Does anybody Have Any Tips On Jumping???

Question

I have been riding for 3 1/2 years, But, when i jump the horse i ride speeds up at the jump, and i dont know when he is going to take off, So i dont lean forward because he jumps to early or too late! ! ! I really need some tips on how to

A) Keep my horse steady and calm while riding to the jump

And...

B) How to make sure i lean forward weather he is speeding towards the jump or not!

Please Please Help!

Answer 1

Do not EVER lean forward when your jumping. Because if he slams to a Holt then your not staying with him.

Firstly, practice on the flat, make sure you are completely confident in riding and your position is perfect. It may be possible that your position is causing him to speed up (to get away from you) as you go for the jump.

Secondly, as put above, you shouldn't lean forward. You should lift your weight out of the saddle and put all your weight into your legs. Then loosen the reins. Make sure you ride on an average length as you come to the jump. The gently nudge with your leg and make a noise with your voice. As he goes over, let him do the work and you just sit pretty and let him do his thing.

Finally, always reward.

Answer 2

My horse and I had a very similar problem when we started out. Here are a few tips that really worked for me:

1) When you are coming off of the track, half halt (pull back on the reins and then let go). This will get him to back off a little bit.

2) Don't sit in your saddle right before the jump. Stay in your half seat/two point, especially when your horse has enough speed. This makes it easier to follow your horse's motion.

3) Sing to him! (I know it sounds crazy, but hear me out). A lot of times, horses rush to fences because they are nervous. If you talk to him, it will help him relax a little.

4) It would be a good idea to practice with strides over ground poles, and then gradually raise them to cross rails and once again to verticals or oxers. Place two or more ground poles on the ground as if they are a line. Count how many strides you get in between the poles the first time, and then come back and try and get one less stride. The next time come back and try and get one more stride than you had originally. This will help both you and your horse learn when to extend and collect where necessary.

5) Make sure that you are the one deciding when you are going to leave for the jump. When you want to take off, tell your horse! This will hopefully help you to stay with the motion.

6) Sometimes, if your horse is pulling you to a jump, you should halt him, then turn around and come back to it. This will teach him to back off.

I hope this helps, and good luck!!

Answer 3

When they speed up before a jump - it's called rushing (the three naughty r's of jumping:  rushing, run outs, and refusals!).

One of the school horses we had in college was famous for this.  She was a spectacular jumper and could jump anything - but she rushed.  To fix the problem, my professors had us stop her right after she cleared the jump safely and then turn her back around and go over the jump again, if she rushed, turn around and go over the jump again, etc.  It eventually worked.  We'd usually have to give a refresher every time she was ridden for a few months, but she figured it out.  Of course, you can pretty much just jump regular verticals when fixing this problem in this method.

Next - it's totally okay to do a release several strides ahead of where he's taking off.  You can do your release 3-4 canter strides ahead of where he'd ideally take off.

Also - horses sometimes rush when they've been asked to go too high too soon.  So, try lowering the jump and see if the two of you can get your rhythm back.

Best wishes!

Answer 4

a) I think you should lunge your horse over a couple of different sized jumps before you ride him..

b)Leaning forward on a horse before he approaches the jump is telling him to go faster. When jumping, as he starts to jump over the jump, then lean forward.

Answer 5

I don't ride english but i think i can help you.

A)When you feel your horse go into a faster canter or trot circle him and then come back to the jump and do that until he hets that if he speeds up hes going to get punished for it. then when he stays the same speed up to the jump reward him for it.

b) The only way to fix this problem is to fix the speed problem and practice practice practice.

Hope this helps :]

Answer 6

Hi!

A) If your horse speeds up lean back. You don't have sit to do this. Pull your body more up from your position. Whisper to the horse. Say things quietly like "Easy" and "Whoa"

Some horse don't like the reins being pulled when they are going towards the jump. Some get mad and go faster. (There is a horse like this at the barn I ride at)

B) To learn where you are going to take off: Ask an instructor or wise horse person to set a trotting pole in front of the jump. They will set the pole a certain distance from the jump. ( The pole is just like a pole from a jump. You can take a pole from a cross rail to do this) You have to wait until the front legs just past the trotting pole and then go into two-point or jumping position. Soon you will get the hang of it!

Hope I helped!

~With Love

Answer 7

imagine yourself in a tunnel - when you are approaching the jump count down the strides to the fence to when your horse should be taking off. in the tunnel effect your horse is between your legs and your legs are the wall in this "tunnel"..

Other ways to help being able to feel the correct spots is to jump with your eyes closed feel your horse beneath you and feel what it should feel like on your approach. SIT DEEP in your saddle. dont't rush the fence it will come toyou fast enough, take your time. stick with smaller fences until your confortable with striding and spots.

By keeping yourself up in a 1/2 seat or "leaning forward" you are asking to fall off if your seat isnt too secure and your horse decides to refuse a fence.

Answer 8

when coming out of the turn you need to keep that pace because that is the only way you can find a distance. so first of all you need to be counting in your head going 1,2 1,2 so that you can find your pace next if you horse begins to speed up TAKE CONTROL and hold him back a little or just plain STOP him right then and there and then back him up so he knows to listen. after you find your pace then start training your eye yo should be able to tell if you need to pick it up or slow him down or if your pace is perfect--if you don't have an eye yet your trainer should help you with this. rule of thumb is that if you can't tell if you are too short or too long then hold your horse at that pace and just keep him to the base and then jump if he chips it a bit its ok until you learn your eye but your trainer should help you. every time you change a height you will have to readjust your eye

good luck

Answer 9

Horses usually speed up right before the jump in order to get enough speed to get themselves over the jump. You need to get comfortable with your horses natural movements. Try putting poles on the ground and going into the to point over them.

When you do go over a jump, you need to relax. From what i read, it seems that you get nervous and second guess yourself. Your horse wants to do what you tell it to, and by you second guessing and getting scared, your horse picks up on that and second guesses himself too. To emphasize that, your body also tenses, your hands tense on the reins and the horse can feel the tiniest bit of tension.

You are not supposed to "lean forward". You are supposed to go into the two-point position. This involves lifting youself up off the saddle with your legs in order to give the horse room to stretch his back in the correct way to get over the jump. When you "lean forward" you put your center of gravity in your chest, which puts you and the horse off balance. By lifting with your legs, you keep your center of gravity in the same place and keeping your legs wrapped around the horse helps you judge what the horse will do.

When you can get into the correct position, your horse will be able to jump correctly. It sounds like you and your horse need to explore jumping together more, but you need to be calm. You should probably practice your two point at a trot or canter, no jumps. Hold it as long as you can to get your legs stronger. Then start small, like with poles on the ground.

You and your horse should work as one.

Answer 10

I dunno coz you are a peice of poo! ! !

Dont worry Zoey its only me - Joshua your bm bf

Bye Bye

Answer 11

whoa whoa whoa! never ever lean forward before the jump, its dangerous and messes up the horse, and your horse doesn't know what you are doing so he runs. Sit down and deep in the saddle and keep easy contact and WAIT for the jump. Keep your eyes up. Leaning is a terrible habbi.t