This excerpt from Wendy Murdoch’s 40 5-Minute Jumping Fixes: Simple Solutions for Better Jumping Performance – In No Time has been published with permission from Trafalgar Square Books.
Photo courtesy of Wendy Murdoch.
Many riders love to jump but feel insecure in the saddle. Learning to jump or improving your current position by developing a more functional seat is more effective, safer, and allows your horse to perform his best.
When jumping do you:
- Jump “up” at your horse?
- Get left behind?
- Get pulled out of the saddle?
- Lose your stirrups?
- Land hard on your horse’s back?
- Become fearful?
With a secure seat you adhere to the horse and become unified with him as one body. When this happens, the horse can rely on you to remain with him over a jump, which makes him feel more confident and secure.
A good rider adheres to the saddle—therefore to the horse, too—because her seat, hips, and knees are supple, allowing her to absorb the horse’s movement. In order to jump a fence, the ridden horse must raise both his own weight and that of the rider. When the rider stiffens, braces against the stirrups, and bounces on the horse’s back upon landing, she exerts an external force that can greatly interfere with the horse’s performance–and attitude toward work. A seat that is unified with the horse’s movements not only diminishes those external forces, but also provides reassurance to the horse through consistency of action that will develop confidence in his rider and in his own ability to jump.
This 5-Minute Fix can help you find out if your jumping position is safe, secure, and functional.
TEST YOUR JUMPING POSITION IN THE SADDLE
Many riders love to jump but feel insecure in the saddle. Learning to jump or improving your current position by developing a more functional seat is more effective, safer, and allows your horse to perform his best.
When jumping do you:
- Jump “up” at your horse?
- Get left behind?
- Get pulled out of the saddle?
- Lose your stirrups?
- Land hard on your horse’s back?
- Become fearful?
With a secure seat you adhere to the horse and become unified with him as one body. When this happens, the horse can rely on you to remain with him over a jump, which makes him feel more confident and secure.
A good rider adheres to the saddle—therefore to the horse, too—because her seat, hips, and knees are supple, allowing her to absorb the horse’s movement. In order to jump a fence, the ridden horse must raise both his own weight and that of the rider. When the rider stiffens, braces against the stirrups, and bounces on the horse’s back upon landing, she exerts an external force that can greatly interfere with the horse’s performance–and attitude toward work. A seat that is unified with the horse’s movements not only diminishes those external forces, but also provides reassurance to the horse through consistency of action that will develop confidence in his rider and in his own ability to jump.
This 5-Minute Fix can help you find out if your jumping position is safe, secure, and functional.
EXERCISE On the Horse
- Have an assistant stand in front of your horse and pull on the reins. Make sure she is slightly off to one side in case the horse tosses his head.
Caution: Some horses can be very reactive. For safety, the assistant should stand to the side of the horse’s head. Stop if the horse gets upset. - Assume your current jumping position. Once there, have the assistant steadily pull on the reins (not jerking or pulsing). She should pull hard enough to challenge you and give you time to feel what is happening, but not too hard or too quickly. The intent of the exercise is to see if your position is secure, not to rip you out of the saddle! Are you easily pulled forward? Can she pull on one rein more than the other? Do you pivot over your shoulders, knees, or feet? How difficult is it to stay in position? What happens to your breathing? Do you grip with your inner thighs or brace against your stirrups? When your position is secure, the assistant will pull you into the saddle, not out of it. Your upper body and arms stay in place without shoulder tension, while your hips are free of tension and sink slightly into the saddle. This unifies you with the horse so that as the assistant pulls, the force goes through you to him, allowing her to move him forward instead of you. You will feel like you are not “working” to hold your position. It is a good idea to rest your knuckles on the neck when being tested. This way you can feel how the pull goes through your body into the horse.
- Observe how your horse reacts. Does he toss his head in the air, pin his ears, or drop his back? If so, ask your assistant to pull slower and with less force to see if his agitation is reduced. Maybe it is a saddle issue: if the horse is distressed he may be getting hit in the withers as your weight comes forward. When this happens while he is just standing still, it is most likely happening when he lands after a jump! (It is very important to have this checked and resolved.)
- Experiment with your assistant. Intentionally tense your shoulders, brace against a stirrup, or hollow your back as she keeps a steady pressure. What happens? Try different variations like holding your breath, looking down, or turning your knees out. Feel how each variation affects your overall stability.
As a secure position becomes clearer in your mind and body, you will find more ease and confidence in your riding and in your horse. Once you have determined that you would benefit from some changes to your position, work through the various Fixes in 40 5-Minute Jumping Fixes, then return to this test to see how you progressed.
