Critique my jumping position, please!

[beau159]

Alright, I might regret this, but putting myself up for blast.

I’m primarily a Western rider, and barrel racer at that, but I do enjoy going to our local shows and competing in every single event, English to Western to gaming. So this is just something that I do for fun, but I still like to prepare ourselves and do the best we can. My local show offers Hunt Seat Equitation, Hunter Under Saddle, and Hunter Hack.

My horse is a 7-year-old Quarter Horse. Last year was his first year doing the shows. He’s really gained confidence and “stepped it up” this year. Excuses aside, we’ve only practicing riding English and going over the low jumps twice this year. Sunday was his first show of the year and I couldn’t be more pleased with him. There were 5 people (including myself) entered in the HSE in my age division where we took 2nd place, and also 5 in the HUS where we WON it. Usually only 2 of us (including myself) stick around for the Hunter Hack but this was the first time we beat the other gal. He just did so beautiful – I was so happy with him.

For the Hunter Hack, it was a “normal” pattern of a courtesy circle, go over the two jumps, hand gallop around the arena, stop and backup.

So I am looking for feedback on what I can do better as a rider with my position, eyes, hands, seat – whatever it may be. I did take a jumping lesson (on a different horse) about a month ago, and have a couple more coming up later this month with this horse.

I don’t have video, but I have some serial photography. My mom took some photos for me and just kept the shutter clicking, LOL. If these are too small to see, I can post the individual photos instead.

Jump #1

Jump #2

[IMG2=JSON]{“data-align”:“none”,“data-size”:“full”,“src”:"http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k27/r_beau/2018%20Horse%20Pictures/Jump%202_zps7lmkfo3g.jpg)

And just making this picture bigger from the second jump because I love how it turned out. Now I just have to get my chicken wings folded in…

[IMG2=JSON]{“data-align”:“none”,“data-size”:“full”,“src”:"http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k27/r_beau/2018%20Horse%20Pictures/Watermark%202000-1_zpsz6da5bco.jpg)

[Training_Cupid]

Looking good! My one tip would be to sit up more as you approach the jump, not be leaning so far forward. I think that will help you maintain your balance in the air a little better, (for a jump this size your position is a bit exaggerated) and maybe even encourage your horse to rock back over his haunches a bit. And yes think of pushing your hands forward instead of elbows out!
I like that you’re giving your horse his head, and you’re doing a pretty good job keeping your legs under you. All in all a great start!

[Calvincrowe]

In that last picture it shows you are sitting back too quickly on the landing, otherwise you look like you have good basics. Just hold your self a bit longer so you aren’t flopping backward on him at that point. I agree with TC about your position going to the jump, just a bit too forward. Lovely soft hands though! And your horse is a gorgeous beastie!

[beau159]

Thank you both for the feedback.

@Calvincrowe

And your horse is a gorgeous beastie!

Well, I might be biased, but yes he is!!

[Redlei44]

Your horse has such a cute expression! Great job to you both. Have you practiced grabbing mane? A stride or two before the jump, grab mane and press your knuckles into the neck and push back as hard as you need to against the neck to assist in sitting up more before the jump. Then hold yourself forward to better stay in two point, over the jump and for a stride or two after the jump, by pulling yourself toward the mane, to prevent opening up and sitting back too soon.

[retiredhorse]

Cute horse!

Agreed with above: your horse jumps up to you, don’t lower your upper body down to them. A jump this size – think of it as another canter stride. If you don’t lean forward that will also reduce some of the chicken wing elbow effect, because your elbows won’t have to bend so much. It will help your balance in the air and on landing too (so you don’t pop up too early), when you’re not already a little off-balance before the jump.

When you release (not that you need a big release right now) you want to be able to move your arms forward and away from your body – and the horse jumping up to you is what closes your hip angle.

If you put your hands down on the neck, rather than forward, this causes the elbow to stick out, because there is no where else for it to go; and you may also end up with your upper body over your hands and your elbows sticking out – if your hands are behind your shoulders, you are much more likely to stiff the horse in the air and just generally be less effective over a jump.

Like, in the first set of pics, you’re giving in front of the jump, but over it, your hands are floating over the neck and balancing on the reins in the air a little. And I think you might have a tendency to balance off of your left rein a little more than the right and/or horse pushes into your right leg.

This is where having a good base/core/leg is important, so you CAN move your arms away from you*/follow the horse’s mouth (or neck, if you’re doing crest release). And you can hold your upper body in balance with the horse’s movement.

*IME, elbows going OUT is a pretty common indicator that one is not riding with independent hands. It’s really hard to separate hands from the body if you (general) lack the core/leg strength to stay in balance with the horse. Ask me how I know. Anyway, it was just a lot more flatwork/working on the base and inner thigh (no stirrups/2-point/practicing over poles, etc) to be able to ride more effectively. I think it’s very hard to fix just the hands/elbows on their own, though you may want to think about grabbing mane in the air in the meantime.

