Popping Back Too Soon When Jumping

[equest]

So I have recently had a couple lessons with a different trainer than the instructor who usually works with me. One of her comments was that I am often popping back too soon out of my two point position, pulling back my release too soon and sometimes hitting his mouth on the "down side" of the jump (although my crest release is very generous as I take off and "on top" of the fence). I feel awful about this - a bad release is a cardinal sin in my book :( :( I think I am getting anxious and just not relaxing over the the jump and allowing the horse to complete his jump and land, especially when there is a tight turn or rollback right afterward. Blech!

I will work on keeping my release through the stride right after the jump. Any other tips or things to help me create muscle memory for this ?

In general, I feel like I am struggling with maintaining my position O/F right now. The heat and humidity are really sapping my energy and I get fatigued which causes my position and leg to decline. I am trying to work in two point more when I hack - I do drop my stirrups as much as possible as well. Thoughts? Suggestions?

[KateKat]

I have this problem too. For me, it comes from getting used to the movement of going over bigger fences. So...grab mane and hold it until you feel all four feet on the ground. Once you have the feeling/rythm down you won't need to anymore.

[caradino]

i have this same problem thanks to riding horses that would bolt or play on the backside of fences. what's helped me is to think about all four feet hitting the ground before you bring your body back, really spend some time focusing on holding your position until your horse has landed completely. it's one of those things that only practicing correctly will fix.

[Sparky Boy]

I also tend to come back too early after the jump. Try staying up in two point an extra stride or two as you canter away from the fence.

[equest]

Thanks for the tips. I feel like this problem is also a function of feeling nervous - I had a less-than-successful first lesson with this trainer and then was feeling anxious about the next lesson, horse spooked and refused a few times maybe in part due to sensing that I was wound a bit tightly, overall just not a great lesson :( I think I was "rushing" myself over each jump resulting in this "popping back" more than usual.

[Dixon]

Grab mane. Please. And make sure you're using a crest release, not attempting some semblance of an auto release. Your hands should press down on the horse's neck until all four of his feet are back on the ground, and even for a full stride after the jump, at least until you get stronger and more confident about your position.

You might be jumping ahead, which causes the rider to reach the apex of her arc before the horse does, and then the rider drops her landing gear before the horse does too.

[findeight]

I picked up that habit thanks to my infamous rescue TB gelding (the Mr P/Spectacular Bid grandson). He would just come apart a stride after landing for no reason and you learned not to trust.

Suggest trainer place a pole on the landing side about a stride out...give you a reference point to help educate your body. You will have to force yourself by grabbing mane and NOT letting go until the back end is over that pole. Feels wrong at first, you'll get over that.

You can also practice, practice, practice over ground poles. Stay up until you count 2 or 3 strides past it. That's easy and you can do it by yourself.

Ya' know, I never found pounding myself or my horse taught either of us anything on hot and humid days. Get to the point of your intended excercise, get it done and get out of there.

[hollyhorse2000]

You actually identified your own problem. You said you were struggling with your position over the fence. Yes, that's why you're dropping back. You're really not secure to start with and it becomes very obvious on the "descent." Your trainer should be able to see what "flaw" has developed in your position. (Also, have someone videotape riding O/F and on the flat and you can see for youself.)

If' it's general weakness/fatigue, then start by building yourself up OFF the horse. Pilates is fantastic for this as it keeps you stretched, balanced side-to-side and firms up your core (which is key to maintaining your position). Work without stirrups, perhaps on a lunge line, can also help you regain a secure position. Work in two point also should help (it will especially make sure your feet are under you and you're not in a chair seat.)

Check a few other things, too. Does your saddle fit you and the horse? Are you really sitting in the deepest part of the saddle or are you getting pushed to the front or the back? Are your stirrups the right length and giving you the proper support?

Grabbing mane will help you not pull on his mouth, but it won't solve the fundamental position problem IMHO . . . Good luck!

[equest]

Thanks! I will talk to my usual trainer about the ground pole idea. I haven't heard any complaints about jumping ahead lately, thank goodness (as I have enough to work on without adding another major position flaw to my repertoire!) And yes, I am going to grab mane religiously until I train myself to beat this issue, and work on two pointing over ground poles on my hack days.

Hollyhorse, good points - I definitely attribute some of this to my fitness level. It becomes VERY apparent when I am riding in this heat and humidity, my leg is just not as secure as it should be (my legs tend to slip forward after I have been riding for a while and heat and fatigue sets in - I am working on this.)

[JumpWithPanache]

I knew I popped up pretty quick (thanks to riding hunters/chasers for years) but didn't realize how bad it was until people on the board mentioned it in my video critique. It has more than likely been the cause of my young horse wanting to jump quick. What I've worked really hard on is thinking "Land, and, sit" when I feel the front legs coming into contact with the ground. If I wait to sit until I tell myself to do so I've slowed things down and am not popping her in the back. Something of a mantra for myself until I correct my muscle memory.

