Dropping my hands while releasing

I know I'm not doing an auto release because I don't have contact with Junior's mouth, but I drop my hands down. I HATE the feeling of supporting off my horses neck, it drives me insane. I refuse to do a crest release... I am not showing and if I was it would be low level jumpers. I just feel like I have a better feel for Junior when I droo my hands.

So, is this a bad thing? I CAN do an auto release and a crest release (though I have found that my auto is better). I will try to get pictures/videos soon.

If you are ready to support yourself in an automatic release, then I don't really see how that could be a problem. As long as you aren't bumping your horse's mouth, which is sounds like you aren't. Pictures may help though :)

I do something of the same thing. I am not doing a true auto release, but don't like doing an actual crest release either. As long as you aren't hitting him in the mouth, and staying off his back when he is jumping, you should be fine.

I don't need the support of a crest release (plus they just make me feel awkward). My leg slides back a bit (new saddle and a bit out of shape), but I know I'm not hitting his mouth and I am not slamming down on his back at all. I can stick with him at any distance (long, short, normal, whatev). I just wanted to make sure I wasn't doing something that is going to interfere with my horses jump.

I'm with Velvet - my release has been non existant for quite sometime, and I have been working very hard on correcting it - what I was diong before was bringing my hands up like I was in some dressage arena, instead of a jumping ring - and my Coaches have been working on keeping my hands low.

When I am approaching a fence, whichever coach I am working with at the time, will do the same thing with me - they'll be standing next to the standard and will act out lowering my hands to remind me to lower them.

I'm not doing a true automatic release, but I am not doing a crest either. There's nothing wrong with that as a stepping stone between, and just as stated, so long as you are not getting in your horses way or hindering them in any means - then so be it :)