When i jump i round my back, what are some ways to fix this?

Question

When i jump over small fences my position and back are great but when im going over the larger fences (3.3) i round my back. Not a lot but enough. How can i fix this.

Answer 1

try practicing your two point at a trot just around the ring over and over again , then work up to a canter still in two point. this helped me becuase my instructor made me do a whole lesson in two point and it helped a lot. alos the crop thing that was suggested is good ive done that too!

Answer 2

most people get this problem if they lean forword too much and some people feel the larger the jump the harsher your half seat should get but you can keep your small jump position for large jumps try it.

Answer 3

I'm not an equestrian, however I am a figure skater, and what you seem to be describing is a posture problem. I'm guessing you get deductions for things like this in competition.

Posture is very important in many sports both for aesthetic and technique purposes. I would really recommend taking some ballet to work on strengthening your back muscles. The impact from jumping higher may be causing you to crumple, or you may just feel nervous and forget your presentation. Either way ballet can seriously help.

I knew figure skaters who also did horse back riding and they seemed to agree that it helped both sports.

Answer 4

shoulders down and back.

stick your but out a little.

a strong leg position will help.

Answer 5

try wearing a body protector as this will keep you straight :)

Answer 6

One of the biggest causes of a rounded back is your eye/head posistion.  When the eyes drop, so does the head and that allows your back to round.  With your head up and looking forward you won't be able to round your back.

Take some time and step back to the basics.  Drop the fences down to like 2' or 2'3'' where you're not really worrying about other factors like spots, strides, etc.  Now focus completely on your posistion.  As you approach the fence go through a check list.  Is my leg correct? Are my hands correct? Is my back correct?  and then make sure you are looking past the jump with your eyes and head up.  

Just keep practicing this single fence and focusing on your posistion.  Do this over and over until this posistion become natural.  And then you'll find as you move back to the larger fences your body will naturaly find this posistion!

Answer 7

I used to do that but an awfull lot! It used to make me and my horse unbalanced and unable to jump larger jumps =[

I like you tried to seek help!

I found that trotting poles really helped =]

Its may sound silly but after trotting pole and cross bars for a while the problem was gone =] Now im off jumping 4ft 3

Hope It Helps

Jade =]

Answer 8

i round my back too. it looks awful in pictures and for equitation class

Answer 9

George Morris says to repeat basics until the muscles learn how to stay that way by themselves. You should work over crossrails correcting it until your back learns and memorizes how the CORRECT position feels, then it will do it almost everytime.. Then you can go  to larger fences and keep your back straight. School in the basics because position is very easy to lose...

Answer 10

Try looking up more. When you look up a little more, you neck and back move up with your head, helping your back-rounding problem.

Answer 11

I used to do that as well, one thing my instructor told me to do which i don't advice beginners to do is if Ur horse is quiet enough u put a longish not a dressage whip but i long ish whip behind Ur back and hook your arms behind it. but u have to make ur reins long like to the buckle so u dont pull on there mouths. u can also where a safety vest and make it really tight so it is hard to round your bak. oh and also with the vest try and make sure at all times the bottom on the vest on ur bak is always touching ur back like so u can feel it, if u cant feel it u know ur rounding ur back