Push your heel down further when you jump

 

Sometimes I notice it moves when I ride. I've gotten better lol I was just so nervous I forgot XD

 

That was one of the things I noticed too, your heals went up, and your leg went back. Try working on some stirrupless ridding to strengthen your legs. Some more expierenced jumping people can give you better tips and ideas im sure.

 

To strengthen your legs ride without stirrups and do a posting trot that really helps. Someone also told me that if you sink your wieght into your heels it helps keep your legs steadier.

Your are also leaning quite a bit forward and out of the saddle. Sit back more and put that duck tail up in the air :P

Overall though your release is really nice and I like that you are looking up!

BTW in that second pic is that your jumping length? you should put it 1 or 2 holes shorter

 

Well, for one, you need to arch your back a bit more..it looks like your hunching over. And second, you need to shorten you stirrup length and push your heels down. Also, try and keep your leg right where the girth area is. That will help a lot

 

First, let's start with your leg. It's up, not on the horse's side, and not aiding the horse. SINK the weight into the heel and keep your calf on the horse, your toe should be at the middle of the girth. You're leaning too much on the horse's mouth (hence the loose leg) which is throwing him/her onto the forehand. You want the horse coming up into your hands, using the hind end. This will only come from when you get you're seat and leg in place. Getting your leg in place will also help you not have to use the neck of the horse as much when you're going over jumps. I'd suggest putting you on a lunge line and taking away your reins, so your lower body has to strengthen. TWO POINT TWO POINT TWO POINT ALL THE TIME! LIVE in two point and get that leg under you! Trust me, jacking your sturrips up to jockey length and living up in two point helps. Alot.

 

Most of what I saw has been covered already, but one more thing. Don't look down. Always look where you are going so you can plan your next move (and a couple after that, lol). It also throws your balance off if you look at the ground. Congrats on your first show. Those show nerves can be bad at first but it will get better. Just remember to breathe!

Oh, and your horse looks a bit heavy on the forehand in the cantering pics. Really work on driving from behind and getting her/him up in the bit and not leaning on your hands so much.

ETA, sorry Stormy, I didn't read all of your post before posting mine.

 

Hi, if you find yourself struggling to keep your heel down you should think about opening up your toes instead of driving your heel down. Pushing the heel down will most likely result in your leg shooting forwards.

Do LOTS of work without stirrups, making sure you open your hips and don't grip with your knees. When you take your stirrup back, don't change anything, try to even forget that your stirrup is there. Keep your lower back and bottom nice and relaxed.

Also, 'heel down' is not just for aesthetics, it's safety! Don't forget it; it really could save you if you become unstuck - think about it; if your heels come up, your lower leg comes back and your upper body tips forward, then you are so unbalanced that only the slightest unexpected move from your horse will tip you over the front door! Really imprtant when jumping too!

Your jumping position isn't bad, and for the height you are jumping it is fine. If you want to jump higher classes I think you should have a few more jumping lessons. Definitely need to shorten those stirrups though! And do lots of flat work in your jumping position so you strengthen your back and legs and don't have to lean on your horses neck over the jump.

Your horse does look heavy in the hands and you will need to do a lot of work to get her out of that habit. Just dont let her lean on your hands, when she does push her forwards and leave the reins, and use your seat and tummy muscles to bring the energy up, instead of forwards and down. If she has nothing to lean into she cant lean How does she go in a loose ring snaffle? The loose ring gives them almost nothing to lean into. If you are sturggling to train her on your own, it is worth getting a good trainer who can instruct you step by step what you need to do.

Congratulations on your first show! I turn into a nervous wreck at shows! Good luck with your next one!

 

The picture when you not jumping, your leaning a bit far up. Heel need to be down, you look a bit tensed.
You have a very good looking horse

 

Really nice for a first show!

You look much better than some of the kids around here in our beginners classes... they are scary! You look like you have good basics and I think the tilting forward, and leg swinging back will all be fixed if you shorten your stirrups like at least 2 holes! Those are like dressage length and not good for jumping! You can't sink your heel down or use your leg properly because you're reaching for your stirrups! Also posting without stirrups and when you're good and strong jumping without stirrups (with your trainer there of course) My trainer used to take our stirrups completely off of our saddles during the winter break from showing, and we had to do all our normal stuff with no stirrups at all. It worked wonders. Your turnout is really nice and you look like you're having fun and that's what it's all about!

 

Thank you all for your comments! My coach is going one step further lately and were riding bareback lol I just successfully cantered bareback for the first time! My coach said we will be working on bareback riding for the last half of our lesson until we improve so we don't need stirrups or show season begins again... what ever happens first lol