Flat exercises to improve jumping (for the rider)

[lidador]

I admit I haven’t looked for previous threads of this sort, so forgive me if it’s a common question!

I have jumping experience, but basically have been doing dressage exclusively for 15 years. My biggest challenge at the moment is being able to feel everything I’m used to feeling in “dressage position” after cranking my legs up and shifting my balance forward.

I spent a recent ride on the flat practicing swapping between galloping position and sitting to prepare for a jump, and towards the end, I really started to feel my lower legs stabilize, my joints all free up and absorb shocks, my back engage the way it does in dressage, and my horse lift up his front end instead of dropping behind the leg. This seems to be on the right track, right?

What I’d like to know is: Since my horse can only jump so many times a week, what exercises can I do on the flat to really push/test myself and confirm this skill?

Is it possible to get this feeling (i.e. smooth efficient change of balance) to be second nature before trying it over fences? I’m not at all hesitant to try it over fences but I have plenty of other things to work on and this seems like something I can improve significantly on the flat between my jumping days.

Are there other things I can do on the flat to improve my jumping (given that the problem is almost that I have too much dressage in me)? I’ve given myself distance exercises using groundpoles, but I think those will be easier once I get the balance thing sorted out and am more effective in sending my horse forward with short stirrups.

[maddiehorse]

Hmmm here’s some ideas
1: treating a ground pole like a jump and getting in two point
2: two point without using your hands for balance
3: two point without stirrups
4: shorting your stirrups so they are at jockey length (then your normal stirrups will feel longer)
5: alternating posting (ex:up 2 beats,sit 1)
6: two point in jumping stirrups
7: alternate posting in jockey stirrups
8: standing in your stirrups

Also not a non-jumping exercise but banks (if you have access to one) are great for perfecting your jumping position. If you get a little ahead over fences, you’re going to get thrown ahead on a down bank. And likewise if you’re a little behind over fences you’re going to get thrown back on an up bank. Have fun jumping

[KayBee]

Also bear in mind the truism that “a jumping round is flatwork, with jumps in between.” So the flatwork you’ve done with dressage – creating a responsive horse that moves off your leg – is a good bit of the equation.

Other than that, what maddiehorse said. Also, if you have access to a field, do some hillwork. Other good exercises:

– extend your canter on the long side of an oval shape, balance and compress on the short. Iow, make sure you can move your horse up and bring him back smoothly and so that he stays balanced, uphill, and forward throughout.

– “post” the canter. Sit for 2 or 3 strides, 2-point for 2 or 3 strides.

One last thing – I had done so much of my riding in a ring that when I started riding on uneven/ungroomed terrain, I felt it and my position showed it. So get out of a ring and practice, if you can.

Oh! And also this exercise, which you could do in a ring, using only ground poles fro the bounce, and maybe omitting the oxer idea and just really lengthening on the opposite side.

Balancing through corners is important.

[QUOTE=tbchick84;7567149]
Ooh, great exercise for adjustability. 9’ bounce on one long side, square oxer on the other. Coffin canter to bounce, rev up to hand gallop to the oxer, back to coffin canter to the bounce. Lather, rinse, repeat.[/QUOTE]

[lidador]

Great suggestions guys, thanks! I’m eager to try them.

@KayBee;7604109

Also bear in mind the truism that “a jumping round is flatwork, with jumps in between.” So the flatwork you’ve done with dressage – creating a responsive horse that moves off your leg – is a good bit of the equation.

Aye, yes this is the other problem which I didn’t mention! The horse in question is the type that reacts to stimuli by shutting down/dropping behind the aids. I have no problem catching this and sending him forward again with long legs/deep dressage seat (we’ve already made a lot of progress in terms of him understanding what his expected of him in this regard – he’s actually really fun as a straight dressage horse), so my question, secretly, is about figuring out how to be effective in this way with shorter stirrups and a more forward position.

Balancing myself over his center of motion so I don’t push him onto his forehand seems to be key (please correct me if I’m wrong or missing anything), so now it’s all about figuring out how to get/stay in that balance 100% of the time, even as I change position.

[KayBee]

[QUOTE=lidador;7604453]
Great suggestions guys, thanks! I’m eager to try them.

Aye, yes this is the other problem which I didn’t mention! The horse in question is the type that reacts to stimuli by shutting down/dropping behind the aids. I have no problem catching this and sending him forward again with long legs/deep dressage seat (we’ve already made a lot of progress in terms of him understanding what his expected of him in this regard – he’s actually really fun as a straight dressage horse), so my question, secretly, is about figuring out how to be effective in this way with shorter stirrups and a more forward position.

Balancing myself over his center of motion so I don’t push him onto his forehand seems to be key (please correct me if I’m wrong or missing anything), so now it’s all about figuring out how to get/stay in that balance 100% of the time, even as I change position.[/QUOTE]

Hopefully more experienced folks will chime in with ideas, but it seems that moving back and forth between 2-point and sitting (so he gets used to you moving around up there) is probably a good idea.

Also, getting out of the ring so you can figure out if he’s naturally more forward out in the open. And, again, to work on your balance, and to teach him that he doesn’t need your seat to always be there to drive him forward.

