i don't know, i've always forgotten to

i love you jordyn for the banner =D

Just wanted to say  greenwood^ your horse in your siggly looks so much like cinder v

in most you had your heels down but remember to keep them down and squueze with your inner thigh and calf if you can

give your horses a bit more release so they can outstretch there neck and jump to their full ability and follow their rythym so you don't over jump

I don't know if this is just how I was trained but pull your body a way from their neck a bit so your not relying on them so much and so you don't over jump. and set your but a little closer too the saddle if you can. since one of them is a bit green as you said you want to be closest to the saddle and off his neck incase he decides to do something crazy.

remember thumbs up and elbows at your sides lol in like 2 you had chicken wings.

thats about all otherwise you have nice potential hopefully that helped

Remedy (getting siggie soon)

Flipside (10/2/2008)

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You have such a great potential for a lovely, lovely position, but based on these pictures, you've got a pretty long way to go. Not trying to be mean, just honest.

Your legs and heels are your base of support. Without decent leg position, you may as well forget looking pretty or being safe over jumps. That said, your legs are in need of some serious help. If you want to make your position more secure and help your adorable green horse rather than hinder him, work without stirrups, without your hands, and without your eyes will help you tremendously. If you can address the isolation of body parts, you'll be able to adapt and trust your horse rather than attempting to override every fence.

-Work without stirrups. Do a crapload of work both on the flat and over jumps. Drop those irons until your legs are ready to fall off. Trust me, the initial pain and suffering is well worth it; I speak from experience. This will form the core of your position that will compliment your beautiful flat back and keep you from fearing a fall at the base, which you mentioned in an earlier post. If you have a good leg, you will almost never get shaken off, I guarantee.

-Work without hands. You seem quite dependent on your hands to support your overjumping body on your horse's neck. This really interferes with the horse's movement and can really mess up the training of a young horse learning to jump. Once you have a solid leg position, practice dropping your reins four strides out from your fence (after knotting them in your horse's mane) and holding your arms out as you jump. It's amazing how much we don't realize we're relying on our hands to support us until we do this exercise.

Last one; without eyes. Only after you can go over a jump with independent leg and hand should you attempt this exercise, and only with a horse with enough experience to jump without aid from you. Four strides out from your fence, after establishing pace, close your eyes and keep them closed until your horse has landed and taken one stride after the fence. This is such a great exercise because you are forced to trust your horse and you are forced to let your horse close your hip angle rather than anticipating and pitching your body forward as you are in these photos.

Okay, I'm really done, I swear. Sorry it's so long--I just don't see a point in critiquing unless it's done thoroughly. And good luck!

Thank  you. The advice is appreciated, I've worked a few horses without stirrups this week :D Due to this advice, and my crappy positions. This pictures make me sick XP

Pain; Lust; Thrill

You have alot potential for a great jumping position. However, you have alot to work on until you can get it down solid. I used to have the same problems as you, and before I'll start the critique, I just want to say that for about a year ot two I took off from jumping to focus on my flatwork only. When I went back to jumping courses, my position over fences was near flawless. Keep that in mind, if you ever want to strengthen your position tenfold.

The problems I see with your jumping position all has to do with your lack of muscling and timing to support yourself and your horse over fences. The first thing I noticed was your leg. Due to your lower leg being weak, your forced to pinch with your knee to keep yourself from being thrown behind your horse. Your leg can't handle supporting your body. You have an OK heel angle, although you could sink into it way more, your heel position isn't the problem, unlike so many other riders with slipping lower legs. The only thing I can say to this is no iron work. Lots and lots of it done correctly. WhenIi say correctly, I mean ride just like you have stirrups. Alot of people think that no rions means they can let their equitation go and let there leg hang. Keep your leg at the same position, and post without stirrups as well. It may feel odd at first, but belive me it helps. In fact, I need to start my no-iron workout again because I can feel my leg weakening. xD

As far as overjumping, this has to do with lack of muscling in your core and timing. if your core (stomach) muscle were stronger, you'd be able to center yourself over the saddle as the horse comes underneath you. Without the proper core muscles, riders tend to overjump to keep up with their horse. And so so many riders overjump these days. Riders need to use every muscle in their core and legs to support themselves, and this is why flatwork helps with building muscle on your part. So many people start jumping before they are physically able to maintain a correct position that benefits both rider and horse. Again, timing could also come into play with overjumping. And that is a particualarly dangerous thing when working with a greenie, who can shy or run out at any time. When you get ahead of your horse and your horse decides to refuse, expect to fly over that fence since your so ahead of his motion. Wait for the horse to "throw" you into a hip angle only, just think of closing the hip angle. Try not to throw youself at the fence before the horse has even left the ground.

As far as your hands go, your leaning on them to balance yourself, which in some cases catches your horse in the mouth. If you follow the above advice, this problem should soon work it self out, as your only doing this to support your position. I wouldn't call what you have a release, as if you didn't overjump so much you'd have a non-exsistent one. Again, if you feel like you going to catch your horse in the mouth, let the reins slide through your fingers, especially on your greenie. I do that all the time when Jester overjumps or takes it long, just be prepared to gather your reins up afterwards.

Good luck! =)

 
_{R.I.P Timmy <3}

 You are over jumping, this may have to do with that your sturrips are a bit long and that you are pinching a bit with your knees, thus throughing yourself forrward a bit. You need to give a bigger release, because by not doing so you are catching your horses in the mouth, and giving yourself chicken wings. I would competely understand if you were riding smaller horses or ponies and your upper body was as long as their necks and that is why you have chicken wings in some of your pictures. Also why you may have this problem is because your reins are a bit long too. Other wise you guys look pretty good out there. For your eyes it looks like you have been try really hard to fix that, just imagine that you have a full glass of water on top of your helmet and if you look down if will fall off and spill. Also I am sure you already know just consintrate on something in the distance as you go over a jump.

Good Luck!

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