jumping ahead of horse

[luckydog]

How not to jump ahead of your horse? what do you think about? how do we fix this bad habit??

[Baby]

hi, im the queen of jumping up the neck of my horse. but I have been consistently not doing it this winter. I think it's because I have started to finally see my distances. By see I mean feel really... you feel when the horse is going to take off then let the horse close your hip angles etc. All of this stems from having the proper rhythm coming up to the jump, if you get to know your horse's rhythm you'll be able to properly judge when you're going to get to the base of the fence instinctively.I find that I jump ahead when I think my horse is going to take off long but he doesn't. Instead I should add some leg to support the horse and tell him I want long. But if you have the right rhythm you can anticipate this and fix it 5 strides out instead of at the base of the jump.

Make sense?

[ACS]

You are probably riding in front of the vertical (no, I am not talking about the jump, I am talking about your riding form) before approaching the jump. If you don't know what this is, I would suggest you pick up a copy of George Morris's book at your local bookstore for reference.

[Parker_Rider]

Oh! if Baby is the queen, then I am the princess of doing this!! (And then pulling back with my reins, but that's a whole other issue...) Except when I see/feel my distance I get really, really excited and just have to jump the jump before my horse does.. So that never helped me... But after working with a couple of really amazing trainers who are/were |-| that close to beating it out of me, I'm starting to come out of it. A couple things that helped me:
- Before the jump, don't say "Don't jump up.. don't jump up.." to yourself (ironic, I know). As my current trainer pointed out, that's only going to make you focus on "jumping up" instead of what you're supposed to be doing (e.g. "Wait for the horse..." "patient with my body"). As my wonderful trainer pointed out, it's like training dogs... you can yell at the dog all day long "DON'T CHEW ON MY MAX AZRIA HEELS!!!!!" and he'll look at you like you're stupid all day long. They (we) don't respond to "negative" commands, but to positive ones that induce good behavior. I, for one, really enjoyed being compared to my wonderfully (dis)obedient pooch. ;)

- I've said it on another thread, and this really, really helped me.. a stride or two before the jump I shove my heel down and forward. In that position, it's really hard to "throw" your body ahead of the motion (for me, I can't go into the necessary superman mode to throw my body - you know, legs so far back on the horse it's ridiculous- or I can't pinch myself up into the fetal position). Of course, I say this to you like I have *discovered!* sliced bread. It sounds obvious but it's usually the obvious that I miss or forget about and then have to shout it from the mountain tops.

- All else fails... have your trainer beat it out of you :winkgrin:

[dghunter]

I make sure to keep my eyes looking up and ahead and then just repeat the word wait over and over again going up to the fence.
I think my big problem is keeping my eyes up because as soon as I start to look down, my horse slows down, then I get ahead of him because I'm trying to move for him and then it's just a whole mess lol.

[Irish Ei's]

Coach has me keeping my hands resting on his neck and using them to push myself further BACK into the middle of my saddle....

Works best if you STAY in 2-point over several fences and lines

[make x it x so]

First of all, a strong base is really important for this. After a short hiatus from riding, I am finally getting my leg back where it used to be, and it has helped tremendously with allowing me to stay centered over the horse. One of the other things I like to think about is keeping my arms separate from my body.

A lot of people who jump up the neck are just following their hands through an exaggerated crest release, and that's why they end up doing the "hunter perch." In the last stride before every jump, I try to think to myself "Heels down, release with arms, stick butt out/back" in that order to prevent myself from getting ahead. Sometimes it works, sometimes not so much. I think it's a habit I still have to develop.

It's definitely easier to do when you see the distance early because then you have one less thing to worry/think about.

[Bogie]

Years ago I had a coach with a perfect solution :D. She would have you ride the horse in the barn who would absolutely stop if you got ahead of him. His owner would chuckle but usually went along. This horse would.not.jump unless his rider was properly balanced. Then he was amazing. It helped you as a rider understand when you were in the right position.

[IsolaBella09]

My old trainer liked to make me jump through gymnastics with and without stirrups. It helped a lot with my body position and realizing I don't need to jump the fence for the horse, he can do it himself. ;)

I always like to think hands go before the body and stepping down into my heel before a fence as well. This helps me balance myself up and let the horse jump up to me.

[Addison]

I have struggled with this too. Some days this is no problem for me but then there are days when I can't seem to wait for anything. On those days it helps me to drop my irons for a few jumps to help get the feeling back. I have found that I tend to do this more when I am overly tired or hot.

[grandprixjump]

But I'm also 6'4 and currently have a 16 hand WB that when I can afford to show I do the C/A's with, hoping to move up to the 4' area, and do some mini's, but my ride has to be perfect since she is about maxed out there. I have just been working on almost sitting right to the base of the jump. Almost feel like I'm behind the horse but as tall as I am, puts me in the correct place.

[Equitate.]

Lots of without irons work and gymnastics. Some without reins work may help too to help you get a feel for the right place. :yes:

[cnvh]

I was taught to concentrate on kicking my heels down and forward on landing. Helps keep you off your toes, keep your legs under you, and your upper body back.

I learned it the hard way today... took my OTTB over his first cross-country jump-- a bitty 18" coop-- and when he landed the threw his head up and clocked me in the jaw. I never thought I was "perch-y" because I never got clocked in the face, UNTIL today. Luckily it wasn't a direct blow, but I learned my lesson. :)

[InWhyCee Redux]

That would be me, still! What has been helping is, curiously enough, MORE FLATWORK: If you're ahead of the vertical at the walk and canter and/or your legs are too far back, you're likely to be ahead of where you need to be when you approach the fence.

Jumping cavaletti with no-hands may also help: one of the reasons I jump ahead is I'm terrified of being left behind and whacking dear Dobbin in the mouth — so no reins, no terror (or less terror). ;)