I need help with my half-seat over jumps!?

Question

I can't seem to get up in half-seat position while jumping. Any advice?

Answer 1

It is between a two-point and just sitting.  Try standing up in your stirrups then bending at your hips.   Pretend you have hinges right there.  And even practice bending like that on the ground.  Get in the postition with your legs spread out alittle and maybe put your hands on your hips and bend right there.  I hope this helps!

Answer 2

don't think about trying to get up off the saddle - what you want to do is push your hips back  toward the cantle while you let the horse come up to you. Keep your knees bent & sink your weight to your heels. Practice over very small trot fences/simple combinations.

Answer 3

Sometimes you can be too focused on the jump itself and forget the basics.

Try polework as this will take the pressure away of having to get over the jump. Also make sure that your stirrups are shorter than usual - its much easier to achieve that way. Go back to walk if need be, and get somebody who rides to watch you on the gorund, as they'll get a better viewpoint. One exercise that my group used to do was to ride around the arena in trot, in jumping position for 1 out of 3 sides.

Answer 4

when your riding, practice standing up in your stirrups. then bending foward then try to put them together

Answer 5

It depends a lot on what you are having problems with specifically.  If you can do it on the flat, but open up over the jump, then think grab mane!!  make an extra effort to stay closed over the withers for a few strides while holding the mane to keep you with the motion and not on the horses mouth.  If you can't do it on the flat, then don't jump until you can be solid at the walk trot and canter and able to do transitions.  The correct position should have the knee closed to about a 100 degree angle, your crotch slightly out of the saddle, rear end almost touching the cantle on the saddle (but not quite touching) your hips over your ankles, and your back flat but shoulder forward with the horses motion.  remember to never lean!!  You can press your shoulders forward, but you can not lean forward and keep a safe seat.