When I jump, I don't lean forward in time, and I get 'left behind' ?

Question

Today, when I was jumping, we were having a lesson and there was 3 jumps, like a grid, and I was doing really quite okay and on the very last jump on the last go I got 'left behind'.

Now I don't mean I fell off, I mean I didn't fold in time, and the horse took off a little earlier than I expected, so I didn't fold, went over the jump in an upright position, and fell completely on the horse's neck when we landed.

But I didn't lose my stirrups so I really just had to push myself of the horse's neck, but it was not a good note to end on. Admittedly jump in question HAD been put up a bit, so it was bigger, so the horse had to do a bigger jump, I just wasn't ready for it.

I have a competition tomorrow, how do I stop getting 'left behind'?

Answer 1

To keep from being left behind you have to have a really solid position.

When you are going over jumps concentrate about anchoring your heel down just behind the girth.

Remember to grip with your inner calf and inner thigh and not your knee.

Your knee acts as a pivot and will send your body back and you leg foward (Left behind) or your body foward and leg back (jumping ahead)

Being left behind is, as George Morris says, "the cardinal sin of riding".

When you are left behind you are slamming down on his back and pulling on his mouth. This punishes him for doing what he should be doing. If this continues to happen he will begin to refuse and become very defensive.

So to prevent this along with have a solid leg you need to have a solid upper body. With grid work, you dont need to direct the horse as much as if it was a course. So before entering the grid, get into you two point, give your horse a short release while grabbing some mane to keep your balance and focus and staying quiet.

Also to strengthen your muscles you need to do lots of stirrupless flat work in all 3 gaits.  

Answer 2

try to think ahead think of what will happen and what you'll do

Answer 3

Jump with no stirrups! Just little cross rails and stuff like that. Also, grab mane! If you let go just after you land, the judge won't notice. And expect the unexpected! Always be prepared to give little corrections, such as a half halt, to get the horse to the jump on time. I have fallen off very many times because I wasn't paying attention.  

Answer 4

2 Point- when u stand a little in the stirrups and lean forward

Answer 5

I can come up with a long list why but I will not

You need more weight on the other side and keep your heels down

PS GET RID OF YOUR TRAINER IF SHE HAS NOT TOLD ALL THIS YET

HARD TO SAY anything else Since we can not see you ride

send us a video ,,

Answer 6

   To be completely  honest with you ,,

Your not ready to jump in a show,,You said it your self , Even if they are a bit higher !! They have at least 9 jumps and if you do not know how to count strides E,T,C Your not going to do good ,

And you will leave on a bad Note ,

I would say, Your not ready

And YOUR trainer should know this

As you are a reflection of her training on you ...

GET IT !!

I WOULD NEVER HAVE A STUDENT RIDE A COURSE OF JUMPS IF THEY ARE BEING LEFT BEHIND in a SMALL triple ..

No way

Wait until your ready.

Do home work AT home Not At A Show,,

Stay with Flat for now, Or maybe a small hunter hack,But no courses for you yet

Your trainer must not be that good, if she will let you show over fences when Not ready ,, No matter how small they are ,,

Think about changing barns !!

How higher are we talking about ?? PLEASE ANSWER THIS ONE QUESTION FOR ME ,Please..