Constantly launched when jumping

[Equisis]

I haven’t read the other replies, so this may have been touched on already, but you are jumping way ahead of your horse and throwing your weight forward instead of letting it stay down in your feet. You need to let the horse jump up to you, not try to jump for her by throwing your upper body forward. When you do this, your leg slides back, and you have no base of support (and therefore no balance).

Practice on the flat by trotting 10 steps standing straight up (practice this first, so you can find a secure position without using the reins or neck for support) then sinking into two point (no hands!) for 10 steps without your seat touching the saddle, then rising back up for standing for 10, and so on. Feel the place where your leg wants to be in order to accomplish this- it should be steady, still, and centered under your body. That is where your leg needs to be while jumping. If you can’t maintain this exercise, or trot and canter around in two point without touching the mane or neck, then your lower leg is not yet secure enough to jump.

[Mander]

@danhelm441

it just looks like you are getting left behind

Either we watched different videos, or I have a very different understanding of what “getting left behind” looks like.

[hoopoe]

I agree with skip. Along with the good input from others , I would question how well this saddle fits you. I would talk to your teacher and see if there is a saddle that fits the horse and provides you with a better fit. You look like you are a very slim rider swimming in a too large saddle

[Willesdon]

I would suggest lunge lessons to establish your riding balance and to build up core strength. Both would help when jumping.

[danhelm441]

@Mander

Either we watched different videos, or I have a very different understanding of what “getting left behind” looks like.

OP pitches forward at the base of the jump to try to stay with the motion from the long spot, then gets left behind over the arc of the jump, then tries pitching forward on landing to stay out of the tack. She’s making big moves to try patching it over, so it doesn’t look like she’s falling back too early with arms straight in front, but her issue staying with the motion IMO is still a function of getting left behind at a long spot, the other issues with her position over the jump follow from that.

I had a similar problem with a lease horse who would fall out of rhythm approaching jumps and end up leaving long. It helped to realize the problem wasn’t actually my two point or ability to stay with his jump, it was the jump I was producing 5 or 6 strides earlier coming out of the turn crooked, wiggly, and gunning it. Ofc everyone is different and maybe it helps OP to analyze her form and all her body parts in isolation. But at least in this video, her problem staying with this jump starts much earlier, and maybe instead of fussing over her heels, hands, and shoulders on a moment to moment basis, she’ll have better luck zooming out and focusing on what her horse is doing and how she’s setting her horse up to jump.

[Larbear]

I agree with this and your previous post. It’s more difficult to stay with a jump from a long weak spot. The rider looks to be working hard to get the striding down the line. I think a more positive canter (doesn’t mean chasing into the first x-rail) so the horse is in front of the leg and better take off spot will make it easier to go with. To the OP, if you’re good with your timing, I would give a light tap or touch with the stick as you go over the x-rail to send the horse on more. If the horse scoots off no bigger (you at least got a positive response to go forward) and then go back to the line but no use of stick and see how things go.

[mika0116]

Yah - I too am confused. I think rider is actually jumping ahead (which is what causes the horse to take the long spot in the first place) and then with jumping ahead, lands in a heap on the backside of the fence.

This is what getting left behind looks like to me (I’m such a visual person). This was from 2019 after a short break - my new lease horse left stride out first fences after coming off the trailer cross-country that month & having some downtime which he hated. Former 2* eventer wanted nothing to do with my .70 warmup.

I am not pitched forward, no fold to speak of, butt close to the saddle in the way back in the tack in row 40, my legs SORT OF beneath me is the only reason I didn’t get jumped off backwards. Thank goodness I have long arms and did a tiny auto release to grab his martingale was the only reason I was able to not catch him in the mouth. I continued on to a single fence after this followed with lots of calmly approaching singles. We stayed away from related distances for a week or two until he was a bit less thrilled to jump again.

In the video you can hear one of the mom’s of the junior who was in this lesson with me say “holy shit”

Fun horse, but really liked to leave one out under 1.0m - lots of hold to the base with leg over small fences. I learned a lot that year…

[Pokerface]

OP is jumping up the neck (likely in an attempt to stay with the horse) and then getting rocked way back over the jump. So she is actually jumping ahead AND getting left behind.

OP, I second trying to jump in a different saddle. I recently had an experience where a saddle had a poorly (for me) placed stirrup bar. I could not stay with my horse over a fence for the life of me. I am selling the saddle because I just cannot make it work for my conformation. See if a barnmate (maybe a person who has a long leg/more forward flap saddle, and see if that helps you when you jump. For me, I had already had plenty of experience jumping, so I knew I was not the problem in this case.

[2bayboys]

@Equisis

I haven’t read the other replies, so this may have been touched on already, but you are jumping way ahead of your horse and throwing your weight forward instead of letting it stay down in your feet. You need to let the horse jump up to you, not try to jump for her by throwing your upper body forward. When you do this, your leg slides back, and you have no base of support (and therefore no balance).

Practice on the flat by trotting 10 steps standing straight up (practice this first, so you can find a secure position without using the reins or neck for support) then sinking into two point (no hands!) for 10 steps without your seat touching the saddle, then rising back up for standing for 10, and so on. Feel the place where your leg wants to be in order to accomplish this- it should be steady, still, and centered under your body. That is where your leg needs to be while jumping. If you can’t maintain this exercise, or trot and canter around in two point without touching the mane or neck, then your lower leg is not yet secure enough to jump.

