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Post by kitcat on Mar 13, 2009 9:02:10 GMT
I'm supposed to be saving money as I still haven't got a job yet. But....
The sun is shining and I have time on my hands so I'm sneaking off to have a jumping lesson this morning. I'm not sure how well it will go but I'll let you know.
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Post by racaille on Mar 13, 2009 10:25:19 GMT
Think of it as a morale-booster - so much cheaper than going shopping/seeing a shrink/going to the pub. And it keeps you fit and gives you vitamin D from the sunshine and 'happy' endorphins. There. It's almost a medical requirement.  |
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Post by Blonde Donkey on Mar 13, 2009 10:32:52 GMT
racaille is very right
tis a must!
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Post by kitcat on Mar 13, 2009 12:01:41 GMT
That was great fun and definately just what was needed. Thank you Drs Racaille and Dotty. The horse I rode is just like Victor Meldrew (a real grumpy bu@@er) but loves jumping so that was a great help. The RI had me warm up and then go over a couple of low cross poles a few times to get into the swing of things. I was rather nervous as I haven't jumped since last summer but I relaxed a bit after that. She then had me do a small course, only 5 jumps but i still couldn't remember which way to go - I so need a TomTom! The highest we got to was probably somewhere between 2'and 2'6" but I don't think that's bad for a half hour lesson. I do have a bad habit of resting my hands on his neck over the jump, not leaning on them to balance though. Does anyone have any ideas how to stop me doing this please? (edited for bad spelling  ) |
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Post by fleabitten on Mar 13, 2009 15:53:18 GMT
I think you just need to practice. Lots of practice cantering in your jumping position, just resting your hands on the mane - going over poles and small jumps. Heels down. My Ri also got us to jump without reins and stick out arms out to the side, or fold them - I wouldnt advise putting your hands on your head cos my cousin did that and fell off backwards!
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Post by FirenLady on Mar 13, 2009 18:55:06 GMT
That sounds fun kitkat! I bet it was cheap as far as theropy goes  You guys did great progress to get to 2ft 6" aswell. Are you gonna start doing some more jumping? My Dad was telling me when he was young he had a really mean riding instructor who'd make him jump with his hands on his head! Not sure it'd pass health and safety though these days Dunno if bridging your reins might work? and making a concious decission to hold them up there. |
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Post by duckles on Mar 13, 2009 20:11:40 GMT
Kitkat- what a really good idea!! It sounds a great lesson.
Don't really have any tips but why do you think you do it?? Is it(or was it) balance?? If so, I suppose working on your position or using a neck strap could help.
If you do this(hands on neck) to follow the horses movement, it could be just a habit that will need constant reminding to stop doing (don't know if any of this making sense)
Good luck on the job front
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Post by fleabitten on Mar 13, 2009 20:19:22 GMT
firenlady - I wonder is my RI mean then lol!? I think theres a lot of schools not wanting to do 'risky' stuff on horses in case of something happening - sure i know a place that doesnt ride without stirrups or hack at all!
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Post by kitcat on Mar 14, 2009 10:34:55 GMT
Thanks for the advice everyone. I think it's a case of needing more practise and getting my position right. My legs might have been a bit far back so I was a little out of balance. I haven't done a lot of jumping, I only seem to manage 2 or 3 lessons a year, and every year I tell myself that this is the year I learn properly.
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Post by kitcat on Mar 14, 2009 10:35:57 GMT
Oh, and there is no way anyone is going to get me jumping with my hands on my head. I would definately fall off through worry  |
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Post by maximum on Mar 16, 2009 8:58:03 GMT
practice your jumping position on the flat to help the balance. even better if you can do it on the lunge and take the hands away to the side.
To help the muscles you need a good exercise is to pull your stirrups up about 4 holes and trot round standing up! you will develop thighs of steel very quickly! trot or canter is best as the forward movement helps- walk is actually the hardest pace to do it! dont use your hands at all to balance. but be warned it hurts like billy-o!
