Hints on my jumping position?

Question

Please no mean answers!!

i know tht my heels need to go down, my friend made me try riding with extra long stirrups.

and please dont make fun of this horse, his name is zippy and hes like 28 years old!!

i love him and the fact that he will still jump 2'' 9 jumping coarses for me!!

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee33/...

Answer 1

You hip is bent perfectly for that size jump.  The only thing I see that could be fixed is dropping your weight into your heels (which you already noticed) and closing your fingers with your thumbs up.  Other than that, very nice equitation.

Answer 2

The link doesn't work so as far as I know your jumping position looks fine. Good luck!

Answer 3

28 is NOT too old to be riding. It really depends on the horse. My bestie has a 33 year old Quarter Horse/TW, and he still jumps and gallops around like he did 10 years ago. If you want your horse to be sound and rideable in his older years, you want to give them plenty of vitamins and joint supplements. <----This is more for the other answerers.

Do answer YOUR question, you look like you're doing just fine :)

Answer 4

Sorry, your link doesnt work! :(

Answer 5

you can tuck ur heels back and your but can go down just a tad and your upper body well bring it down with your but a little it will all make the ride and the jumps smoother and good luck.

Answer 6

Well, you have a few faults with your position. Most of these stem from your base. The first thing you need to do is reposition your foot diagonally through the stirrup, making sure that no more than the ball of your foot rests on the stirrup pad. Position the outside stirrup branch against your foot for additional security. Right now, you have too much foot in the stirrup, which has allowed you to point your toes out 90 degrees instead of the usual 45.

Your leg has also slipped back and pivoted, so that you're gripping with the inside of your calf instead of evenly through your thigh, knee, and calf. You need to practice your two-point on the flat, with stirrups and without, to strengthen your leg and develop a proper position. Correct position can be trained through muscle-memory, but you'll have to dedicate some long hours to your two-point.

On the plus side, your back is nice and flat and your eyes are up, looking ahead. But you're a little too far back in the saddle for your horse's jump, which tells me you got left behind. The kink in your wrist and your floating hand--thrown forward to make up for your body getting left--seems to confirm this. Ideally, you should press your knuckles into the crest of your horse's neck and maintain a straight wrist for a more attractive picture.

I'd recommend going back to trotting poles and small Xs to strengthen your position and improve your timing. I think riders are advancing too quickly through the ranks these days, and their trainers need to be responsible and keep them at the lower levels until their positions are strong enough they're truly ready to advance. I've watched too many scary rounds in all three rings--hunters, jumpers, and eq--over the past few years.

Think of it this way. Your faulty position can hinder your horse and make his job harder. He looks like an honest animal, but you'll get into real trouble if you get on a horse that stops, shies, or jumps from a long spot if you can't fix your position. Good luck, and I hope you're working with a qualified instructor whenever you jump.

Answer 7

your link doesnt work

Answer 8

Since your link doesn't work, I can't say about your jumping position.

I disagree with sexcride. Just because her horse needed to retire at 28 does not mean that all horses need to retire at 28. Some can keep working into thier thirties if they are carefully managed. As long as the vet says its okay for Zippy to keep working, then its probably just fine to keep working him. You just need to keep an eye out for any clues that would tell you when it is time to retire.  

Answer 9

hey

glad ot know ur having fun!!

but please le thim retire

28 is too old even tho he may seem fine he can develop internal problems within his joints while jumping. they may not seem apparent straight away but after the problem becomes evident and serious vetinary help is needed and all tht S**t and drama.

and u will feel dreadful after wards that u pushed a poor old horse to jump fences when it should be doing gentle light work with minor trotting.

i know this from experience :)

its happened my horse was 28 and i did the same thing and when anybody told me i should retire him. i said bull S**t hes fine look at him he loves it!! and he did but then after the probelms in his joints started to cause him pain and i felt so bad even though he loved it.

please listen to me and do the right thing evn though it may seem so wrong to stop him doing what he loves, save him the pain huni :)

xxxxx natty