Beginner Jumping Tips?

Okay, I'm a really good rider, but I ride mostly western (I've ridden English but not that often). I've started training my horse to jump and he's doing really good. He's clearing two feet. I've only done it on the lunge line so I was thinking about dusting off my English saddle bridle and taking him over a few jumps. But I've never been taught how to jump. I have a really good English form but I don't know how to jump. Do you guys have any pictures of a really good jumping form that I can look at and try to copy, or any tips for me for jumping. Or could you give me a step by step walk through? Anything helps guys! Thanks so much all!

P.S. I've jumped before over fairly large jumps, and I've jumped bareback, I just want to get my form perfect, and no I don't have any money for a coach.

If you've never been taught how to jump, you wont get your form 'perfect' and while I can see you know where this thread is going to go, I will STILL suggest you get a trainer or find someone who will be willing to start him over fences for you, who knows what they're doing and who has been trained by a professional to jump. I personally know lots of really talented college age riders who would love the experience to get some 'training' under their belt, and would likely be able to do it properly.

Please work with a qualified trainer that can be right there to provide guidance and feedback.

Getting the form correct is also very much a safety issue. Please have somene help you. Even over small jumps. Especially on an inexperienced horse.

Jumping can be so very dangerous when done incorrectly and it's happening very very fast. I have worked for several years with a very good instructor and still half the time I am not sure what I did going over.

Please don't misunderstand me: the muscle memory is there and I am reacting to the jump properly. But after a jump I cannot say that I consciously know every single response I made and why. Often the instructor will tell me afterward what I did and why.

I hate to say it, but you probably won't get much help here. You went from saying you've never been taught to jump, to you've jumped fairly high jumps and bareback. I can't give you advise on how to jump because, having stated that you've never been taught, it just isnt safe. I do not want to give you some tips, have you go out and try it, do it wrong, and hurt yourself.

As mentioned, please get someone who is more experienced to help.

I grew up teaching myself how to do things. I've been riding since I was three and like I said I've jumped over logs and stuff on trails and done a little bit of arena jumping. I can jump just fine it's the form that I want to get right. If you guys just had a picture of somebody doing a perfect jumping posture that would be the most help! It's not un-safe for me to jump. I've been around horses my entire life I know when it's un-safe and safe. I know when I'm about to do something stupid or not. Thanks for your comments guys!

I'm sorry, but if you've never had a trainer how do you know that you have "really good english form"? Especially if you haven't ridden english in a while? Also you cannot learn jumping simply by looking at a picture or following written theory. The fact is that you yourself do not know how to jump, and therefore teaching a horse how to jump is out of the question. Green horse and green rider do not mix.

Jumping is a very dangerous sport. It's not something you can simply teach yourself. You may have jumped high or bareback before, but that does not mean you know how to jump correctly. Learning would require a trainer. Equally as important, it would require a safe, experienced horse. Your horse is not experienced, and will not be quite as forgiving when it comes to inevitable new rider errors. While the idea of horse and rider learning something new like this together is lovely, it's unrealistic and only exists in movies. If you try to teach your horse to jump yourself, I can almost guarantee it will end badly and teach your horse some extremely bad habits (and probably turn him sour). There is much, much more to jumping than point and shoot. And you cannot effectively train a horse if you yourself are not trained.

So please - Either get yourself a trainer or don't try this at all. For the sake of both you and your horse's safety. I'm sorry I could not be more help but that's the reality of the situation.

It is a risk to jump a horse for ANYONE, even Olympic riders... When I was at Spruce Meadows Masters, and Tiffany Foster, along with other Olympic riders fell off, it just proofs that anyone can have an accident happen.

Please, get a coach, or someone with experience in jumping to help you, for your safety, as well as your horses!

21 year old Eleanor Brennan and her horse both died at an event when the horse balked at a jump and broke its neck.

15 year old Jade South died when her horse hesitated at a 2'6 jump, flipped, and landed on top of her.

These were freak accidents but jumping is a high risk sport that can jeopardize the lives of both horse and rider. As the others have said, you cannot simply learn it yourself by emulating pictures or reading about it. If your heart is set on learning to jump suck it up and find an instructor. Otherwise, you are just setting yourself, your horse, and your family and friends up for a tragedy.

You are not above anyone or anything.

Wait so... you think you can jump 'just fine', but you don't know proper form?? You talk as though form over a jump is a minor detail. Form is hugely importance on so many levels! It's not just about looking pretty, it's about safety and efficiency. And I'm sorry to say that you cannot learn that just by looking at a picture. Also jumping in general is about more than just pointing your horse at a jump and going over. It's complicated. It's dangerous. I don't care how long you've been around horses or how much you've taught yourself, that doesn't change the reality of the situation. Jumping is not something you can teach yourself. Anyone can jump a log on a trail or pop over some jumps in an arena, but that by no means makes it safe or correct, or 'just fine.'

If you really want to jump, for the sake of your horse in the very least.. get a trainer!