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Post by racaille on Mar 16, 2009 10:13:10 GMT
Yup, Maxi's right, it hurts like hell! I ride lot and would have described myself as reasonably ride fit but on Friday we were doing jumping exercises and boy! did I suffer. I ride long so I put my stirrups up two holes and it felt like I was a jockey then we did the exercise as described by Maxi - I found trot agony but canter OK, dunno why. And obviously Paco and I need to practise our jumping more. He was an @rse and I was a useless passenger to start with. After he demolished the first three jumps we started again, doing what we should have been doing in the first place: he needs to think more for himself and I needed to help him with lots of leg and 'bringing him back to me' more. He was fine then and we did a nice little round. We jump without hands quite often - either out at our sides or behind our backs. And if you can do that without stirrups too - and with your eyes closed - you know you've got your balance sorted.  |
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Post by kitcat on Mar 16, 2009 10:21:41 GMT
We jump without hands quite often - either out at our sides or behind our backs. And if you can do that without stirrups too - and with your eyes closed - you know you've got your balance sorted. Eeek  , one day.... It's difficult when you have to rely on lessons to get your riding fix. There are so many bits of advice and exercises posted on here that I would love to try but my RI has her own ideas of how she wants the lesson to go within the time constraints. |
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Post by fleabitten on Mar 16, 2009 10:45:47 GMT
Yeah maxi - I hate it when my RI does that - pain!!!
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Post by kitcat on Mar 16, 2009 17:00:12 GMT
I think I may have to sneak off for some more therapy this week.
I will try and spend more time in the jumping position on the flat as you suggest Maxi. We do standing trot in our normal lessons and I quite often canter in a light seat on a hack so I guess I need to remember that too.
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Post by FirenLady on Mar 16, 2009 19:12:57 GMT
yay! Therapy goooooooooooooooooood.
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Post by duckles on Mar 16, 2009 19:50:51 GMT
Kitkat, I think you are right- you need more therapy! It is your duty!
(The excercise Maxi recommends is really good but very hard- Believe it or not I found it much harder than jumping with eyes closed/ arms out/ without stirrups- Mind you I don't do any of these things at the moment- getting very lazy- possible need some therapy myself!!!
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Post by kitcat on Mar 17, 2009 8:32:48 GMT
Duckles you MUST join me in therapy |
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ceej
Administrator 
im back.... :)
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Post by ceej on Mar 17, 2009 10:02:09 GMT
hmmm my therapy for being down in the dumps with impending redundancy and joblessness is to buy a dressage saddle (ok on £50 but STILL)
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Post by kitcat on Mar 17, 2009 15:30:25 GMT
But Ceej, think how cheap it will work out if you divide £50 by the number of times you use it. It just keeps on getting cheaper  You neeeeeeeed it, you know you do. |
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Post by fimacg on Mar 17, 2009 16:53:14 GMT
jumping with eyes closed is a really good way of feeling the stride and to not mess or interfere but you do have to get the set up correct, I way always made to jump with arms out like an aeroplane as a kid, but don't know if they still do that
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Post by racaille on Mar 17, 2009 20:11:07 GMT
Well we do but it's not to feel the stride. It's to improve the rider's balance. We don't bother with the stride thing here. We are taught that it's the rider's job to take the horse to the jump in the best possible way, then it's the horse's job to jump.
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Post by maximum on Mar 17, 2009 22:30:37 GMT
thats what i teach Rac- so long as you have the horse is a rhythmic canter with impulsion and ride him straight the rest is up to him and seeing a stride will come - in the way that you can tell what they will do rather than putting them on a stride!
I failed my IT exam for getting a rider on the lunge to take away her stirrups and reins!! health and safety - oh yeah lets have a generation of riders with no balance then!
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Post by Blonde Donkey on Mar 17, 2009 22:33:26 GMT
a spend half my riding life with no stirrups. it really helps me and i actually feel safer without them even on savs in one of her "happy" moods.
I love it yes it hurts sometimes but i can really feel my balance improving
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Post by FirenLady on Mar 20, 2009 19:05:28 GMT
I like bareback  I think it improves trust too. lol gotta love thouse H&S people. I was spurprise your still aloud to take away reins for jumping. Fire would clear off with me on landing if I did that...Lost a stirrup jumping once manage to get over the jump but then he took off at a gallop round the edge of the field! |
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You guys did great progress to get to 2ft 6" aswell. Are you gonna start doing some more jumping? 
, one day....
You neeeeeeeed it, you know you do.
I think it improves trust too. lol gotta love thouse H&S people. I was spurprise your still aloud to take away reins for jumping. Fire would clear off with me on landing if I did that...Lost a stirrup jumping once manage to get over the jump but then he took off at a gallop round the edge of the field!