[twohkay]

You look like you’re onto a very good start! I second the other comments though, that you should practice grabbing mane more. It’s not about ability level or anything, but it really helps you body realize where it should be over every part of the jump. On both landings, and especially #2 it looks like you get slightly left behind because to your body, it feels like just another canter stride, which at that height it can be. It also looks like your reins are a little long which could be why your elbows end up going out instead of down. If your hands were more forward, because of the shorter reins, it becomes easier for your forearm to be closer to parallel to the horses neck.
As someone else also said, you really don’t need to be that folded over on such a small jump, but IMO there’s nothing wrong with it. You do a fabulous jump of keeping your leg still over every part of the jump, and it looks like you could be jumping slightly bigger to really “feel” your horses jump. I think that’s what helped me improve my jumping position/staying in 2-point/forward all the way through landing.
Good luck, your horse is adorable!

[findeight]

I know it’s a QH and a little on the winglish side but not too bad. It’s a lope over, Trail jumps are bigger so don’t make such a big move at it with your upper body.

Shorten your reins a little and keep your hands still and further toward on the neck which gives him the same rein length and you a more secure position, grab mane two strides out and stay there until two strides after to help you learn the feel.

Watch videos of Eq riders too, watch their hands, where they are and how very little they move. And watch them from the waist down, How solid they are in their seat and how still. That’s free and you can learn a lot. An attractive and still position on a rider showcases a Hunter just like a WO Pro showcases that horse.

[beau159]

@Redlei44

Have you practiced grabbing mane? A stride or two before the jump, grab mane and press your knuckles into the neck and push back as hard as you need to against the neck to assist in sitting up more before the jump.

Yes, when I practice at home, I do.

@retiredhorse

If you put your hands down on the neck, rather than forward, this causes the elbow to stick out, because there is no where else for it to go; and you may also end up with your upper body over your hands and your elbows sticking out – if your hands are behind your shoulders, you are much more likely to stiff the horse in the air and just generally be less effective over a jump.

My “bad habit” when working low jumps for English is having my hands too low and reins too long, so what you are describing is perfectly accurate!

@retiredhorse

.

*IME, elbows going OUT is a pretty common indicator that one is not riding with independent hands. It’s really hard to separate hands from the body if you (general) lack the core/leg strength to stay in balance with the horse. Ask me how I know. Anyway, it was just a lot more flatwork/working on the base and inner thigh (no stirrups/2-point/practicing over poles, etc) to be able to ride more effectively. I think it’s very hard to fix just the hands/elbows on their own, though you may want to think about grabbing mane in the air in the meantime.

I know how you know, because I know too, LOL. Had my second child at the end of February and I still don’t feel like my old self. Dang babies!

[Scribbler]

The photo you highlighted was also the one I liked best. At the same phase in the first series it looks like you are tilting forward and hands going back into your crotch rather than keeping them forward in release.

Second photo shows you know how to do it properly!

[findeight]

Got a dandy, easy exercise for you to do on your own. Take a stick/crop and put it across between your hands under your thumbs ( which need to be UP) while you ride. Start just walking. It will humble you at best, make you feel like a fool at worst so might want to do it the first few times when no railbirds are around. Gradually expand to walking circles and serpentines then to trot. Use the kind of stick with the loop or you’ll be getting off and back on to fetch it a lot when you first start this.

Its a time honored classic rather elegant in its simplicity. And wickedness. Certainly does it’s job without needing to pay somebody to yell at you. Plus that, the skill of keeping a consistent, quiet hand and make subtle rein adjustments transfers to Western.

[BITSA]

Having your eyes up and I mean way up in the trees and ahead, will help you stay patient and not lean forward too soon. This is a small jump and your body doesn’t need to fold too much. Grabbing mane is always good, or using a grab strap (although I don’t know you need that). And stay closed longer–watch Beezie Madden, she stays closed until the horse has landed. I actually think you look quite good!

[BITSA]

@retiredhorse

*IME, elbows going OUT is a pretty common indicator that one is not riding with independent hands. It’s really hard to separate hands from the body if you (general) lack the core/leg strength to stay in balance with the horse. Ask me how I know. Anyway, it was just a lot more flatwork/working on the base and inner thigh (no stirrups/2-point/practicing over poles, etc) to be able to ride more effectively. I think it’s very hard to fix just the hands/elbows on their own, though you may want to think about grabbing mane in the air in the meantime.

So this comment interests me because I am an elbow sticker outer. But I have a strong core and can do an automatic release pretty well and have a good base of support; it’s when I do a short/medium crest release that I become a chicken with my elbows and start flapping. Thoughts on what might cause that or how to fix? It drives me insane.

[DJohn]

No critique from me but your horse is gorgeous!

[retiredhorse]

@BITSA

So this comment interests me because I am an elbow sticker outer. But I have a strong core and can do an automatic release pretty well and have a good base of support; it’s when I do a short/medium crest release that I become a chicken with my elbows and start flapping. Thoughts on what might cause that or how to fix? It drives me insane.

I would check if I were leaning forward/closing hip angle too much with the crest release. Maybe check also if it’s both elbows or just one – could be a little crookedness causing one elbow to wing out. If it’s both, it’s possible your shoulders are in front of your hands and you’re leaning forward too much. Perhaps you are more holding your upper body better/with more awareness and better at sinking your weight into your heels, when you use a following rein, just because you know you’re not using the neck for balance. Your elbows can only bend so much, if your upper body doesn’t lean down, if that makes sense? Also, maybe think about pushing your knuckles into the crest – if your wrists are “breaking”/bending inwards to the crest, that can also push your elbows out.