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critique jumping pictures

2K views 14 replies 15 participants last post by  Zeke 
#1 ·




A few jumping pics.. I know my leg is not good, ick. On Apollo, I tend to forget about my eq because before the jump I'm working and concentrating on just getting him over it. He's a nasty stopper.. lately, I've been working him out of it but I have a feeling that I'm working more on the horse than myself.. and I just get sloppy I guess. I used to have a very nice, tight leg that would not move at all.. but that was on another horse. I feel like my riding has deterioated in the sense of 'looking correct'... I think I've inproved in the sense of training difficult horses and riding out bucks, rears, bolts, other disobediences.. but when it comes down to it, I'd like to have the nice solid position again. now, on about 75% of my fences, my leg is about like the 2nd pic.. but the fences like the first jump where I totally forget about my leg and pinch with my knee... those make me SO frustrated. =/

Any exercises...besides staying in 2-point, standing up, and no stirrup work(all I do religiously) to help my legs? it also may be that I just need to strengthen my core more? ohh, hello pilates. xD

feel free to correct the rest of me too.. I'm just irritated by my leg for the most part.

sorry for the rant hehe
 
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#3 ·
You guys look pretty darn good ! The only thing I noticed is your leg but you mentioned that . I'm not sure what it is but I think you may need to lengthen your stirrups just one hole , you look a tad bunched up like in a ball so to say . Although im not totally sure if its because of your stirrups its odd to pick out what may be making that happen !
 
#7 ·
Okay, long critique here :)
So, to begin, I'd just like to say, I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL. lol, training horses sometimes makes you forget about your eq., but luckily in your case, you've done pretty well.
To be honest, I'm surprised at how well you've managed to keep your upper body perfect in that first picture, considering your pinching leg. It's really not that bad (your leg) but is definitely something to work on. I suggest pushing your heel down quite a bit, and that will help to loosen your knee from pinching and it will flex your calves to keep them nice and tight by the girth. But on a good note, your back is flat, your head is up and eyes are looking forward. Your release is sufficient for your horse's jumping style and your body is well positioned over the saddle. The only thing I suggest is to lift your body up away from his neck just a tad, to keep from dropping your elbows too much. I think it was just the result of your leg, but its a good thing to think about anyways.
Your horse has a nice jumping style. He leaves the ground with his hind legs evenly pushing off. He is nice and round over the jumps too but has pretty loose knees. Correct me if I'm wrong but he looks pretty new to jumping? or at least that height anyways??
He looks young too. But definitely a cutie :)
Anyways, great job over all. Just watch that leg but other than that, no problems!
 
#8 ·
Everyone has hit the nail on the head already. Just wanted to comment on how pretty the horse looks :)
Carry on.
 
#10 ·
I'm confused as to why what's in the background matters when she just wants you to look at her and her horse jumping.

I agree that you look pretty solid, and as someone else said it will definitely help for you to get those heels down to help relax your leg and keep from pinching at the knee.
 
#14 ·
I had a dressage trainer teach me a great exercise to help with leg position and break my habit of gripping with my knees. While riding without stirrups on the flat, she had us lift our entire leg (from the thigh down) away from the saddle for a second. She had us do this periodically throughout the ride, and we did it at all gaits. I know it probably sounds like a strange exercise (it did to me at first), but it really helps deepen your seat. Her theory was that work without stirrups is really important, but sometimes it seems to encourage riders to grip with the knee for security.

Hopefully my description of the exercise makes sense, if not I can take a video and post it.
 
#15 ·
Alright keep in mind my heart is in reining and I have limited knowladge...BUT I recently went back to my jumping roots for a little bit and while I was struggling with my leg I had a little cross dicipline breakthrough.

To correct my backwards slipping legs while still driving a stubborn lesson pony over the fence I sat deep (driving a lot with my hips) and pushed my heels a bit forward of the girth. This way as I pushed myself up and out of the saddle (my legs were no where as in shape as you seem to be because I hated no stirrup work haha so the way you leave the saddle may be different) if my legs slipped back at all they slipped into a more correct position. For HUS this may be ridiculous but that's my two cents haha.
 
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