Learning to jump, need some advice.?

Question

My friend and I are learning to jump with our two paso finos. We are NOT trying to be the next Brianne Goutals or anything, lol. We have been doing small jumps over 2 foot logs on trails but that's it. My friend just bought a "jumping for kids" book (we're not little but figured that was more our level for jumping). The book gave good pics on building jumps, so my friends Dad built us some really nice standards, they look like this:

http://search.msn.com/images/results.aspx?q=jump+standards&FORM=MSNH&mkt=en-US#focal=ad9194832e4476c4cc971207a25a019d&furl=http%3A%2F%2Fdressagearena.net%2Fimages%2Fblue_schoolingstandards.jpg

Anyways my question is can you give us some advice, like easy two-point positions or training advice. Thanks! All posts welcome!

Answer 1

Get a trainer, or take soem lessons. my friend taught herself how to wjump and she has some bad habits she can't break. I have been jumping for a shorter time than her, but i got the blue ribbon at the show, while she took 3rd {on a good jumper}. I have lessons and she doesnt.  

Answer 2

Aw fun fun! Okay so best advice since you cant meet with a trainer regularly...

Learn how to judge your horses strides really really well, that way you'll be prepared as well as know if something feels a little off and you need to skip the jump!

Start low with a couple cross ties in a row and gradually (when you're comfortable move them higher!

Two point positions can be practiced at the walk and trot, just learn the two point and practice practice practice! It's easy once you get it down!

If you're horse gets bored or "jump crazy" after a jump, change it up...don't do just one jump in a row...do two or three to keep your horses brain thinking!

Last tip...the best one I've ever received! "Throw your heart over the jump and your horse will follow"

Be confident...keep a good steady gaze on what you're going for!

Good luck!  

Answer 3

Start of very low, and get your horses confidence up.  Once he successfully jumps 1ft for a month and seem confidence, then raise it to 1'2 etc.Make sure you go into a 2 point [i assume you know what this is] over the jump, and NEVER look at the jump, look at the rail etc thats in front of it. Show no hesatation as you approach the jump.

Have fun!

Answer 4

I think the two most important things are to look across the jump and not to lean at the horse.  Looking down and getting ahead are actually somewhat related (if you do one, you often do the other).  There are lots of faults a rider can have when jumping, but it is dangerous if your body gets ahead of the horse's center of gravity.  It can throw the horse off balance, and the two of you can fall.  Ideally, you want to stay in the middle, but I think it is better to get behind the motion, rather than in front of it.

For the most part, just let the horse do his job.  Get into your half seat and just stay out of your horse's way.  Once you get more advanced you can start to judge distances.  But most horse's are pretty good at it.  So just add leg, look forward, and stay in the middle of the horse.  Also, don't be afraid to grab the mane.  Remember the horse has no nerves there, and holding the main will keep you from accidentally pulling on the horse's mouth and will help you stay in the right place.

You should also practice your position over ground poles.  I've found that so helpful!

I know you said you can't get a trainer to come out to where you live, but you should try to take some jumping lessons even if it means driving an hour and taking a lesson on a school pony once and a while.  Jumping can be dangerous, so you should really get some professional help if possible.

Answer 5

get a coach !

it's the only way to learn proper form and function.

Answer 6

I would suggest contacting a trainer to help further your jumping trainer or going to a jumper clinic to learn how to jump with your horse. It will help when a trainer is nearby in case anything goes wrong. Plus if you are doing something wrong someone can fix your mistakes and you probably won't fall of as often. Besides if it's just for fun you don't have to worry about being absolutely perfect. But you must learn the basic key requirements to be safe. Good luck!

Answer 7

all you need to do is go into 2 point and shuv your heals down and well ya. when you go over the jump if you feel a bit unballanced just grabb some main and stay up.also dont keep your rains as tight as they go give your horse a little slack in rains and let him jump

Answer 8

Lol, very few people are at Brianne Goutal's level.

I think that jumping is best tought by a coach who can assess you and tell you when to move up. Jumping can be dangerous if not done right. You need somebody to watch you and help you. To inexperienced jumpers should not be learning to jump by themselves.

Answer 9

Learn to hold the mane, without dropping your reins, and stay in your 2-point or jumping position so that you don't injure your horse's back or mouth. Also, you must be able to ride at a walk, trot and canter before attempting to jump. You may ride in a western saddle if the poles, or cavaletti, are set on the ground only. You will also need to know your leads.

Start to learn about jumping on an experienced horse; "green horse and green rider never a blue ribbon make!"

Before mounting your horse, make sure that you have on your helmet, boots and half-chaps and possibly riding gloves. If you have tall boots, you won't need half-chaps. Check your girth strap because sometimes the horse bloats, or makes his stomach bigger with air. Walking him makes him get rid of the air. Then you may put down your stirrups and mount your horse.

Do some two-point, sometimes known as half-seat, exercises.

Set your cavaletti in a straight line along a fence if possible. An average horse's stride needs to be about 6 feet apart. A pony will be about 4 feet apart. Ride your horse at a regular walk and trot over them. Their hooves should step in the center in between each pole. If the horse takes 2 steps, they are too far, and if horse knocks pole with hoof they are too close together. When you feel comfortable with walking over them, you may advance to trotting over them. Do not stop or look down while crossing them. Squeeze and release with your hands right before the pole. Over the hump go in to 2 point. Don't go too far forward and let the horse get you out of the saddle. When you are going over the jump, pick an object in the distance to look at. This helps you maintain your balance. Grab a piece of mane so you don't catch him in the mouth when you land. Let the horse lift your butt out of the saddle. Let your weight sink down into your heels.



Once have mastered this, you may continue on to a crossrail. A crossrail is a jump that has two poles that cross over one another. Looks like a squashed "X". It encourages the horse to jump in the middle, where the obstacle is lower. Be sure to have ample room to approach and land after each jump.

Move up to a vertical. There are many kinds of verticals, like an oxer. Just by hearing the name, you can probably guess that this jump is straight across. The vertical is normally set up to be taller than the crossrail. Once this is accomplished, you can do a full course of jumping.



This is an example of the takeoffTakeoff. The horse takes off a few feet in front of the fence, about the same distance away as the height of the fence. Try to get a good distance. If it seems your horse will jump long, sit tight and do a big half halt (but keep squeezing with your legs). If it seems your horse will jump short, try to extend your canter. Just try to keep your balance and sit still as the horse takes off. You will find that your body automatically swings forward with the horse. Remember to allow your horse's head as much freedom as it needs to stretch for the fence.



As you notice, this horse is stretching its head so it has freedom to clear the jumpIn midair. As the horse jumps over the fence, keep your lower legs underneath you, with your weight down through your heels. Allow as much rein as the horse needs by letting your arms stretch forward with the movement of the head and neck as they stretch over the fence.

Landing. Allow the horse freedom of its head. When you're landing, keep your lower legs under you, or swing them a little further forward, with your heels down, to absorb the "shock" of the landing. Don't let your legs swing back or lean on the horses neck with your hands. As soon as the horse is landed, you can take up more contact with the bit once again, and make any adjustments to your pace or direction before the next fence comes.

Answer 10

thats lucky to get those jumps! Like many others have suggested, you should get an instructor. Maybe you can go to a camp, or just take a few lessons to start you off. You must keep in mind though, that if you want to progress jumping, then you will need lessons regulary. Your horse may have problems your unable to figure out, or your positioning and such. Jumping is much more than leaning forward while the horse jumps.