Question for hunter/jumper riders?

Question

How many of you were taught basics of collection and lateral work before you were started posting and learning to jump?

I know some riding schools put beginners on and start them posting, then jumping without ever teaching riders about collection and lateral work. How many of you were started that way and if you were, how do you feel about that now?

Answer 1

In order: I learned proper position, walk, sitting trot, posting trot(first on the lounge line),Canter(first on lounge line),Then I started to trot over poles and that where I currently am. I will be learning collecting, 2 point and jumping soon though.

Answer 2

I have no idea - it's way back in the mists of time.

I do remember that we did a jumping lesson one week and then concentrated on flatwork the next ( in the latter years) and did laterals and turns, collection and extension etc etc.

Answer 3

I was taught collection before jumping

Answer 4

I was taught zero basics when I first started hunter/jumpers.  

Five years later I moved to a dressage barn and was just floored at what I didn't know.  I've been at that barn now for 10 years and am so happy, I am a much more confident rider.

Answer 5

I was taught ALL the basics first (something my ten year old self that just really wanted to jump didn't appreciate, though I am SO glad I did now)  One of the trainers that comes to my barn teaches in what I consider the "wrong" way..She gets people, puts them on the longe line where they learn to walk and post (on either diagonal..I have seen her three foot jumpers (terrible form by the way) post on the wrong diagonal because she never told them to post on the wall.) After they learn their "posting", her students are onto the wonderful world of jumping!  They are told to lay on the horse's neck (WHAT!?!) and trot towards the jump.  That is the extent of her two point teaching...No heels down, chin up, elbows in, whatever..just "lay on the horse's neck".  Collection and Lateral work?  I don't think the "trainer" even knows what those words mean.

I feel that you should now most, if not all, of your flatwork before you even think about jumping.

Answer 6

I was taught posting then the flatwork then finally on to the jumping. Im glad that i learnd it that way because I felt comfortible with each new step. I felt like I had a solid basis to go off of.

Answer 7

i learned w/t/c and posting then collection and lateral work then i learned jumping and the lateral and collection work helped me a lot

Answer 8

well where i ride, i started out with just getting used to walking and learning to put my heels down, the proper leg position, etc.

but in the same lesson, (my first) i was posting. it was about a year until i started jumping crossrails. (im not counting trotting poles.)

but if they immediately start them posting and jumping, that is just sad. it will teach bad habits if they are immediately put to jumping.

Answer 9

at my barn we learn to post and w/t/c... then we learn about collection and lateral work and FINALLY we learn to jump... it takes a while to get to jumping, but its worth it and i'm glad i wasn't rushed into it

Answer 10

At the barn I ride at, every student must have mastered the walk, trot, posting trot, and canter(Extension and collection in all, two point in trot and canter, and all in bareback) before moving onto any specific discipline, along with basic bending and movements. I do jumping now and I felt retarded watching people from other barns jumping on their second lesson while I was jumping on my 2nd year of lessons. But then I kinda realized that they don't even know what a leg yield or a extended trot is let alone how to do them. Then I would watch closer and see all the basic flaws like heels up, yanking on the bit, chicken arms, hunching over, everything, which made me thankful that I can now ride efficiently while on rowdier horses. I would suggest anyone who wants to start jumping would master the basics, it is almost embarrassing to flop around while at a show or having to hang onto the pommel because you can't steer and balance at the same time.

Answer 11

i was taught posting and jumping first, but i think that was a mistake because when i got my new trainer we started from the very beginning with collection and flat work and that helped me SO much more! in less than a year i have become way better than i ever did in the 3 years with my old trainer who didnt work on being round and doing flatwork