jump differences show ring to hunt field

[BumbleBee]

So I went on a hunt last week and am paying my membership dues tomorrow.:lol:

I am totally hooked. Both myself and my horse loved it.

The only issue I had was that his jump was so much more back cracking over the solid jumps that I found my show ring eq was not sufficient.

I was told fox hunting requires a bit of a defensive seat, feet a bit more forward but I am having trouble when I practice this.

Any hints? Jumping was my only issue as twice my foot felt like it was flying back behind me.

Hunter pace tomorrow, so I need tips.

[jawa]

Your horse may settle his jumping once he gets over the excitement of it all and becomes accustomed to the look of solid fences. You are probably sending him nervous signals as well.

[Equibrit]

Check out how eventers jump cross country.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SCUdp0SFZA

[Carol_Ames]

a few tips

forget 2 pointing into fences:eek:; open your leg and" sink in" before the fence" Does your horse normally jump"flat?:lol:

You will sink into the saddle right behind the [pommel the last few strides before the fence; Practice this on the flat/ over poles until you can do it without changing your horses’ stride

[armandh]

the saddle you use will make a big difference

calf blocks are not uncommon to keep the pitching forward to a min.
a one legged amputee in our hunt uses this.
http://www.chaar.us/products/Prestige-Nona-Garson-Jumping-Saddle.html
pricy but saves a lot of medical costs.

Ive tried a few saddles I dont know how anyone could stay on.

[BumbleBee]

He normally jumps pretty round hence I was trying to get out of his way on the hunt knowing it would be amplified.

Slipped the reins and thought 2 point would keep me off his back:yes::no:, we stayed together, and I didn’t catch him in the mouth but it sure did make me appreciate Richard Spooners balance.

Okay so Dressage seat to the fence and if that doesn’t work buy the saddle that can keep a one legged rider in the tack.
Thanks!

[2ndyrgal]

Don’t think about EQ so much

as think about R E L A X I N G.

[phoebetrainer]

Dressage upright into the fence, but get your lower leg a little in front of you and heel really well down. Think leg position for going down hill at gallop or a drop jump ALL THE TIME:lol:.

If you have bad knees or ankles you will know all about it after a good run!

I often end up hacking home with feet out of the stirrups to ease my knees.

[Painted_Wings]

Grab mane

Grab mane and hang on. I agree he will probably settle down once he gets used to the fences and the excitement.

[BumbleBee]

@2ndyrgal;5650412

as think about R E L A X I N G.

So more port before heading out and a hip flask. Gotcha!

Seriously I will think mushy cereal approaching the fence and just slip the reins.

[BumbleBee]

@phoebetrainer;5652155

Dressage upright into the fence, but get your lower leg a little in front of you and heel really well down. Think leg position for going down hill at gallop or a drop jump ALL THE TIME:lol:.

If you have bad knees or ankles you will know all about it after a good run!

I often end up hacking home with feet out of the stirrups to ease my knees.

Never done a drop fence… I can gallop down hill though so that mental image does help, thanks very much. Oh and I saw a few folks heading home without feet in stirrups so that explains that.

thanks guys!

[BumbleBee]

@Painted Wings;5652298

Grab mane and hang on. I agree he will probably settle down once he gets used to the fences and the excitement.

ha ha so I was doing it right, I grabbed mane a few times. lol Fingers crossed he does settle by next season.

[jawa]

Another thing that can give you a boost of confidence (especially when hunting on formal days and the mane is braided), take an old stirrup leather and use it as a neck strap. Practice using it a couple of times and you’ll find the spot on your horses neck where you need it and then it will give you a little something extra to reach for and to keep you from bumping your horse in the mouth. There’s nothing like jumping a big coop and two strides later making a hard right or left. You don’t want to have slipped your reins, as you don’t have enough time to recover them and rebalance your horse for the turn.

[JSwan]

Also known as, the “Jesus Strap.”:lol:

[Appsolute]

Yep, a neck strap is a nice way to really save your horse’s mouth.

I tend to grab some mane with one of my index fingers (before each fence), it gives me a bit to hold onto!

Also, as an eventer, we have been taught to ride XC with your stirrups “home”. That is, putting more of your foot through the stirrup. In the ring, I ride with my baby toe at the outside branch, “outside” I bring the stirrup further back, half on, half behind the ball of my foot.

Practice really jamming your heel down at the girth, with your stirrups “home”. It will help give you a secure leg in the case of trouble!

And yes, no perching before the fence. Not a dressage seat, but eventers sit (while keeping a bit of forward angle with your upper body) 4-5 strides before the fence. Get your bottom in the saddle, legs tight at the girth, grab a little of that mane, and HOLD ON.

Sitting before the fence will also help your horse wait for the base of the jump. Don’t want crazy long spots over solid obstacles, and usually the other horses will provide plenty of motivation to gallop over the fence.

Have fun!

[Appsolute]

[QUOTE=Equibrit;5645728]
Check out how eventers jump cross country.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SCUdp0SFZA[/QUOTE]

Check out 3:15 - 3:25. Perfect example of sitting in the saddle before each fence.

11:42 - 12:18 This is “riding in the back seat”. Not pretty, but gets it done when you really need to ride agressively (and stay on!).

[FitToBeTied]

Depending on the jump, riding to the deep spot is a must be able to do. You don’t want to be taking flyer jumps over drop jumps. Piedmont’s territory has some drops over stone walls that get worse the further out you land.

The other thing is practicing unrelated distances. If you have coops set on opposites sides of the road, I can pretty much guarantee that they are not set on nice even strides. So if you depend on counting strides ,you better be able to count fractions. 1,2, 2.5, jump

[BumbleBee]

@jawa;5652647

There’s nothing like jumping a big coop and two strides later making a hard right or left. You don’t want to have slipped your reins, as you don’t have enough time to recover them and rebalance your horse for the turn.

Was that my problem?? Yes, yes it was.:lol:

After the hunt we were given permission to go larking. There was a series of 3 jumps one down a hill, a tree jump then I swear 2 strides later there was a drop directly to the left side of the landing.

No way I could get my horse ready for it in time. So I missed it and had to double back… everyone was way ahead at this point and being my first drop fence we walked it, … slowly.

[BumbleBee]

@Appsolute;5652862

Yep, a neck strap is a nice way to really save your horse’s mouth.

I tend to grab some mane with one of my index fingers (before each fence), it gives me a bit to hold onto!

Also, as an eventer, we have been taught to ride XC with your stirrups “home”. That is, putting more of your foot through the stirrup. In the ring, I ride with my baby toe at the outside branch, “outside” I bring the stirrup further back, half on, half behind the ball of my foot.

Practice really jamming your heel down at the girth, with your stirrups “home”. It will help give you a secure leg in the case of trouble!

And yes, no perching before the fence. Not a dressage seat, but eventers sit (while keeping a bit of forward angle with your upper body) 4-5 strides before the fence. Get your bottom in the saddle, legs tight at the girth, grab a little of that mane, and HOLD ON.

Sitting before the fence will also help your horse wait for the base of the jump. Don’t want crazy long spots over solid obstacles, and usually the other horses will provide plenty of motivation to gallop over the fence.

Have fun!

Dang I have some learning and unlearning to do. Oh well time to practice before fall hunting begins.

[BumbleBee]

@FitToBeTied;5653140

…Piedmont’s territory has some drops over stone walls that get worse the further out you land.

I know nothing so what does get worse the further out you go mean?

Goona go ride in the back seat, with my foot home in the stirrup. You guys have great lingo. As for the kneck strap is this better than an Oh shit strap that clips to the Ds? I have one of those already.