Improving Your Jumping Position

As a horse takes off over a jump the rider should fold the upper body down from the hip joints. Folding down over the horse like this is an effective, balanced and economical movement for the rider and minimizes disruption to the horse's balance.

Failure To Fold Down When Jumping

The old saying 'throw your heart over the fence and your horse will follow' is true to a large extent. Unfortunately, it can be easily misinterpreted as a potentially dangerous physical action that of throwing the upper body to far forward at take-off.

A few years ago the British eventing world did a survey and analysis into falls and accidents in competition and it was found that most falls occur because riders get in front of the movement and so are more easily unseated, usually forwards, if problems ensue. As a result, riders are now taught not to lean too far forward and to keep their weight over the horse's centre of gravity.

When approaching your fence, be in a jumping seat with your stirrups at a comfortable jumping length. Lean forward from the hip joints, not the waist, keeping your back flat and your shoulders pushed gently back and down. If they drop forward it will affect your balance and self-control.

At take-off, lower your breastbone to your horse's crest by folding down and closing the hip joints, and push your seat back a little. Keep your lower legs vertical and down throughout the whole jump letting your weight drop through your loose ankles. As the horse descends and lands, your upper body should automatically return to position.

As your horse stretches his head and neck over the jump let your hands go diagonally down your horse's shoulders and forward towards his mouth, keeping the elbow-hand-horse's mouth straight line. Taking the hands up the crest towards the ears, as so often seen, doesn't 'lift' the horse but can raise the rider's upper body and shorten the rein at the very time when the horse needs complete freedom of his head and neck.