This. My students aren’t allowed to jump anything more than a tiny crossrail until they can flat around the ring in a good jump position with hands held out to their sides, no reins. Until you can establish a solid base of support and not allow your leg to swing back then you’re not going to be able to influence the horse to get to a good distance.

HEELS FORWARD, HIPS BACK!!!

[Rel6]

You can get left behind when the horse is taking off (like your picture), but if you don’t stay with the horse throughout the arc of the jump, you can get left behind as the horse starts to land as well (like in the video of OP). She is getting left in the second half of the horse’s arc, not the first.

I’ve ridden a few horses with really powerful hind ends and I’ll be right there with them on take off, then the hind end snaps up and whoops I’m left behind on the backside of the fence.

[Bending_Line]

Agreed that your lower leg and base of support is not stable enough to be jumping yet. I don’t say that to be mean. You just need better strength and a better foundation, and that is going to come from flatwork, two point, no stirrups work, and poles. And you need to get in the habit of getting mane before, over, and after every pole so that you don’t interfere with the horse’s head and neck, or come down on the back muscles that are trying to lift you and work

[kirbydog]

I haven’t read all the replies, but if you were my student, we would go back to basics, and not jump an inch higher that 1’ until you can hold your body in position. Canter a pole in a light 2 point or half seat without falling back or getting ahead. Then, move on to 1’. and so on.
It doesn’t matter how long you’ve ridden, or what you’ve accomplished in the past. What matters is what is happening right now. New horse, new problems to solve. Getting jumped loose like you are is dangerous
Be patient with yourself, it will come!

[Tini_Sea_Soldier1]

This… and not riding up down the line. That’s a very gappy distance that needed a cluck or kick to get moving… or an earlier decision to just add the stride. That’s not a safe distance for a loose rider… as one clunked rail or tripping over jump could send you off as a lawn dart.
There’s safety in learning the rhythm… and this isn’t the Maclay regionals… add if you must!

[Foitin]

This all day long. And the rider’s position would actually look quite a bit better had she gotten to the base of jump.

[MadTrotter]

Totally. I think it’s better to encourage rhythm and momentum (flatting skills!) rather than demanding a certain number of strides for beginner riders. Sure, teach them how to count, but it’s useful to know what that line feels like at 5 and 6 strides rather than pushing a lazy canter to 5 strides on a long takeoff by pitching forward. And yes, asyou said said, that looseness is one misstep away from a lawn dart!

I think it’s better to encourage a tight leg and a forgiving, fluid contact and let the horse choose. Since I wouldn’t put beginner on a green or tricky horse anyways, this should be nice and straightforward for the horse.

Jumping at this stage is just about getting the feel, and her trainer is generous. Mine wouldn’t let me jump until I could WTC no stirrups and in 2 point, and nothing above cross rails until I could do a line with no reins.

[Mander]

Ah I see - I’ve definitely experienced the powerful hind end phenomenon, I’ve just only ever heard jumping ahead/getting left behind used in reference to takeoff and not the rest of the jump. TIL.

[mfglickman]

You’ve gotten great advice here and these issues are really solvable with work, practice, and maybe trying a different saddle.

I just wanted to give props to the horse; yes she was lazy in the video but you’re going to learn what you need to with her, and she seems very forgiving. My daughter learned to stay folded a bit longer on an OTTB who would buck hard if rider touched saddle too soon over the fence. I mean, it worked and she learned (lol) but I very much appreciate your forgiving mare.

[AAHunterGal]

You may be overwhelmed with responses at this point in time.

I agree with others who have said it’s the base that’s the issue.

You lower leg swings back, and as a result, your upper half pops forward. It’s a result of pinching at the knee as others have also said.

I would add one tid bit along the way. Riding is all about balance, and while you need strength, it’s not about locking your position in place with tense muscles. You don’t clamp or grip your leg to keep it secure over the jump. Your lower leg should be secure and strong, but another thing it should be is in balance with everything else.

Try this. Stand up with your legs solidly underneath you, shoulder width apart. Now, bend your legs as if you were in the saddle. Try to line up your toes, hips, and shoulders. This is your neutral position.

Now, pretend to go into jump position by just leaning your upper body forward. I bet you suddenly find that all of your balance is on your toes, and if the ground was slick, your feet would slip back behind you and you would fall on your face. That is exactly what’s happening in the saddle over a jump right now.

Now, try again, but keep your balance centered right in the middle. To do this, keep the energy and tension down the back of your legs, and let your butt go a little bit behind you. THIS is more the feel you want over the jump - centered. Not gripping with your leg to keep you in place, but just using natural balance to help.

Hope that’s handy!

[Rackonteur]

Can’t believe no one has mentioned this basic advice –

Heels down. Heels down. Heels down. Heels down.
It should be second nature by the time you start jumping. After ground poles and cavaletti and grid work.
Heels down.

[AAHunterGal]

@Rackonteur

Heels down. Heels down. Heels down. Heels down.
It should be second nature by the time you start jumping. After ground poles and cavaletti and grid work.
Heels down.

Lol, I can’t believe I didn’t put that into my answer above. YES. Heels down!! It will really help achieve the balance I was talking about/is the foundation for it!