How to improve your jumping position.

[@dishuman1993]

I watched this video 2 years ago this month when I was trying to get back to horse riding. I’m 14 and I had a freak accident while out on a hack on a pony from a school. I had ridden/ been around horses since I was 3 years old but suddenly I was terrified of them. It took me 3 years to get back on a horse. Now I’m competing, have my own loan gelding, ride 3x a week and I’m back to loving the sport.

[@JustAgirly0]

i wish i could ride right now

[@KirstinKellyEquestrian]

Yes I think there are 1000's of people in the same boat. Which country are you in?

[@JustAgirly0]

@@KirstinKellyEquestrian yeah Thank God I had my 1st lesson yeaterdy after 2 months I'm from Israel

[@Talia_Eqq]

Same I have not ridden in a year but finally I’m riding next week on Thursday and I’m watching this to help me for the evaluation lesson

[@unidentifiedmatter4327]

the scenery looks almost surreal...how nice

[@evie_eventing8329]

Hello Kirstin! When I jump my horse I usually don’t sit in the saddle and it’s becoming a habit. I would really like to improve this problem. Thank you for reading! Edit: after re-watching this video a few times and having lessons, I’ve finally got the right position! Thank you so much for this content, has really made me work to get the correct position! 💕

[@KirstinKellyEquestrian]

Great to hear your getting both seats in jumping. It is so important to be able to sit lightly as well as floating in light seat and two point or half seat.

[@baseballkidzgaming5597]

Thanks for making this! It really helped my position. My legs normally slide back and when I jump my horse will break or jump the jump funny but a few lessons after listening to this my position improved. Thanks for making this!!!!

[@KirstinKellyEquestrian]

That’s awesome, stoked you’ve made great improvements

[@eucalyptusstudios7782]

This video was really helpful! I don’t own my own horse but do lessons. I have noticed that my back gets curved and the chin trick helps.

[@Agirlwholovesbreyers]

It does!

[@KirstinKellyEquestrian]

Glad it helped!

[@sophi7329]

YES SAME I get all slumped and my shoulders scrunch forward over jumps

[@hollyequestrian9165]

This is going to help a lot!! Just with the heel bit is going to help my horrible lower leg so much Thankyou

[@KirstinKellyEquestrian]

As you land say the word Heel out loud and it will focus your mind on fixing your leg too

[@aurexia9868]

This channel is soooo underrated!!

[@KirstinKellyEquestrian]

Thanks 😊

[@mispuchatek4295]

thanks for advice, excellent video😄

[@KirstinKellyEquestrian]

Glad it was helpful!Thanks for your great feedback

[@leahjvr3245]

Thank you! This helped

[@KirstinKellyEquestrian]

Excellent Leah, Stoked to hear it helped. Here is another video about improving your dressage and jumping position in one video. You might find it has some extra tips. kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5mckJ-GrLKVh7s Have you seen my website, I have over 60 videos to watch www.kirstinkellyequestrian.com Happy Riding, Kirstin

[@leahjvr3245]

@@KirstinKellyEquestrian I'll be sure to check it out!

[@patriciacorrea2790]

Hola Kirstin, gracias por tus videos. Seria posible que tuviesen traducción al español? . Podríamos disfrutarlos aún mas !

[@KirstinKellyEquestrian]

Hola Patricia, I will have to look into translations and see if I can include Spanish.

[@Lillian_Equestrian]

Hey Kirstin! I’ve been jumping for a few months now and I’ve noticed whenever I go over a jump, I do all of these things but whenever the horse lands after a jump, I get pulled forward and it looks like I’m getting a bit of whiplash.. I can’t tell if it’s because the horse likes to put their head down after a jump or i’m not in 2 point for long enough, I have some shorts on my youtube that show it a bit.. thank you!

[@notyourstandardstandardbre2131]

such a beautiful soft way of riding, thank you for this, never knew the head could be so heavy!!! are you kiwis as well? very familiar countryside 💕

[@KirstinKellyEquestrian]

Yes it’s no surprise your legs swing when your head falls forward . Yes I’m a kiwi based in Taupo , New Zealand . Stunning country

[@MsWnDrLnD]

Ive just started riding again after 20 years, I can get into a jump fine, but coming out of the jump i feel like im not sure how to settle back to normal - lots of videos show going into the jump but dont really talk about afterwards :)

[@lyndseyjohnson5380]

Thank you really helpful!! Xx

[@KirstinKellyEquestrian]

Thanks for the awesome feedback

[@egipatskiguster]

@Kirstin Kelly Equestrian Hi, Could I ask a one question? how to go on a jump, what commands to give to a horse before a jump :)

[@KirstinKellyEquestrian]

