Getting Left Behind

[Maisie]

My flatwork is coming on pretty well, but everything just goes flop when it comes to jumping. I'm still doing very teeny-weeny jumps right now, and I always get left behind. My instructor's not very patient and he usually makes me practise over and over again, but I never fail to get left behind. The horse takes off first, then I get into a forward seat. It's coming to a point where I'm beginning to dread jumping. Anybody able to help me out here?

[Kristy]

Don't think about it!Go towards the jump aiming at something in the distance.. trees work WELL! and then when the horse jumps just "go with" the movement. Remember to keep your legs ON though...
Hope this helps
Kristy

[nrob1982]

Very small jumps can actually be more of a hindrance than a help, I have found. If you are riding a horse that has done a lot of jumping, a very small jump can make their concentration evaporate :)
They seem to know they can hop over it from a standing start if necessary. Because of that you have to work very much harder to generate rhythm and impulsion. And if you are approaching any jump in an uneven rhythm your chances of either getting in front of, or behind, the movement is so much greater.
If I take my mare over a very small crosspole she will often hesitate just in front of it for a fraction of a second before plopping over in a pretty ungainly fashion.
However, raise the height to 2ft6ins or 3ft and things are so much smoother.
Similarly she will regularly roll an upright at 2ft . . . then immediately go on to clear a one metre spread.
It's almost like she's saying: "If you think I'm gonna take THAT tiny little thing seriously . . ."

[Maisie]

Gee, thanks everyone.

I think it's rather true - horses do prefer larger jumps. There's this paint I ride and he refuses at a teeny-weeny crosspole but jumps with ease over a much larger one. I'll keep all your advice in mind, everbody!

I'll keep you updated if i can!
-Maisie

[bettina]

Don't dread jumping! I used to get left behind when I started jumping, because I couldn't find my distance. What worked was at first approaching the jump in the jumping position already, just to get the feel of jumping in time with the horse. After a while, count 3 strides before the jump itself (try and *see* the distance, if the jump is 2 feet the horse takes off more or less 2 feet away from the jump) and then go into the jumping position. That's helped me *a lot*. I can see when the horse is going to take off now, and I'm prepared to let his motion fold me into the forward position. Try it! These exercises work like a charm, lemme tell ya. :D Good luck!! LMK on how your jumping goes!

[Kristy]

A good visualisation technique could work...
Imagine you and the horse are in a huge skin. You and the horse are one so you have to keep as STILL as possible not to break the skin but you also have to go with him..
This improved my canter 100%!
Cheers!
Kristy

[Maisie]

The skin thing sounds really funny - but I'll keep that in mind. It sounds like pretty good advice - you and the horse are supposed to be one anyway.

My problem isn't quite solved, but here's another one. I'm not really sure what to do when I land. The horse's back always hollows and he loses some impulsion. And yet another horse I ride rushes away after the jump and there you have my instructor yelling at me to stop the horse while I'm circling the arena at over 20 until she catches up with the other horses in my class.

[Doolittle]

I think someone said it before, but when I got left behind, my trainer told me to get in my jumping position 3/4 strides before the jump.
I'm not sure about the other question. If he's slow after the jump, try squeezing when he's up in the air (if your this coordinated!), or right, right before the fence. For the one who's rushing after, does he rush before the fence as well? If he does, half-halt him (did you learn that yet?, it's a little hard to explain. um, well your arms should normally be pretty nonrestrictive and relaxed, but in a h-h, they should stiffen a little while pulling back only a few inches. It should only take a second, then go back to relaxed. If one doesn't work, do two.....) Anyway, half-halt him when he starts to get quick, then again after two strides, and so on. Then another one a stride before the fence. It's different for every horse, but hopefully you get the gist of it. Hopefully he does get speedy before the jump, or else I wrote this for nothing and I didn't help you!
gotta gallop,

~Eliza

[bettina]

Since you said you got left behind, and one horse you ride rushes off and the other one's back hollows, maybe it's how you land in the saddle? Since you get left behind, I'm sure on landing you kinda thump back into the saddle. It probably scares the horses a bit, and they react in different ways. Try fixing your forward position first, then see if theres a difference in the horses behavior. Also, if it isn't your jumping position that causes these horses to do that...

... here's a few tips with the rushing horse. Horses that rush after a fence usually rush before the fence as well. Keep him calm. If he starts to rush before the fence, do a few circles to get him relaxed before you aim for the jump. Or put trotting poles in front of the fence to regulate his stride.

... here's a few tips with the horse who loses impulsion. Rhthym is a key factor when jumping. Make sure he's going well before the fence, and if you're that coordinated, keep the leg on over the fence. Cluck on landing if you have to, just to keep the horse going.

Good luck! LMK how your riding and jumping is going!!!! :D

[Jess]

I always had the same problem and then I started going too early! Try this: count the stride rhythm ..1...2...1...2...1...2.. and feel your horse's mouth by keeping good contact then at the base of the fence, when you feel him start to go, squeeze, and when his front feet come off the ground, just go with him! (Your spot should be about as far in front of the fence as the fence is tall.)
Good luck!
Jess
starlight_2002@hotmail.com

[sophie]

what i do is about 7 strides before the jump (in trot) give a nudge with my legs, this takes my pony into canter and he works out the striding on his own. i can usually work out when he's going to take off and so be prepared to get into position. give with the reins and allow the pony to stretch his neck. feel the movement and then steady him after the jump. try and keep the canter for a few strides after too.
hope you improve and tell us if we've helped!
sophie

[Maisie]

Well, my instrutcor tells me that you should take-off at this and this distance blah blah blah but sometimes it's a little hard. Anyway, my jumping's improving, but maybe it's because I've been getting better horses to ride. I generally find it easier to jump in canter. Most of the time my instructor gives us a choice and I end up trotting towards a jump because it's a little hard to keep in balance when you're canter-jumping.

Thanks a lot, you HAVE helped! I tried a little of the rhthym counting thing but usually I mess it all up and give it up after a few tries!

[Kristy]

It IS easier to jump in canter! I have yet to mast trot jumping but can clear 2 successive 2foot 6 jumps in canter!
Weird eh?
Kristy

[Maisie]

*Sigh* The only thing I regret was the fact that I discovered jumping in canter was better and easier late! Just think of all those jumps I missed out on! It's like the canter rocks you into the forward seat - sounds funny?

[bettina]

SOPHIE: Your suggestion is pretty good - when you're on a well-trained schoolhorse. Some other horses need you to help them find the distance, and if you depend on the horse all the time to find the distance, you'll have a lot of trouble with some horses! Just wanted to let ya know.

MAISIE & KRISTY: Cantering to a jump is generally easier than trotting to a jump because the jump IS generally like a big canter stride over a little fence. That's why the motion is smoother and all. :) Maisie, tell me how your jumping goes ok?

[Maisie]

My jumping's improved slightly - but only slightly. The horse I rode was rushing because he got excited by the jumps and he wouldn't slow down enough for me to get my timing right - and I got left behind again. Anyway, I did manage to get back in one piece! :)