Judge the Rider, Judge the Horse!! Videos! Jumping!

Since most has already been covered I wanted to just add to not worry about his knees too much. Its a low height, he's not going to have beautiful form over it where he tucks his knees and looks picture perfect. Once the height goes up and he has to put more effort over the fence the knees will start to look better and from there you can decide if he needs work on it.

You would be correct, he does have a bob. There is a gravel driveway on the way to the show pen. Even after picking his feet beforehand, when we picked his feet after the class we noticed he had a large sharp bit of gravel in his frog. It was pobably hurting :'(

No, I never ride Cowboy western. Honestly, I'm just a bit afraid of making him hard in his mouth. At the canter we have been working on collecting him and making him use himself. Do you all mean that I should have a tighter contact with his mouth? That's what we've been woking, if this isn't the case, please specify ;)

As you can tell from the home-video, I do like to canter the courses ^.^ One of the big reasons I trotted was because Cowboy was already tired - It was his first show, last classes of a big day, and it was hot. He had worked really hard, and in warm-up I could tell it would be hard on him to push through the whole 2 courses at a canter. When we build his stamina a little more, we will grab a hold of cantering everything :)

Thank you all for the lovely coments on Cowboy :) Yes, he is likely the most docile 4 yr old I have riden :p OTTB 4 yrs, at least ;)

About him rushing the jumps - he is starting to try it. We will jump, stop, and back. Not for punishment, just so he anticipates it, and won't charge. So that keeps that habit at bay. We don't do that every jump, just if he gets fast, and I'll still throw one in ever so often.

And lastly, I do have a tendancy to lean forward x.x Any excersises to help this?
Keep the comments coming! Thank you all!

Here's a picture from jumping the 14.1 hh Diamond today ;) This is over a 2' vert.

So let me get everything straight -

I need to -

Get more contact w/ Cowboy
Make him use himself more
Try cantering courses.

Yay! Any comments on my jumping position? Here's another video -

Diamond Jumping - YouTube

You bounce quite a bit in you canter, but apart from that its looking GREAT! Gorgeous horse btw :)

Thank You!! I am learning Cowboy's high-withered bounce he puts me in - I'm used to smooth-as-silk, no-withered Diamond, so yes, I do need to work on it. Thank you on Cowboy's behalf for his wonderful compliment ^.^

Please get his left front checked by a vet. He's head bobbing at the walk and when going in a straight line, Not just on a circle as pointed out by previous responders. Seems like a nice guy who wants to please you good luck!

To add on to what others have said, I would like to see you coming into the lines straighter and keeping him straight between jumps. This will come with practice and work on balance. Work on keeping your hands even and using your reins more effectively, shortening up your reins a bit may help with this. Getting more active and engaged movement will come from lots and lots of practice. Work on using your seat and leg to drive him forward and get him working from his hind end.
Overall you guys seem like a great team!

You asked for comment on jumping position: Btw, didn't see your comment on his soundness before I posted before... Glad you got it figured out.
From the still picture, Your upper body looks good, leg slipping back a bit. Definitely some time in sitting trot and without stirrups would help build your base. And maybe a hair shorter stirrup? Don't want you to be uncomfortable, but you want to be secure. An additional suggestion... Maybe some full seat breeches.. They'll give you some added grip without having to grip harder, and would help with bounce, sliding too. ( btw, good to see a young rider bringing along a young horse so well... Doesn't happen often these days! )

To me (completely unexperienced in jumping but concidering trying it out) it just doesnt look smooth. But you're obviously working on it. I definitely am glad you posted so I can also read the critique and have some future tips. Gorgeous horse btw. I'm sure you'll end up doing very well. How long have you been riding if you don't mind me asking? And how long have you been jumping?