Can someone explain the perfect jumping position to me?

Question

Aparrantly i move too far up off the saddle but i don't properly know the jumping position as i have ridden for 10 years but we never spend much time on jumping which i hate as i love jumping. Thanks

Answer 1

http://www.intoequus.com/forums/12/topic...

here are some sites that should help! u sound lik a great rider!!!

http://ca.answers.yahoo.com/question/ind...

http://www.geocities.com/gerrypony/jump2...

http://www.artofriding.com/images/jump3....

Answer 2

Okay, let's go back to basics.

Firstly practise over trotting poles. Just lean forwards, not moving your lower body at all, and push your hands forwards too. Keep your lower leg in the same place at all times to stop your leg slipping back. You say you move too far up off the saddle, I think this is mainly due to your lower leg position. If your lower legs slip back, then your body will be propelled forwards!

Have a look at some of the top showjumpers, you might not jump as high as them (well then again you might) but they have the best jumping positions around.

http://www.gillespie-equestrian.co.uk/Up... - Nick Skelton

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/42... - Ellen Whitaker

Hope that helps! x

Answer 3

Have a look at pics of Milton and his rider, to get the best ones.  Just remember to go with the movement, don't "jump" for the horse, sort of throwing your self up his neck. Just wait till his feet have left the ground, then fold from your hips, heels down and go with it!

Have fun jumping! =]

Answer 4

Wait for the horse's thrust over the fence, it will push you in to a proper position. If you're just coming back into jumping, it's easiest to grab mane.

Look in "Practical Horseman" and read George Morris' Jumping Clinic- he's wonderful! (And not afraid to get straight to the point).

When you jump you want to have a flat back, eyes up, heels down and nearby the girth. If you crest release, grab mane. If you know how to auto release, move your hands down a bit lower on his neck so that there is a straight line from bit to elbow.

Good luck!

Answer 5

well, when your horse comes up to the jump (about a meter or two away from it) sit  in very tight, and then while your horse puts its front feet up start rising a little bit and leaning forwardds, the hight you should rise up is about the hight you rise in rise and trot, so not VERY high up, and reember be rellaxed keep your hands and hills down, and just dont lean too far

love u probabli just caused trouble but oh well

lol jkz =]

Answer 6

ok best way to explain it to you is that you should only move forward from the waist - and dont over exaggerate it by leaning up the horses neck. Just lean forward, give with your hands and look straight out between the horses ears.

xx

Answer 7

The jumping position is not just one set movement but should be a continual movement throughout the whole process from the take off, to suspension to landing.  Watching the top jumpers is a good way to see how their positions change depending where they are in movement over the fence but their positions do generally have to be exagerated due to the size of the jumps.  

On take off you should fold forwards from the hips taking the weight into your heels to lift you out of the saddle slightly.   Make sure you do not move your hips forward as this is will push you over the horse's neck and make your position insecure.  Look forwards over the jump (looking down will pull your upper body downwards) and give with your hands.  Your knees, elbows, shoulders and head should be ahead of the line made by your stirrup leathers whilst your heels should be on the line and your hips just slightly behind it.  Your back should be parrallel to the horse's back at all times.

In the suspension period when you and the horse is in midair continue to keep your weight off the horse's back and try to stay in the vcentre of the horse's gravity.  It would probably help to look at some photos of horse's jumping to see where the centre of the horse's gravity is over the fence so you can try to keep your body over it.  

On the decline and landing you should close your legs around the horse to stop any slipping or falling forwards and start to sit up.  If you remain leaning to far forwards you could go over the horse's neck.  Use your knees and ankles as your suspension to make sure you do not bounce onto the horse's back.  

Practise your jumping position in trot without any jumps.  If you are in the correct position you should be able to remain in it without losing balance.  Then practise over small jumps before moving onto anything bigger.  

Here are some good diagrams for you to see the process throughout the jump:

http://www.artofriding.com/articles/jump...