Critique jumping position

My friend wants me to post this for her... it was her second time jumping in a saddle this year and I personally think she has an almost perfect (nothing is perfect, knack;) seat. She has never had jumping lessons. Never. So, I think she looks awesome....



She can't get her heels down, so, overlooking her heels I think she looks almost perfect. Looking at the jump, rather than looking down (like I do ever so horriblyXD)... so.... what does everyone else think?

Yikes..........umm
Well 1st she needs to be wearing proper riding aperal(e.i boots, pants)
2nd she is jumping a dressage saddle
she needs to lean foward not stand up

She looks pretty good. The thing that jumps out to me is she needs to release. she is holding her hands at the pommel of the saddle, they needs to follow the horses mouth by pushing them up the crest (crest release)

Apart from the clothes (lol) she looks pretty good. I see an under-release as well, but the rest looks lovely, especially for having no lessons.

Ditto to what the above poster said...definitely needs a release.

Needs a different saddle too; maybe an AP, as Dressage saddles really aren't for jumping, especially if she is doing this alot on her own.

And ditto to the first poster about her apparel...needs some pants, and better shoes on; Granted, I know I can sometimes get sloppy, and ride bareback in shorts and no shoes everyonce in a blue moon, but I try not to make a habit out of it...nor should any rider, especially someone so young.

I ride barback usually(if it is hot) in my bathing suit lol, and go in the pond with my horses lol!!!!!

She's getting a jumping saddle ASAP... it's better than using a western saddle, right?

She is not worried about apparel.

Thanks anyways though...

This makes a ton of sense:) Thanks so much! I was debating the whole getting on your horse's neck thing, when I give tips I say don't lay on a horse's neck, which is true, but leaning over it is different. Thanks. lol.

she looks pretty good. but i think shortening her stirrups would help her SO much! she actually would be able to put her heels down haha but other than that i agree with everyone else. :)

Thanks everyone for all of the tips. I am the friend that wanted some help. Just wanted to say so everyone knew....

On the first commenter....was the yikes REALLY nessesary? That was my first time in a saddle jumping this year! That made me feel bad. I have a low self asteem anyway, and someone saying I look bad, or talking like I do, makes it so much worse! So just remember next time PLEASE that there is another person on the other side of the computer.

1. I have riding clothes. I dont usually ride in shorts, but I didn't have time to change or else I would have no sunlight for pics. I really wanted to know what position I should be in, not what clothes.

2. That is NOT a dressage saddle. That is a saddleseat cutback (even worse...lol). It is VERY hard to stay in, so I give myself credit just for doing that, because that was the third time ever in my life I had jumped in a saddle. I haven't spent the money I have worked long and hard to save, on a saddle yet, because I JUST got into jumping, in a saddle I mean. Plus, I dont even have a jumper. The horse I was riding is a rocky mountain gaited horse, and tho she likes to jump, she is not made for that.

3. About the position. That is the type of critique I was looking for. Thank you! That is what I wanted. How to improve my position. I already knew what to ride in, and that I need a new saddle. That is the first thing on my list!

4. I have a medical condition called Juvinille Rhemitoid Arthritis. I physically cant get my heals down. I have tried it - belive me!

5. Thanks for the tips on getting the reins on her neck. I will definately work on that! That is the type of pointers I am looking for!

I want to look better when jumping, so to all of you that took the time to give me pointers, thank you very much! I will put everything to use and hopefully be an all around better rider!