Help with my position?

Question

in this pic please could you tell me how i could improve on my position. i have asked my instructor and she says it is fine but i still think something is wrong.

http://www.bebo.com/PhotoAlbumBig.jsp?PageNbr=1&MemberId=4009426026&PhotoAlbumId=7300088767&PhotoId=7516803153

Answer 1

try posting the oic somewhere else.

Answer 2

the website is not working

Answer 3

Ok, you have a lot of horse under you that I'm sure is fairly thrusty, and powerful in his jump.  The biggest fault i see in this pic is that your leg has slipped back and your heel has come up; this in turn has allowed your upper body to fall more forward than it should be, and your seat is too far out of the saddle, making you seem like you're jumping up his neck a bit.  That therefore leads me to believe you have some weakness in your lower leg than can be easily corrected and will help you firm up your jumping position and be more secure.  The jump is pretty small, and the horse is really big, and he doesn't need your help getting over the fence.  So stay a little deeper in your saddle (dont take that as me saying sit down, just try to keep your rear-end a bit lower), sink into your heels, keep your calf in contact with your horse near the girth, and dont jump up his neck with your upper body.  To strengthen your 2-point, just practice.  Ask your trainer or friend to lunge you while you stay up in your 2-point and hold it as tightly and as perfect as you can, through all the horses gaits.  That will really help your legs and lower back,  balance over the fence and will help you feel more secure.  Also, this big fella has some untidy knees in this pic, by keeping your calf on (squeezing lightly) and by the girth, and staying balanced, you'll encourage him to put more effort into his jump. You might even offer him more of a release with your hands; shorten up your reins and as he takes off, give with your elbows (NOT YOUR UPPER BODY) and allow him to get scopey and really work over fences, as he appears to have the ability to do.  On the plus side, your back is flat and you are looking up which is very important, you arent laying on your horses neck which is good, and you seem to be in pretty good sync with him. He is a very cute guy (or girl), strengthen up that jumping position and I'm sure you'll see even better performance from him.  Happy riding!

Answer 4

Your hands are underneath you. Move them up your horse's mane. Otherwise I think you look good. Pretty horse!

Answer 5

I would love to help you but there is no picture on the web site you have typed.

All I can tell you is that you should be sitting straight in the saddle.  Imagine a straight line running from your ear down thru you shoulder/elbow down thru your leg and ankle.  Heels down, with stirrup on the ball of your foot and your head looking straight ahead.  

Hope this helps,  Would love to see the picture, but can't get to it by this web site you posted.

Answer 6

you need more of a release overthe jump and you leg is slipping back!

Answer 7

your way ahead of him and falling forward. When he takes off put your hands closer to his ears and your leg on the girth with your heel down this will give you balance which will help you stay with him over jumps. Also work on oyur 2-point in the canter and practice this.

Answer 8

go on tinypic.com and upload it

Answer 9

I think its fine when you are jumping smaller jumps but as you go higher you will find you get left behind and your legs slip back. You may find it easier to get into your jumping position by giving with your hands a little bit more. Practise your position while doing flatwork and get an experienced friend to make pointers.

With a tiny bit of work you will look great jumping.

Answer 10

Release more with your hands (Move them up the horses neck), and keep your heels down.

Answer 11

Your hands are way too far down s you aint giving the horse enough head to strech out over the fence,its kinda okay tho because thats a small fence.

Push you hands further up the mane and higher.

Leg more forward.

Heels down.

Toes in.

& Tilt from you hips dont come too much out of the seat ..

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Answer 12

Sorry, it won't let me see the pic. Could you try posting it again?

Answer 13

You're leaning on your hands/bracing against your horse and you're toes are down instead of your heels. Work on those two things for a while; keep it simple. Come back and ask again after that.

Answer 14

You hands should be further on his neck, as well as your bum a little closer to the saddle, and keep your heels down.

Basically, your a little too forward. Instead of coming off him so much, almost go with the motion of the horse's back. You shouldnt be too far off his back, but snuggled into him a little more.

PS - Very pretty horse!