The
basic jumping position over the fence has been agreed upon across the
globe, although there have been slight varieties. Before attempting to
jump, you should be fully aware of your body coordination on the flat
and in the air.
Before
Jumping
Never
attempt to jump in a dressage saddle. You must use a general purpose or a
jumping saddle because your knees will be higher and more forward than
your basic classical position. The forward cut of jumping saddles allows
the knees to rest against knee pads and sometimes knee blocks for added
security while jumping.
You will
need to shorten your stirrups two or three holes than your usual flatwork
length. This will give your legs more shock absorption span over fences.
Jumping is
more strenuous than dressage although not as precise. Warm up thoroughly
before jumping. Try to extend and collect your horse's paces in trot and
canter during your warm up. This will aid the horse in establishing some
self carriage and will help you control his strides on the approach of a
fence.
Small
Fences
Jumping
smaller fences is always easier and less strenuous on your joints - and on
your horse's joints of course. You should practice your jumping position
over small fences before moving on to bigger fences. If you attempt a big
fence first, you are risking your safety and your horse's comfort.
Jumping
Position Between Fences
This
subject has aroused much debate among riders. Some instructors teach their
students to sit in the saddle between fences, and others teach them to
maintain the forward seat. From my personal experience, I have found the
forward position easier to maintain between fences than the upright
position. Yet, you have to be aware of which position best suits your
horse. Some horses become too excited and unmanageable when jumping; adopt
an upright position to gain more control and to collect your horse. If
your horse is too lazy - although this is highly unlikely when jumping (!)
- adopt the forward seat to encourage him to perk up some energy.
Some riders
choose to combine both the upright and the forward position when jumping a
course. They maintain the forward position throughout on the flat, then
sit upright a few strides on the approach of every fence to collect their
horse. Again, this depends on your horse. If he has a tendency to run out
or to stop, the upright position will give you more control by using your
legs and your seat to prevent such behavior. There is a disadvantage to
this though: if you are a beginner, you may become left out on the take
off. In other words, the horse takes off sooner than you reach forward
with the motion of the horse. The result is that you are left behind,
weakening your seat and your knees, possibly causing a fall on the
landing.
Jumping
Position Over Fences
The
diagrams below provide a rough guide about your position on the approach,
take off, and landing. As you progress to jumping bigger and higher
fences, your position will remain unaltered, although your will learn to
be faster and more coordinated to cope with the initial shift from the
ground through the air.
|
APPROACH |
|
 |
|
This
diagram assumes that you are approaching the fence in an upright
position. Your weight should be down through your heel to enable you
to quickly absorb the flight. If your ankles are stiff, you may be
left behind when the horse jumps.
|
|
TAKE-OFF |
|
 |
| If
you have approached in an upright position, you will have to be
quick to compact your body to absorb the charge of the take-off.
Approaching in the forward position will make this change in
position almost automatic |
|
LANDING |
|
 |
| I
cannot stress enough how important it is to close your legs around
the horse when landing. If your knees are weak and loose, you are at
risk of either loosing control momentarily after landing, or you are
even at risk of falling. The bigger the fence, the more snug your
knees have to be against the horse. Jumping saddles are equipped
with a knee block for this purpose; it provides a secure block to
prevent the knee from sliding too far forward. Some riders prefer to
turn the toes out, gripping with the calves. Whichever method is
more correct, it is important that you ensure a safe landing for
yourself. |
The next
two photos clearly illustrate the rider's position over a small fence
during the take-off.
 |
|
An
excellent position during take-off. The rider's heels are deep, his
back is softly rounded and is parallel to the horse's back, and his
hands are forward to accommodate the horse's motion. |
| |
|
|
 |
|
In this
photo, the rider illustrates an incorrect position over the horse in
take-off. Although his heels are deep, his upper body is erect and his
hands are not following the horse. He is behind the movement. |
Conclusion
Jumping
should be fun for you and your horse. Perfecting your jumping position is
the first step of building up your skills for jumping. As mentioned
previously, practice over small fences first until you are confident that
you can tackle bigger ones. Having someone watch you who is equally
knowledgeable will help you realize when you do it correctly and could
raise the fences for you as you jump. Jumping for beginners is best done
with other horses and riders around as the social support gives bags of
confidence!
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