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Question

critique this jumping video...i know its really bad but i need some tips, lol<3 thnx
http://picasaweb.google.com/bzdang/2007_1111/photo#5132097822746217474

i have taken some lessons, no ur not supposed to grab their mane cuz it makes u depend on their neck and u cant do that , lol and umm i wasnt looking downlol the video isnt very good (i know) and ummmm that huge jacket makes me look really fat and it sortof ruins my two piont lol but also i have been jumping for a while now! well sort of

ok wen i sayd grabbing mane is wrong, i meant like leaning on their neck and reating on it is not good.lol

Answer 1

OKay. U need put your shoe a little bit back so your heels go down more (more control), u need to lean back more (dont fall), when u jump realese a bit more for the horse(horse has more head). Otherwise u looked good. when u ride it doesnt matter wat your wearing. U could be in pjs and i wouldnt care. Have fun

Answer 2

I didn't see anything that was overly bad there. It was a fairly low jump so there's not much effort put out by the horse. I would rather see a new rider hold mane, then to grab the horse in the mouth while it's trying to stretch over a fence. That is the worst thing you can do. I always instructed my students to grab mane as high up on the neck as they could to allow the horse full freedom thru their neck. As their balance improved, they went to a crest release, and then to the proper neck release. It will not make you use the neck all the time.

Answer 3

Your horse is very forgiving. It appears you are balancing by holding onto the reins and not balancing with your seat without pulling on the reins. I say this because of your need to hold his mane-- any well-balanced rider will not need to touch the horse with their hands while taking a fence.
I agree you need work on your seat and putting your weight into your heels. This, in my opinion, is best worked on with a lunge line, bareback (or bareback pad) and no reins. Until you can ride well this way, I don't think you have any business jumping. Spend your time strengthening your groundwork, then graduate to cavalettis at all 3 gaits. This should be mastered before you try fences, even a 12" crossbar.
Remember what happened to Christopher Reeve. He flew over that horse's head because he had no weight in his feet, with tragic results. More time on flatwork would have saved him from being a quadriplegic.
If you aren't jumping under the tutelage of a qualified, well-experienced trainer, you are in jeopardy. Horseback riding is the most dangerous sport girls engage in. Google "horse riding deaths" and you'll understand why riding beyond your ability is never a good idea.

Answer 4

Your video would not load for me, but as for your protest about not supposed to grab mane. That's actually incorrect.

You're not supposed to rely entirely on the mane to keep you balanced, I agree with that, but grabbing mane trains your hands to stay in position. You cannot pull back on the reins, if they're full of and gripping onto mane. Your grabbing mane, you are not pushing weight onto the neck of the horse.

Yeah.

**EDIT** And Angela, you actually don't want to sit back into the saddle directly after the jump. It makes the movement look awkward and stiff, and just not correct.

Answer 5

You have a real nice seat. It doesn't look like you are going over the jump before the horse but it is hard to tell since the angle of the camera. The only thing I would suggest is holding your legs more still so it doesn't look so 'floppy'. It will help you stay more put together. I really thing you ride nicely. Just like I did when I started jumping..

Good Luck & Happy Holidays!

Answer 6

I agree that the angle is poor and it is only one jump but.... it seemed that you looked down as you went over - that will throw your balance off. In addition, your hand remained on the withers. Bring your hands up to around half way up the neck and grab mane. This will keep you from yanking his mouth - which it does not look like you did here but is not nice to do to your horse and will encourage him to avoid jumping if you do do it! Lastly,if you are not getting jumping lessons, get them! Teaching yourself is a good way to develop bad habits!

Answer 7

In reguards to your comment about mane-grabbing, holding onto the mane is perfectly acceptable for your level of riding. You seem to be on a calm horse, and your position is the most important thing. You just don't want to make a habit of it.

Here's what I liked: Your eyes were good, as you looked across the jump and landed looking forward. Good job, that is a very important piece to riding. I think you rode a good track, but it is kind of hard to tell from the video.

Now, I would like to see you work on your lower leg. I would suggest shortening your stirrups a bit and really flexing at your ankle. All of your support over the jumps needs to come from your lower leg. Over the jump, you pinched with your knee, and because you don't have a stong leg, your lower leg slipped back. On a high strung horse, that would get you into a lot of trouble. I used to ride a horse who, if your lower leg slipped back over the jumps, he would take off bucking afterwards. Edit: Some other people commented that you collapsed on your horse's neck after the jump. This is directly related to your heel. Because your leg slipped back you couldn't land with your lower leg under you and your heels down, so your upper body tipped forward.

Next, it is good that you stayed with your horse over the jump, but you got a little bit ahead. Therefore, I would suggest getting into your jumping position as soon as you are straight on the jump. Some people say you shouldn't do this, but I think it would help you in the long run, because elimitating the timing piece will allow you to focus on your position. Also, your horse seems laid back enough that this wouldn't make him rush. When you do your jumping position bring your shoulders down a little closer to his (her?) neck and shift your butt back.

On your approach to the jump your post was a little far back in the saddle. You need to strengthen your theighs and work on staying to the front. This will be nicer on your horse's back. I would do a lot of work without stirrups to fix this. You also need to follow your horse's trot a little better. He has a long frame, and sometimes your post is straight up and down.

Over the jump I think you roached your back a little, but it could have been your coat. It is good that you are relaxed but you need to keep your back flat. Also, on your approach, make sure you have a slight arch in your back and your shoulders are back. Again, it may just be your coat.

Now for your horse. He seems like a kind animal who has good form. You could help him a little more by keeping him in a better frame. You need more implusion from behind, while bringing his nose in and asking him to arch his neck slightly. If you add a bit of leg he will strech out. Next did you notice that when his right foreleg hits the ground he lifts his head? This may be a confirmation thing but I think you should get him looked at by a vet and farrier as he could be in pain.

I hope this helps, it would be great to see a longer video.

Answer 8

it is hard to give critique just from a simple video, and also from just one jump. but from what i saw, you need to work on your landing. practice jumping with no hands, have some one lunge you over jumps and go over it with your arms spread out to the sides. this will help you use the rest of your body and help you become a better jumper.

but if you can, try to get someone out to watch you and give you critique from there.
good luck.

Answer 9

its hard to tell on such a short video...keep your heels down a little more and sit back in the saddle right after the jump (you stayed in your two point a few strides after the jump). otherwise, good job!

Answer 10

you might want to use more impulsion and pick his head up make him move up into the bit all of this will give you a much prettier jump.