Can You Critique This Picture?

I was wondering if I could get any advice on my jumping position from the looks of this picture.

Any advice would be awesome, Just be nice about it, please.

And, I know about my heels.... =( I'm working on it.

Thanks!!!

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jackie Cochran on September 8, 2010 at 6:33pm

I find that when my stirrups are across the widest part of my foot that my heels relax more and go down.
Personally I would try to give the horse a little bit more rein when jumping.
One thing that I am working on myself is making sure that I do not lean on my hands when I am in 2-point. When I lean on my hands my heels tend to go up. Try just holding the mane further up on the neck, or resting your hands lightly on the side of the neck.
If this is the beginning of your jumping career (less than 10 lessons over jumps) I think that you are doing very well. It can take a LOT of time and practice to learn how to jump. If you have more than 10 lessons over jumps you are still doing pretty well, and you already realize about your heels. Good work!
You are learning to fly without wings.

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Permalink Reply by Jocelyn on September 9, 2010 at 5:18pm

I've probably had just over 10 lessons jumping....

Thanks for your comments and suggestions, they sound great and can't wait to try them out.

Thank-you!!

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Permalink Reply by Hank on September 9, 2010 at 7:58am

I think your position actually looks quite good. Your back is nice and flat and your head is up and not looking at your fence. It just looks like you might be jumping a little ahead of your horse. As this is such a small fence there's no need to put much effort in on your part other than staying tall with your upper body and closing your lower leg. Let the horse jump up to you. I would also recommend a longer crest release to give your pony a bit more freedom because it just looks like your arms are a little stiff which will leave you in danger of catching your horse in the mouth over larger fences. To correct your heels you could try putting your stirrups up a hole or two and practice riding in two point. Hope that helps.

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Permalink Reply by Jocelyn on September 9, 2010 at 5:23pm

Sorry... Could you explain what you mean by "crest release"? I know that the crest is the top part of the neck where the mane comes out....

I've heard of jumping with shorter stirrups, but never tried it so I definetly will now!

Thanks so much...I think I tend to jump a bit ahead... do you have any other tips for that?

Thanks again!

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Permalink Reply by Jen B on September 9, 2010 at 9:00pm

Crest release is what Jackie also described, grabbing the mane (or a neck strap, or just resting your hands) higher up the neck. It is called a crest release because of where your hands are positioned, which is what you are doing in the picture but further up his mane. Does that make sense? (Why does this now not even make sense to me?!) It is the first stage of giving your horse his head over a jump. Later, once your position is really secure, you'll learn the automatic release, but don't worry about that at this stage.

I think you look fab too Jocelyn ;) You are right where you should be at this stage. You have a good basic position and the rest will come with practice. If your instructor has gotten you this far, I am sure she'll guide you in filling in the details.

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Permalink Reply by Jocelyn on September 10, 2010 at 8:57pm

It did make sense, Thank-you! =D

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Permalink Reply by Geoffrey Pannell on September 9, 2010 at 5:40pm

I think you look just fab in this pic Jocelyn, don't need to change a thing. Just remember , sit still and look up.
Cheers Geoffrey

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Permalink Reply by Jocelyn on September 9, 2010 at 6:50pm

Wow. Thanks So Much! =)

I Think You definetly made my day!!! =D

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Permalink Reply by Kairen Jamieson on September 10, 2010 at 2:53pm

You are riding off the toe with a bit too much weight and tension in the digits which has lifted the heel a bit contracting the calf and bringing the leg back in a small "swing" movement...I have a feeling if the fence were higher...we would see more standing in the stirrup and an open knee angle while the leg slipped back even more

Shortening the stirrup a hole or two would have the knee angle better to work from as well and may help with the slight collapse to the left I see in your alignment....it will also allow for more ankle control which would allow you to have the weight drop through the ankle into the heel easier.

You are tense through the shoulder and chest which has travelled down the arm and into the elbow tensing this hinge as well which then restricts your release.

Instead of trying to keep the back flat and shoulders back by over engaging the muscles along the spine...use the cores..lift the upper core for the shoulder placement and stretch the lower core to keep any rounding out of the lower back...this will keep the shoulders soft enough to reach forward allowing the elbow to open more and follow the feel of the horses mouth over the fence and allow the horses arc to come up to you instead of you standing slightly in the irons and up the neck placing you this tad bit ahead of the motion at this moment over the fence.

For just 10 lessons you are doing very well...keep up the good work.

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Permalink Reply by Jocelyn on September 10, 2010 at 9:01pm

Thank-you so much for all of these tips!

I know that when the rider is relaxed, so is the Horse (for the most part), and once I lose the tightness in my shoulders and arms, and leg too, a bit... I think it will all be uphill from there!

Thanks again! =)

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Permalink Reply by michelle patnode on September 11, 2010 at 4:34pm

you have nice contact with your horse..the only thing i would change is to maybe shorten your stirrups a few holes,that will help you avoid jumping ahead of your horse..nice work..happy riding:)