[subk]

[QUOTE=lidador;7603701]
I have jumping experience, but basically have been doing dressage exclusively for 15 years. My biggest challenge at the moment is being able to feel everything I’m used to feeling in “dressage position” after cranking my legs up and shifting my balance forward…

Is it possible to get this feeling (i.e. smooth efficient change of balance) to be second nature before trying it over fences? [/QUOTE]

I think it is very important to understand that despite what you’ve written you are NOT actually changing your balance. You’re trying to continue to stay balanced in the center of your horse while changing your POSITION–from being balanced on your seat to being balanced over your feet and still being in the center of the horse.

If you are actually changing your balance you are leaning forward at your waist and shifting your balance forward. You keep the balance centered not by leaning but by squating. Feel the difference in the two positions on the ground and you’ll understand why one is some much more stable thatn the other.

.

[pryme_thyme]

I do A TON of work with ground poles.
Setting just as though they were fences, distance wise. This helps me work my eye.
Alternate, like you said, between two point and sitting lightly before the pole. This really helps my balance and feel.

Caveletti’s. Trot or canter distance. Typically I use the left side up/right side on the ground for one pole and the alternating so the horse has to use it’s back and you get to work on your balance.
Opening and closing the stride through poles. I typically set a 5 stride ‘line’ of two poles. Ride the 5, then aim for 4 or 6.

I also work on roll backs between poles, really sending my mare forward after to get her sharped up and sitting.

What I tend to do in the spring/summer rather than having one ‘jumping day’ is set an exercise in the outdoor to use through out the week or if you cant leave it up, set one simple exercise each day. Begin your ride with longer stirrups and flatwork. Really get that hind end connection and response, shorten sitrrups and do 2-4 low jumps, then cool out with some stretchy trot or canter.

I personally find a couple each ride help me more than having one day where I work through a couple courses.
The only time I really ride a course is at shows.

[lidador]

[QUOTE=subk;7604606]
I think it is very important to understand that despite what you’ve written you are NOT actually changing your balance. You’re trying to continue to stay balanced in the center of your horse while changing your POSITION–from being balanced on your seat to being balanced over your feet and still being in the center of the horse.
.[/QUOTE]

Ooops excellent point, this is indeed what I meant (see e.g. post #4).

KayBee: He’s not naturally more forward in the field

pryme_thyme: When/why should I choose trot work over canter work, or vice versa? (I’m defaulting to canter since the horse is already trained and fit, just a slowpoke.) What should I be looking for and trying to accomplish in one gait vs. the other?

[sophie]

Ride at all gaits on hilly terrain in jumping position / 2-point or light seat. That alone will help your balance and stabilize your lower leg.

[retreadeventer]

Two point is the light at the end of the tunnel for me. In all things. I have a horse right now that NEEDS me in two point so it’s really work to ride the entire time like this but it must be done to please his highness!

[Janet]

2point, 2 point, and MORE 2 point. Then posting without stirrups.

These will strengthen the muscles, and stretch the tendons and ligaments you need to be stable over fences.

It is “harder” (more work, as well as harder to keep your balance) in 2 point at the walk than in 2point at the trot. And 2 point at the trot is harder than 2 point at the canter. So doing more at the slower gaits will build your strength and balance faster.

2 point uphill and downhill will develop your balance.

Once your legs are stable in 2 point, you will discover that the same aids you used with your core and with your thighs still work. but you have to be stable first.

I like to do lots of transitions in 2-point - 10 strides walk, 10 strides trot, 10 strides canter, 10 strides trot, 10 strides walk, etc. I focus on using my legs and my core for the transitions, minimizing the use of my hands.

If the horse is ignoring your aids for an upward transition, escalate to a sharp tap with the whip/crop. This will also encourage the horse to “listen” to your legs.

Of course, the corollary of this is that your legs need to be REALLY still when you are not giving an aid. If your legs are swinging even when you are not giving an aid, you can not blame the horse for ignoring the aid.

Again, more 2-pont.

Another tip for getting a horse to move forward in 2 point-

Watch the jockeys. When they are in the heat of the race, they push their hips BACKWARDS, which lowers their shoulders, while still keeping them balanced over, or slightly behind, their stirrups.

When they slow down at the end of the race, they push their hips forward, raise their shoulders, and their weight shifts slightly in front of the stirrups.

You can do the same thing. In (normal, not jockey length) 2 point, push your hips backwards, and see what happens.

I also find that thinking about pushing my hips back when jumping helps me avoid opening too early, which is my most common fault.

[Larbear]

Another chime in for working in two point. I wrote this in the other thread (tying stirrup to girth) but work in two point and hold the reins between your thumb and index finger, driving rein.

You can’t really lean on the neck and helps you find your balance and where your legs should be. Works great on the flat for two point work (especially for up and down transitions between trot and canter), over trot/canter poles and fences.

[tbchick84]

I’ve got one. Pick up as large of a canter as you can and go large in half seat or galloping position. Pick any fence, sit tall and circle your horse around the fence in the most collected canter you can make without losing impulsion or balance. Then switch back to forward canter and go large again. It’s a really good forward/back exercise.