The horse I have is fairly green and has a big jump. I often popped out of th tack and catch him in the mouths Essentially my hands go in the neck on takeoff and over the jump, but on landing my hands ‘stay in the same place’ and I end up catching him in the mouth. He doesn’t seem overly bothered, but, watching videos of myself jumping I just feel bad for him.
He he has no mane to speak of and I ride with a neck strap. Any tips to keep my hands in the neck?
Go back and practice two point and practice your seat over smaller fences. If you are using a crest release it sounds like you need to have your hands much farther up his neck so he can land without getting clocked in the face. Also you need to stay up in the tack until you land
Is he just big, or is he over jumping and getting wrong distance so that sometimes you get a long jump and sometimes a too short jump?
You might want to get some trainer rides on him and practice your seat and hands on something with less sproing.
Green riding on a green horse definitely will cause problems eventually. Sounds like a good way to get refusals and runouts. Do you have a coach?
If you are brave you can post video here. My guess is there are probably some other position errors to work on as well.
@Scribbler has great advice up there.
I’ll add that getting popped out of the tack is often a symptom of not having a good, strong foundation of a solid leg. I would practice Two-Point and really sink down into those heels, not just over fences but everytime you get on.
You can do this at the walk, trot, canter, even can do transitions from Two-Point, starting halt to walk, and working to more complex asks over time.
Be mindful of your horse’s greenness, it might be best practiced on a more quiet horse.
Good suggestions from @Another-Bay and @Scribbler.
I’d add to check your stirrup length. If your stirrups are too long or two short, that may prevent you from achieving a proper position. effect your seat and your balance too.
Jumping takes a combination of strength and balance. For strength, if you aren’t doing so already, ride without stirrups for part of each ride. Do walk, trot and canter without stirrups. When you can post the trot and stay in two point without your stirrups, you will be able to hold your position much better over fences. If its too intimidating at first (which it can be, especially on a green horse), have someone lunge you to do the no stirrup work until you are comfortable with it.
To work on balance, riding with no reins is a sure fire way to increase your ability to balance yourself without relying of the reins to correct yourself. Do this with someone lunging you - just tie the reins in a knot, or remove them from the bridle - work at walk and trot first. It will feel odd without anything in your hands at first… take your arms and do the “airplane” (arms out to your sides), arms on thighs, arms on hips, arms straight out in front of you. Once you’ve mastered posting trot, move on to canter.
While this may be a really “old school” method, I promise it can work wonders if you stick to it! 
He’s just turning five and was started over fences about 10 months ago. I’ve been jumping him about once a week. He tends to overjump quite a bit and my trainer would like him to get the long, so I encourage it.
In combinations he doesnt really overjump, because he can’t. He’s 17.1hh.
we are just coming back from a 3 months break off of jumping due to not having a saddle, so I’m more than a bit rusty.
how do I post a video?
If you click on the A (Advanced Editor) at the top of a new post, there is an Insert Video button in the selections that appears - second row, second group, 4th button.
Ok, so green 17.1 hand big guy that is easily clearing the fences and has a big jump. I don’t think I’d change what I suggested. In order to stay with him as he launches over a fence, you need to bolster your core muscles and leg muscles. I get it - I had a 17.2 draft cross that was an over achiever over fences! So I completely understand.
Not sure how many times you ride per week, but getting to a gym or doing pilates or something similar can also help develop muscles/balance.
What happens if you use a high crest release? Right now your hands are just in neutral position. You dont really release at all, not a following release and not a credit release.
I could try one, I didn’t think it was necessary over such a small jump though
Sometimes it’s not the height of the obstacle, but how the horse launches itself into the air that dictate the type of release to use. You are sitting up before his back legs clear the top pole. You need to stay forward longer. If his jump is pitching you back too soon, that’s were strength and balance will benefit you both.
Well you said you were hitting him in the mouth. If you are hitting him in the mouth you need to release more. Thats why people use releases. To avoid hitting the horse in the mouth.
Its really easy too for someone riding with no release to actually pull back on the reins and tilt forward at exactly the point they should release. I don’t see you doing this but also as the other poster says you don’t stay out of the tack long enough.
Where is your coach in all this?
My coach is more focused on me ‘not overthinking it’. She says it’s fine because my horse used to it. However, the advice she is giving is that I need more weight in my hands, but this isn’t really helping me. I’ve tried and tried again to put the 40% of my body weight on my hands but I just can’t. I’m thinking another part of my position is making it difficult for me.
First of all, you are a very good rider so think of this as just a minor set back. Every horse will challenge us in ways we have never experienced before. I think every rider has found themselves in this position at one time or another.
A small jump doesn’t need a huge release, it only needs soft hands. I don’t see anything necessarily wrong with your hands. I think the motion you are describing comes from your body. Watching the video, your body changes three times over the jump. I would practice by placing your self in a jumping position, with release, before the jump and not moving until several landing strides after the jump. It’s a great exercise for strength too. When doing this exercise, it helps to pretend the jump is not even there and no matter what you won’t break your position. Good luck!
Yes, after seeing the still, I’d agree that the problem is basically in the body position, and fixing that is the most important step. Just going to a crest release without working on body position isn’t a solution.
Ditto as to what has been said. And to your trainer’s advice that you not overthink it. It seems like you just lost your feel for this horse, which happens, and thinking too hard will delay the fix. Doing as others have suggested - gymnastics, or putting yourself in a jumping position and staying there - will help you get the feel back, and when you do, I’m pretty sure your body will find its place again.
Thanks for all the responses! Definitely got a few things to think about and try out now!
Mary Wanless work.
It’s good you posted a video.
I think your horse is very suitable for Eq, and you as well. You have some things to work on and I would think with good instruction you will get there and do very well in the show ring.
What I saw from the short video; Two strides out you leaned back so you were out of balance. Then you had to throw your body to catch up. The distance was a bit long and rushed. Seeing just one jump I didn’t see your horse over-jumping. He’s a very nice horse. I think it comes from you not being in balance.
Do a lot of cavalettis and low cross rails to get that balance feeling. Flat work with two point at the canter thinking of balance. Do transitions making sure you are in balance. Work on your lower leg stability with two point exercises. Weighting your heels, creating you balance from leg stability. You can do ground pole work too.
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