[Madison]

Gymnastics helped me when I was doing that (for some reason I'm not always the best at grabbing mane, either!). We would do a small gymnastic line and I would have to hold two point throughout, and for two strides after the last fence so that my brain had to focus on holding position and not falling back. It was an effective exercise for me - trained my brain and strengthened my body.

[findeight]

Gymnastics helped me when I was doing that (for some reason I'm not always the best at grabbing mane, either!). We would do a small gymnastic line and I would have to hold two point throughout, and for two strides after the last fence so that my brain had to focus on holding position and not falling back. It was an effective exercise for me - trained my brain and strengthened my body.


Oh, yeah, no substitute for a bounce into a one stride to a two stride out over a small, square oxer to get you to get up and stay there. It's quick too. No excessive pounding, about 3 tiimes thorough that thing gets 'er done.

[medical mike]

Makes it easier to find a cause.

REgards,
Medical Mike
equestrian medical researcher
www.fitfocusedforward.us

[IsolaBella09]

I used to do this when I was first getting used to my horse's jump and I've been working on fixing it ever since. My trainer would have me stay in a two point after each fence and wait two strides before sitting in the saddle. Focus on giving extra in the air with your hands and keeping your hands low when landing. Today my trainer had me do massive, automatic releases in the air to give my horse his neck completely and help me focus on keeping my hand low and my position together. My horse jumped SO much better and I felt more secure than ever. :D

Driving reins may help you as well. They are a great excercise to use over a course or especially through a gymnastic because it helps you completely concentrate on your position and worry less about your horse.

As for building stamina, are there any extras you can ride? If not, picking up running can help with stamina.

Good Luck!

[superpony123]

oh, i used to do this. what i've found to help is literally just thinking about how the horse is moving RIGHT THIS SECOND under me. you can tell when each foot leaves the ground, generally. so, think to yourself in sequence. imagine this over a larger jump because it's easier to see air time.

1. approach - depending on what's best for your horse, you're either sitting or already in a half seat. your trainer should be able to tell you what's best for you.
2. take off, front feet are off ground already and hind is pushing - now you are in jumping position
3. air time, all feet are off ground - still jumping position
4. landing pt 1 - front feet touch down. this is likely where YOU began to sit and "pop back" into the tack. you SHOULD still be in two point, just bringing your shoulders up slightly, and BEGINNING to lift yourself.
5. landing pt 2 - back feet touch down - now you should be somewhere between 2 pt and a light seat. for me, i am moreso in a half seat. my shoulders are almost completely back to where they would be if i were sitting, but my seat is not in the saddle.
6. ONE STRIDE AFTER *ALL* FOUR have touched down - sit.

try and find a sequence of jumping shots from the side and front of one horse over one jump. do you have a friend who has a camera with a feature that can continuously take pictures at fractions of a second (i.e. you are holding the button down and it will keep taking pix until you let go) or a camera that does this, and a friend who will be willing to take some pix? get pix like this of yourself jumping, and thne get pix of a trainer jumping. compare. do this over the same fence height. see what part of the jump the trainers position changes as compared to yours. it may help quite a bit to see it rather than read it, you know? visuals are more helpful, i find. :yes:

[equest]

As for building stamina, are there any extras you can ride? If not, picking up running can help with stamina.

Good Luck!
Stamina is key to riding down here in the summer - nothing like the extreme combined heat and tropical humidity of south florida. Right now, I am probably not able to do many extra hacks, as the other horse I had primarily been hacking has been sold. My trainer is great about keeping me in mind when there is an opportunity.

In addition to working in two point during my hacks, I do need to work more cardio into my routine :) (I am thin, but I am lacking in the stamina / cardio area). Thanks all for the tips and encouragement.

[Donkey]

Gymnastics helped me when I was doing that (for some reason I'm not always the best at grabbing mane, either!). We would do a small gymnastic line and I would have to hold two point throughout, and for two strides after the last fence so that my brain had to focus on holding position and not falling back. It was an effective exercise for me - trained my brain and strengthened my body.

My coach recently had me do a gymnastic line where from start to finish I was reaching to touch my toes both with and w/out stirrups. It helped as I couldn't pop back because I was still reaching before, during and after each fence. I thought it was a good workout. I was worried I was going to be eating mane.

[equest]

My coach recently had me do a gymnastic line where from start to finish I was reaching to touch my toes both with and w/out stirrups. It helped as I couldn't pop back because I was still reaching before, during and after each fence. I thought it was a good workout. I was worried I was going to be eating mane.

That's intense! I am impressed.

[Donkey]

That's intense! I am impressed.

I was impressed too and so was my coach :D. I am a pale asthmatic desk jockey by day after all... Full disclaimer though - my hands never did reach my toes, I was too worried I'd break my nose on the horses neck. It was very interesting, it was very much mind vs body - my sitting up too soon and not wanting to break my nose vs. my straining to keep trying for my toes. It changed my perception of my upper body position over fences- I can close my hip angle much more and keep it there longer than my brain/body previously believed.