I really need jumping help!?

Question

I have just started jumping, and I am having fun! But (isnt there always a but?) whenever my horse jumps, I feel like I am flying all over the place. I know my stirrups are probably too long, as they are in flatwork position, but I have to punch more holes into the leathers because they wont go any shorter. Any tips on keeping composure over the jumps? Also, after my crest release and the horse has landed, I have troubles regaining my reins! Does anyone have helps for this as well?

Answer 1

If you are jumping low jumps (x-rails to 2'3") then just keep your stirrups the same length as you do on the flat. I ride in shorthish stirrups on the flat and jump 3 foot in them without a problem (I shouldnt but I do).

Try riding at the trot in two point a lot. You need to train your muscles what to do over fences. My trainer has all the girls at our barn hold the proper two-point for like 10 minutes (solid) every lesson while trotting. Also try riding at all the gait without stirrups. This is is best tried on the lunge first so you can concentrate on yourself instead of the horse. First do the sitting trot then try the rising trot and once you get better try the canter. Also try holding two-point or a half seat without stirrups. It is really hard at first but will really help your position. Make sure you are doing everything correctly though. I picked up the habit for awhile of pinching with my knees when posting without stirrups that took forever to fix.

As for the crest release, make sure you are not throwing yourself up the horses neck when going over the fence. If you are just starting to jump you should be going over x-rails and 2 foot fences. At this height all you need to do is come into the fence in a half seat and press your hands into their neck. The horse is merely cantering over the fences and most really doesnt use their head and neck very much. Once your base of support (legs and seat) become better you will have less problems controlling the reins.

Please dont get wrapped up in jumping bigger and bigger though. The best way to become better is the create solid basics and learn to ride correctly. There are several trainers in my area that will let kids move up as they please. These kids get hurt and after a point their lack of a base comes back to bite them. One girl I know was jumping 3' on a regular basis but once she got up to 3'6" everything exploded because the horse was finally jumping with some power instead of cantering over the fence. She ended up breaking her wrist and developing a lot of fear. She had to start over a cross-rails this year with my trainer. My trainer does not let anyone move up untill they are absolutly ready. I love her and her training. I have been able to go from showing 2' hunters last year to 3' show jumping without a problem in under a year. Get a great trainer and you are good to go!

Good Luck in your next lesson and have LOTS of fun. Those first few months of learning to jump are pretty hard because the feeling is so different.

Answer 2

Easy fix-obviously you know that when you head over an obstacle you raise in your stirrups slightly-really focus.  Feel your horse move beneath you and relax so that you flow with it.  You may be a little tense going over the jumps.  Not only do you need to stand slightly in the stirrups, but try leaning over the horse's withers slightly too, as this will aid in balance.  As for regaining your reins, try waiting just a slight bit longer after your horse touches before you do.  Allow the horse to pull it's head up first and get back into it's rhythm before you regain, because that way you will be back in a comfortable position.  Once you have the hang of it that way, try gathering them sooner and sooner.  Ease into it, then you'll both have more fun-and that is the key point there-HAVE FUN.  If you stress, you tense, and then you start rocking on the horse's back instead of flowing with it.

Answer 3

until you get more holes in the stirrups, you could twist the stirrup leather around the stirrup to make them shorter.

Answer 4

You're going to have trouble with all parts of your jumping position if your stirrups are too long. Its not hard to punch some extra holes. Since your legs are the foundation of our entire position, you really have to fix that before you can fix anything else. I think you will find that with some shorter stirrups, your legs will be more secure and your position will be more solid.

Answer 5

Try trotting at two point, it helps you get a feel for the position.  You shouldnt be bouncing around, use your knees as a shock absorber.  your upper body should be still.  Continue trotting around like this about 5 times around the ring every day (or however often you ride) for about 2 weeks.  Don't do anymore jumping until you feel comfortable, because if you do something wrong, you can severly injure your horse.  Make sure you grip with your knees and thighs(thats my problem) and dont drop out of two point in the arch of the jump because you feel like you should move with the horse, you will slam back down on his/her back which can hurt them badly.  If you are having troubled gripping, place a $1 bill between your mid-thigh and the saddle and try trotting crossrails and cantering out without losing the dollar.  If it falls, you know you need to work on keeping them on the saddle.  With your releases, dont release the reigns as much, place your hands futher up the horses neack so he has room without needing to release on small jumps.  Good  luck!

Answer 6

I used to have the same problem as you all the time.  And it took me a little while to get my body to work the way that my trainer was telling me to, but she gave me some great tips, and they work really well with any horse, once you have them down.  I would recommend trying this to anyone who has any problems being off balance while jumping or any horse sport really.

First, she always made me ride with my stirrups in a more up position, because I was wanting to jump, and when your horse is a jumper you don't have to ride with your stirrups in the flat work position.

Second, make sure you always check that you have a good tension on the reins as you approach the jump, you should be able to feel the horses mouth.  You do have to give them their head, but don't let the reins slip through your fingers, allow your hands and arms to move with the horses head.

As you get about 1 1/2 to two strides away, you lift your bum out the saddle into the two-point position, or if you don't know what that is, a slightly standing position.  Give your horse their head, but remember move your arms with your horses movement, don't allow the reins to slip through your fingers to give her her head.  And make sure you grip with your knees and legs, not only does it help push the horse over the jumps and give them a nice look, but it really helps to keep you from falling off balance.

I hope this helps you.

Good luck!

Answer 7

Forget about jumping for a day or two and ride bareback in the feild! This will help you to regain a deep and balanced seat .. try to master the rising trot this also helps alot! I wouldnt recommend jumping bareback yet because you mentioned that you have trouble regaining your reins .. if you havnt got a saddle on and you loose your reins after the jump ..put it this way it aint guna be pretty... it will all come naturally ..whateva u do dont raise out of the saddle until your horse has taken off (go with the horse wen he takes off u rise) if u do rise out of the saddle and tilt forward even 2 seconds before your horse takes of if he decides to refuse then your going to be on the floor! As the saying goes .. slowley slowley catch the monkey .. it will all come in good time!  

Opps nearly forgot... PUNCH HOLES IN YOUR STIRRUPS!! .. its the stirrups that are the main problem to you loosing balance!

Good luck x x

Answer 8

You just may have to punch more holes in your stirrups, or find a saddle that fits you and your horse, and you both are more comfortable.

You want to have a loose rein, but not so loose that you can't regain them, and try and stay over the center of gravity, and he should land softly, and more collected.

Long stirrups are not safe, you want to keep those heels down. This is one reason I love to jump bareback, due from an accident I had as a child, as my stirrups were to long, and I got hung up on one, when the horse I was riding spooked on me.

I have most of my students practice balance, bareback on small jumps.

It's fun!

Good luck!

Answer 9

lift you bum up DONT let your reins get shorterand lean forward

                          good luck :D    :P

Answer 10

you dont let the reins get any shorter.

as you come into the jump, you lift you bum, lean foward so you are lying on his neck and put your hands further up and either side of his mane.

You should get good at counting your strides in aswell. when you watch a horse go over a jump (watching is easia at first) on the last 3 strides before the horse jumps, you count 3, 2, 1 and then he should take off.

this should help you because you then know when exactly to go into your position and not get left behind.

As soon as you count 1, you should be into your jumping position - no sooner - no later otherwise you will either be too early and get bumped about or be too late and get left behind.

good luck.

x