Jumping?????

Question

Please help me with my jumping position. I am doing hunter jumper. I have terrible balance when walking (it isn't uncommon for me to fall down three or more times a day) but not so bad when riding...except over jumps. What is the best way to keep my balance? Please explain the positions I should have over every part of the jump; the take off, the airborne part, and the landing. Also, what do you find is the best way to keep your balance when landing?
Thanks

Answer 1

Alright, we know the basic principles of riding are: heels down, eyes up (looking where you want to go), shoulders back, and sit tall, right? Now, here are step by step details:

1) Approaching the fence

Don't forget that the approach is a very important part to the jumping process! As you begin to ride up to the fence, you mustn't move your eyes from the straight line you see to, and from it. If you are coming around a turn, try not to lean, but to sit up, and execute a nice, wide turn (except in jumpers), giving your horse plenty of time to see the fence and prepare for it. During this time, you should continue to look at the line (but NEVER down at the fence), while sitting tall, and keeping those basics we discussed in mind. Often (depends on what your trainer wants), you should half-seat the canter(hover over the saddle) or sit the trot the last few strides, while STILL keeping your basics.



2. Take-Off

Keep in mind that your horse, while looking to you for guidance, is trying to find a distance that will be most comfortable to take off. It's usually the job of the rider to determine the pace you need in order to meet your ideal take-off point. However, if you are not yet used to this, then avoid interfering with your horse. Some horses are very scopey, and can find the pace themselves, but don't worry about that for now. We know that the horse will take off a few feet from the fence, but NEVER anticipate the jump. Doing so will cause your body to naturally get ahead of the horse's motion, unbalancing the horse, and increasing the chances of either a chip (quick, short step horse makes...like, instead of getting four strides, it feels like the horse got four and a half) or a refusal. So, sit up tall, and look straight past the fence...only begin to two point when you actually feel the horse's body begin to lift itself over the fence. This allows you to use the natural thrust of the horse to help push you up out of the saddle into the two-point. So, as you begin to two point, the following should happen:

--You FLEX those heels down, turning your toes JUST a bit out, just enough to press your calf against the horse.

--Distribute contact/pressure evenly throughout your leg...don't grip too much with the knee! This is very common and causes the lower leg to slip back and the upper body to dip forward, as the knee acts like a pivot. So, wrap that entire leg around the horse!

--Begin to bring your upper body closer to your horse's neck. The degree of your two-point should about match the degree of your horse's motion (smaller fences, don't need as exaggerated of a two point as larger fences obviously). Let your upper body follow the flow of your horse's neck.

--Don't use your irons/leg so much to bring that butt out of the saddle. As I said, the horse's thrust will help you out there. You DO want to be off the horse's back, but you also don't want your butt too high out of the saddle.

--One of the most important parts--the crest release. Let your hands come forward, up the horse's neck. About half-way up the neck, your hands should press into your horse's crest, giving you stability, while providing your horse with plenty of room to freely move it's head (you should never hit the horse in the mouth...most likely, it will happen someday, but avoid this as much as possible!).

--Keep those eye's up and looking ahead!! This will help you keep your back straight.

--shoulders back



3. Midair

Alright, in midair is where we see the two-point in full action! You should do/have the following:

--KEEP LOOKING AHEAD TO WHERE YOU WANT TO GO! Moving your head, without you even knowing it, completely shifts your weight, and throws you, and your horse, off balance. Plus, by not looking down, your back will more easily stay straight and flat.

--As for the legs, you still want your heels down, toes turned out slightly, calf against the horse, contact/grip distributed throughout thigh, knee, and calf. And, very important, your leg must be BENEATH you. Don't let it slide back--or forward for that matter.

--Your butt should be hovering over the center of the saddle right now, just a few inches above the seat. It should be neither above the pommel or the cantle, but hovering over the middle.

--Your back should be flat, preferable with a slightly concave-appearance...that slight arch will allow you to stay secure over the fence.

--Your shoulders should still be nice and square, not rolled forward.

--Your crest release, as I said, should be half-way up the horse's neck, with your hands pressing into the horse's crest. Also, DON'T kink your wrist. There should be a straight line from the elbow through the hand.

--Get ready for landing! If you are cantering, and need a specific lead, lean into the iron that is opposite of whatever lead you need. This causes the horse to land on that lead as it canters from the fence. However, don't worry about this until you have good form, or else you may accidentally interfere with the horse.



4)Landing

Landing is also a very important aspect. As you land, the following should take place:

--As always, LOOK WHERE YOU WANT TO GO! This will cause slight reactions in your body that will (usually) help the horse understand where you plan to go.

--Now, here's a tricky part. DON'T CHANGE A THING! You should land in your two-point, and stay in a two pointish position for about one stride afterward. Let your horse finish the jump before sitting up and moving on. Some slight changes will happen, but what I mean is that you want to continue to stay off the horse's back...so you still want:

--heels down!

--Your leg should remain directly beneath you...if anything, a little forward, but preferably not (unless you're jumping a bank!).

--Still let your hands follow your horse's neck and mouth.

