http://s937.photobucket.com/albums/ad217 ... feel free to flick through the next few and tell me how to improve
in the picture of us jumping the log we had just jumped down a ditch, back out and then done a stride and over the jump.
Alright I'm not going to repeat everything everyone else said but,
I understand how your release is, I used to ride a horse that bolts and bucks after fences too
But there is absolutely no way to slow a horse down while they are jumping
Even if you can't release big you still need to release. Catching him in the mouth at every fence is probably why hes acting silly.
Try practicing following his mouth over small jumps until you get your position in check, you don't have to let go of his mouth completely but you shouldn't be pulling back
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com
Hope I helped:)
your heels need to be pushed down but besides that, your legs are in a good position. Your back should be a bit more arched also. But your biggest thing to me was this:
your butt is too far forward. if you push it back, your position will be MUCH better. i cant tell if your looking down or is your next jump is to the right, but if you ARE looking down, make sure you dont.
compare your butt position (haha awkward sounding!!) with this ladys
http ://www.cilgerran.info/userfiles/file ... and you'll better understand what im saying.
your horse is beautiful, by the way!
Ok. Well, I agree with Fennec Fox. About the riding on your hands thing. Loosen them up!
You are way to far out of your saddle. Try leaning forward more, and not sticking straight up. Dont 'lean on the horses neck though. And keep your heels down!
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com
Make sure you have a comfortible 2-Point at the walk, trot, and canter. Then restart with smaller jumps. Be able to go into 2-Point at any moment. And when you do get to jumping again (take it slow) make a nice release when coming back down, and let the horse have it's head. Even over the jump, let your hands follow the horse's head.
And if you don't have a trainer already, please get one. It would really help your horse and you.
Lots of luck!
Try thinking of pushing your bottom to the back of the saddle, but keeping your legs still. If you are having problems while pushing to the back of the saddle, you can try pushing your lower legs forward. It looks like you got ahead of your horse, try just waiting it out. Almost think of building blocks. (Eg. When you get a nice trot, continue on to a nice canter, corner, approch, take off, landing .. etc) This will help you not get ahead. Your release is fine if he is strong after the fence ... if you drop your hands about 3 inches down, pressed on the neck, you would have a lovely release. And he won't get strong with you. I have had the same problem before. You probably have noticed it, but looking up is a huge factor! Don't get into a habit of looking down, trust me, you will hate it in the long run when you get to a stopper! And I know you know about the heels, but pretend you are dragging them in the dirt. That should help them stay down. Overall, your crotch should never be above the pommell, so if you try to stretch to the back, it should help you keep balanced in the middle. If you are having balance issues, shorten your stirrups a hole or two, that should help within your postition too. If you are confident enough, do a lot of no stirrup work .. w/t/c, building up to poles, jumps etc. That should help with balance, legs .. pretty much everything!
Try pushing your butt back while in your 2 point instead of climbing up his neck. Try to keep your leg underneath you instead of letting it go back, that will also help with not climbing up his neck. And for the hands; what I do with my pony is shorten my reins a lot to jump, push my hands forward over the jump, and then take them back to slow her down after and slow her down with my seat.
You're too far out of the saddle, you're riding on your hands too much, and your heels need to go down. You need to lean more when you're in two-point position. Maybe you should ask your instructor to work on two-point with you more.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com
One time I had to do two-point nine laps straight the arena before. Haha. My thighs were burning!
Honestly you have no business jumping. You're riding on your hands. You're WAY too far out of the saddle. You're grabbing the poor horse's face. Your heels aren't down.
You need to get the basics mastered when flatting before you start O/F.
Personally, I would push my heels down much more. When it starts to burn up the back of your calf, your doing it right. Also i would extend my arms a bit more over the horses neck. Otherwise you look like a great rider.
