is something that needs to be fixed on the flat. When you do jump, grab your horses mane. You are probably getting a bit left behind. really concentrate on staying in your 2-point until well AFTER the fence.

as for the younger horse...its not good to sit on your horses back over a fence, you need to use your 2point. Once he starts associating jumping with pain you wont be able to get him near a jump. It may help you to take lessons with someone who can asses your position and help you out further, expecailly with a younger horse. Only someone *very* secure and confedint over fences should be training a young horse over fences.

[CurlyWurlyRach]

pleasepleaseplease dont sit on your youngsters back over fences. its damaging to them.

agree that you have to learn the jupimg position first.
Practise jumping position on the flat and only when you are stable try over a fence.
In your videos it looks like you lack impulsion coming into the fence so your position will be less stable.
try to grab a neckstrap or bit of mane as you jump so you move your hands forwards.

My position is by no means graceful or correct but it is stable.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a44/lord_w_rox/Curlyjumpingathome.jpg

[cvb]

imalittleboston

jumping consists of various phases - approach, takeoff, landing, recovery

as the horse moves off in take-off, their centre of gravity shifts up and forward and you need to follow that by *folding forward. Over a small jump this fold often creates enough release. Over larger jumps you will need to add more release by taking your hand forward.

As you "recover" you basically unfold back to normal position. But you would not want to be *behind* the horse's movement (and that is what those photos look like). You will occasionally see this in xc or race jockeys - but they are doing it in specfic situations (such as drop fences) which you do not need to consider at this stage ! As they say "keep it simple..."

Simplistically speaking, if I whipped the horse out from under you - you should still be in balance and not fall over.

If I did that on your photos you WOULD fall over (backwards).

So - you can practice without the jump. Either do a "pretend" jump every (say) 10 strides, or scatter some ground poles around and "jump" them with full fold and release and recover.

By practice I mean go into jumping position and then recover. You can also check your jumping position is stable by maintaining it e.g. in canter. You really do want to get the feel of this (2 point) before going over a jump at all.

[Sammii]

I'm no expert, hence why i'm not going to write as much as the other helpful people :rolleyes: but i'd just have to say, shortening your stirrups a hole or two (or three) might help you. It helps me.

[cvb]

sammii

did you base that on the jumping photos or the flat ones ?

imalittleboston - when you do the fold I described, you *do* need a stable lower leg and then you move from the hip and much less from the knee - but lower leg should hardly move.

If I look at the flat photos I could happily fold you forward at that stirrup length without unbalancing you. The jumping photos make your stirrup length look long as your lower leg has come forward to balance your body going back, and your knee and hip angles have opened up, rather than closing up (for the fold). This makes it all look longer....

I would worry a little that if you hike up your stirrups it may increase the liklihood of you standing in them over the jump (whether forward or back).

It may still be worth trying, a hole at a time, and then try 2 point in canter (without a jump) and see if you are more stable or not. Sometimes you need to make a change like this to break a habit ;)

[ImaLittleBoston]

I just cant understand why It doesnt happen to me when im riding my horse. John Kursly (sp!) told my mother not to alter your position when going over a jump as small as the cross rail. I do not need two point position with Wilson, But with Zack, I really really do.

[ajhainey]

The difference between wilson and zack is probably that the horse is the photos is giving the jump MILES of clearance. In theory you may not need to fold for something that small (no idea myself) but when you horse is jumping 3ft you do need to fold into a proper jumping position! He's jumping it as though it were at least 2' 9" to my eye...

Look at this one: http://s107.photobucket.com/albums/m311/harnisk1/?action=view&current=DSCF0013.jpg&refPage=40&imgAnch=imgAnch51 to see what I mean!

aj xx

[cvb]

I just cant understand why It doesnt happen to me when im riding my horse. John Kursly (sp!) told my mother not to alter your position when going over a jump as small as the cross rail. I do not need two point position with Wilson, But with Zack, I really really do.

Ah - but there is a difference between moving *with* the horse and not moving at all ;)

If you went up a hill, would you lean back ? The "hill" you are riding up and over is small enough that you wouldn't need to lean back as you came down, just return to normal. But you would still need to rock forward a little as they went "up" the "hill". And the bigger the "hill", the bigger the adjustment is...