--still keep your butt off your horse's back.

--Sit up just a bit taller. You shouldn't be bolt upright, but don't be crouched over the neck...find a mid point...kinda like the half-seat.





And continue on nice and smoothly!!





I hope this helps ^_^





Tips for keeping balance:

--ALWAYS LOOK WHERE YOU WANT TO GO!!

--Shoulders WAY WAY WAY back...exaggerate it until it becomes natural, so that you never have to worry about hunching. I used to get ahead of the horse, but by doing this, I was forced to not hunch, and was able to wait for my horse before two-pointing.

--Always push those heels down

--For me, I have to remind myself to keep my hands up...I have a habit of riding with low hands, and so when I would jump, I'd have my hands below the mane, so I would fall forward because I didn't have anything for support. So, a couple strides out, I remind myself "hands up!" and my hands just naturally go into a crest release. It made an amazing and fast change to my equitation.



PS--When in doubt, GRAB MANE!!! It's helped me many times. Especially if I am approaching a fence that the horse I'm riding is unfamiliar with. You can sorta feel the horse hesitate, and also look at their body language. If you think they're going to take a long spot or possibly refuse, grab mane so that you stay with them.

Answer 2

There are many ways to practice balancing. One would be to ask a friend to lounge you horse while you are riding him\her and raise your arms out to the side and try different gaites.Then (for jumping)slightly lean back when you are landing the jump and lean forward a stride or so before the jump. Remember to keep you heels down!:)

Answer 3

perhaps you are having trouble anticipating the jump? You can throw the horse off a bit if you are not in synch.



You are almost jumping with the horse, you want to jump at the same time if not a fraction of a second before the horse, then it's less weight for the horse. You can tell when you hit it, you feel like you are flying. As for the rest, i'm sorry, it's too hard for me to explain exactly, work on the jump first.

Answer 4

I find riding with shorter stirrups than you normally would, & keeping your heels well down. This will enable you to keep your position secure & change it quickly throughout each jumping stage. Try smaller jumps first so you don't need to take youself foward so much; just stay bent foward but still sat in the saddle if you get me?? You'll find it easier to sit up then on the landing. hope helped!

Answer 5

i have natural position and balance on a horse, people say i was born on one (jokingly) but its not a problem for me.



make sure when you are jumping your lower leg stays in the same place, alot of riders legs slip back and that leads to dodgy balance.



also when your going over the jump, look straight between the horses ears and concentrate.



my balance is so good, i can actully lean out of the saddle and look at my horses legs when he jumps! i dont understand how people could not have balance! lol

Answer 6

ok well

make sure you are looking straight ahead

dont look down at the jump at all

also make sure you are sitting straight on the horse, dont lean to one side

tips to staying balance after the jump would be to start leaning back into the normal position a bit earlier

it may help :)





GOODLUCK(:

Answer 7

For the jumping position, I hold on to my horse's mane, and squeeze with my leg, holding the mane helps you stay on, and if you squeeze your leg you'll stay on even better! Have a nice,arched back, and look up.



I don't know about hunter jumper, but this how I do it, I ride just plain English

Answer 8

okay, so the jumping position is not really a position but a movement. this video should help you understand how a horse jumps:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uB98xIj-mHU



during the approach, you should be like this. it is the same as normal cantering. sit up tall and wait for the jump to come to you:

http://lizditz.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/100approachtwostride_2.jpg



during the take off, this is how you should be. heels down, not totally in the jumping position yet but getting to it:

http://lizditz.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/110takeoffstride.jpg



while over the jump you should lean forward. look up, heels down. try not to interfere with your horse while jumping, just hold on:

http://www.hunterjumpernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/Cara%20Cheska%20and%20King%20a%20Alex%20Thomas%20Photo.jpg



while landing, lean back. be sure to be light in the saddle:

http://www.naturalhorsetrim.com/Tyler_KY_Horse_Park_Oct_2004_sm.jpg



try riding in your jumping position at all gates. don't cheat by leaning on your horses neck! remember to keep your heels down and look up, even over jumps too. try shortening your stirrups a hole or two as well.

Answer 9

Totally agree with lil jumper and Mary's answers.

Just gotta say, a good way to practice for balance is riding bareback, you might be a shocker to begin with but you'll get better after time, improved my riding HEAPS.

Answer 10

When jumping, hold onto the mane. You can also practice balancing or your jumping postion by riding without stirrups on the flat and then over poles. And practice walking, trotting, and cantering over poles in jumping postion. It gets really fun once you can keep your balance. :)

Answer 11

I just started riding, but I know alot about it.



When you take off, grab on to the main(kind of high up) and dig your heels down. You want to lean forward as your horse takes off.



When you're airborn, give in with the reins to let your horse stretch it's neck. Let yourself move with the horse. Be sure you look forward the whole time.



For landing, squeez ONLY your upper legs to stay on! make sure that you're balnced in the center. Again, try to move with the horse.



If you want, check out books at the library about jumping, or talk to your instructor(if you have one).







I hope this helps for a fellow horse lover.