JUMPING HELP! PLEASE LOOK!!!?

Question

Ok. When I jump I roach my back really badly. I'm an eventer so position doesn't really matter that much, but it annoys me! do you have any tips to help fix it? cause I'm not sure what to do. Here is a video of my riding so you can get a better idea of what it looks like! thanks!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ9DlFIyKqI

Answer 1

I have to agree bringing your stirrups up will help you lift up more naturally out of the saddle going into and over the jump. What I'm seeing is you're having to compensate and that's occurring in your shoulders. You crunch them together a bit to get the lift and that closes your chest and roaches your back. It's not much different than when we are standing in a less than optimum stance (unbalanced) and try to lift something that's too heavy: we crunch shoulder in, bring our arms in, close our chest, and roach our backs. Experiment with one hole up then try 2 then, erhhhh maybe, try 3 just to see and compare how it changes your ability to easily come out of the saddle. You two look good though. There's a reason eventing isn't judged on form; you've gotta get the job done and it's hard riding and isn't picture perfect. Ride to survive so you can survive to ride! I really do think a small adjustment to your base will make the job much easier so you don't have to fight against yourself.

Answer 2

My computers being goofy so i didn't get to see the video but see if this helps.

When you jump lay your forearm on the horses neck make sure you keep yout chest and eyes up.

People often think their back issues are because they have a back problem and they forget about their arms and the realese.

Also the landing on the back comes from weak legs. Work on stregthning your legs.

You will need to also work on following your horse try staying in 2pt longer as he lands-give him 1 stride before asking him to do anything.

Also try sucking in your stomach as you jump and stretching out really keeping that chest up.

Try the arm thing-it works the best it helped me.

*post a picture of it so i can help you better

Answer 3

I think that you need to shorten your stirrups by two to three holes. Your long stirrups make your base of support weak and that's why you are throwing your upper body some to make up for it. I think it is that throwing that is leading to the roaching. I think if you shorten your stirrups some so that you have a 90 degree angle in your knee will really help.

Your horse looks very nimble. I bet he is a great eventer.

PS - You are correct that eventers sit up a little earlier because we ride on uneven ground and undulating terrain.  

Answer 4

i used to do that so i know its frustrating, but what i learned to do was stick my butt out and try to put my shoulder blades together. right now while you are reading this, try to stick your shoulder blades together, but at the same time try to round your back... you cant, so its a perfect position fixer!

by the way, in your video when your horse does a flying change, he only switched his front legs to the other lead, so next time try to keep him more balance so he can switch the back too.

Answer 5

You sit back in you saddle way to soon after the jump. The problem is that the horse his legs aren't on the ground yet and you already shift your weight onto it's back. When its back-legs then touch the ground you get a kick back to into your back which normally should be compensated in your knees instead of in your back. practice on staying in the forward position. ( sorry for not knowing the right worth for that but i'm not really English so.)

Answer 6

The horse should be jumping, not you.  Get in your balance position, put your hands almost touching the horses neck and stay there.  Your body will naturally follow into the jump.  Don't force it.  You are over correcting at the end of the jump because you are trying to force yourself into a jumping stance.  

Answer 7

If I were you I would start by doing some flat work (and work on keeping your back straight), then start going over poles(and work on keeping your back straight), and then go back to jumping. (and and still work on keeping your back straight.) :)

Answer 8

start by going over ground poles. When you go over them get into 2 point but only focus on arching your back. When you get good at this go on to little crosspoles and then a small vertical ect.

Answer 9

Let me start with the positives: you have a lovely low heel position, although your stirrups are a tad too long. Especially if you're going to ride cross country, you need to get in the habit of riding with shorter stirrups. Granted, the height of the jumps is still quite low right now, but if I were you I'd get in the habit of shortening those stirrups anyway, just to practice the feel. This will give you more angle in your leg, and it should start to correct some of your upper body problems.

I believe your roached back stems from your lack of release with your hands. This is a common fault in the lower level equitation rings today. You don't push your hands forward enough, so you lean your upper body too forward and pivot your shoulders over your hands. Your also standing in your stirrups over some of the jumps, so by shortening them you won't have to throw your upper body forward quite enough.

I'd go back to flat with you for a little bit, and practice your two point with and without stirrups. Without stirrups will especially force you to keep your upper body properly aligned, or you'll lose your balance severely. Then, as you practice fences, think about moving your hands forward. Remember what we tell kids and novices, "Reach for the ears!" Obviously that's an exaggeration, and in a proper long crest release you shouldn't move your hands past the middle of your horse's neck, but for riders who lack a proper release, it's a good mantra to say on the way to the fence. By pushing your hands forward, you won't have to compensate with your upper body quite so much.

These are things your trainer should be telling you, by the way. I would talk to her about your position and see what she says. As this is a pretty big fault and one that could cause you trouble on the cross country course, it needs to be fixed. And while you may not be judged on position, it matters very much, my dear. Look at all the fatalities and injuries in eventing lately, many of them stemming from riders not being prepared enough for their level. Good equitation is required no matter what discipline you ride, simply for safety's sake.

Answer 10

Something that could help is to tighten your legs so you don't feel like you have to throw your body to keep with your horse's sense of gravity. Also giving a little bit more of a release will put your hands forward and not tucked under you will help keep your back straight. A training trip we use in english riding is to get a decently long crop, put it behing your back, and put your arms behind it with your hands reaching forward, that way you'll have to keep your back straight no matter what your doing while your riding. A key to remember while your jumping *without aid* is to "let the horse jump up to you" my trainers use this for girls during flat lessons. Hope this helps!

Answer 11

Alright.. You are way, way, WAY over-jumping the 2'3" fences. You are going too far infront of the horse, almost like you are trying to jump the fence for your horse. Pull your shoulders back, and stick your chest out almost like you were just going to stand up in the stirrups.

Another option is that your stirrups are far too long - they are dressage length and need to be shortened 2, maybe even three holes.

Also, you sit down too early - and you land on your horse's back. That might lead your horse to being back sore, to jump sour, and knock rails / hit the cross country jumps.

My advice is go back to the basics - start over trot ground poles and get your two-point back, strengthen your leg muscles (working without stirrups helps this too) and take it slow over fences.

Answer 12

I'm trying to fix this exact same problem with myself. My trainer put a crop into my pants and under my shirt so it laid on my back on my last lesson, and it bugs your back if your hunching. You could try it and see if it makes any difference, if it doesn't then nothing is lost.