Hi Ema, it is a horses natural instinct to jump a jump so the rider needs to present the horse correctly either in a balanced active trot or canter, Have them straight, and attentive. The rider will press the horse will her legs . Once a horse is trained they mosty leave the ground because they want to jump rather than the rider kicking them, but some are less confident then need more help from the rider. Check out my video on "improving your eye for a distance " they will explain how you know when the horse should take off. Check out my website Kirstin Kelly Equestrian as I have all the videos listed there too

[@sheenadowdall6787]

Hi Kristin! I have a question! I have a 17yo ex Grand Prix showjumper. He is brilliant on the flat and very responsive to my aids, when it comes to jumping he produces a lovely collected canter towards and in between fences but last 2/3 strides before fences he locks on and speeds for the fence, this usually happens with fences smaller than 1metre, any higher fences he approaches them with respect and jumps them lovely! I’m finding this hard to get used to and although I know he will jump the fence I still panic when I feel him lock on (I think this is due to having a shoulder injury and I’m worried of getting hurt). Have you any tips? Thanks!😋

[@KirstinKellyEquestrian]

It’s a common problem, I’ve made a video on a couple of different techniques called” how to stop a horse rushing at jumps “ also another video to watch is “ how to improve your horses jump using the circle exercise”

[@horseygirl21]

You have a new subscriber!

[@KirstinKellyEquestrian]

Awesome, glad you like my videos

[@elliebirchall2334]

Hiya my horse pulls me with her kneck when I jump her so I go forward and try to lean back but loose my balance as she pulls me do you have any tips many times I have fallen off? Loved the video x

[@geraldinemcdonald8721]

Hello Kirsten! Do you have any tips for a rider whose horse often leaps when jumping. I am working with the horse to improve, but from a rider position perspective, I seem to end up more often than not coming forward too much upon landing a “leap” and whilst I don’t fall off, it’s not the best looking landing 😂 any suggestions would be gratefully received

[@KirstinKellyEquestrian]

Hi Geraldine, Yes I do !! The head weighs 6kg in normal position but 27 kg when dropped down so when the horse leaps the head will naturally drop down and you'll feel like you have a bag of horse feed pulling you down onto the neck! If you focus on keeping your chin up, it will help you engage the core and stay upright. Also I would suggest you look up videoss on my channel called- " How to improve your horses jump with the circle exercise and also improving your eye for a distance , that will get rid of the massive leaps your horse does. Kirstin

[@stacyleigh4833]

Hiii Kristen 🌻 I was hoping I could maybe get advise ... I started learning to jump 2 months ago and I will sometimes curve my back over the jump , could you please maybe give me some advise so I can fix this , I am open to all advise 🤗

[@KirstinKellyEquestrian]

Make sure you keep your head up looking between the horses ears , that will stop you rounding . Also watch my video on improving your hand release over the jump too as the hand helps your balance

[@LifestylBear]

What is the correct stirrup length for jump position, short or long?

[@reagan_ruth7117]

Hey. So more on the shorter side. When your leg is just relaxed without any stirrup in your foot your bottom of your stirrup should be touching your ankle.

[@KirstinKellyEquestrian]

Definitely shorter as you need to have bends in both your knee and ankle joints to absorb the movement of the jump . Watch my video on the correct position ( this one but there is also one earlier one on my channel ) then when you can hover in two point, check for the bend in your knee , not that the thigh is straight .

[@liza-marivanniekerk3600]

Do you perhaps have any tips for me? I somehow developed something that when I land a jump, I land with my bum over the back of the saddle instead of my hip forward. It's bothering and I want to fix it, what must I do differently??

[@ambibambi.]

What should I do? I can’t jump my pony Paris because she’s scared of even going over poles!

[@KirstinKellyEquestrian]

Oh Amber, that sounds like a tough ride. First thing you need to check is that she isn't in pain ie like the saddle is fitting properly as pain makes them super spooky. Here is a link to a video I did for my Patrons kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXO2lIGar92dZsk Is she spooky at everything? It can also be linked with the grass but it would be seasonal if it was grass affected. If your all good on these points, then you need to incorporate pole work every single ride so she gets to trust you and the rails. Always start at the walk, then progress to trot and canter them as well. I have loads of different exercises on my website www.kirstinkellyequestrian.com I'd love to hear how your getting on so leave me a comment. Happy riding, Kirstin

[@ambibambi.]

Kirstin Kelly Equestrian thank you for the advice!! I’ll do this as soon as I can😊

[@klaudid763]

the funny thing is that my name is Klaudia as well but you say it cloud-ia, lol

[@eviesso4214]

Any tips to stop a horse like leaping 2 times the length over a jump?

[@muffin5404]

Should you push legs forward on approach to jump

[@KirstinKellyEquestrian]

Definitely not, that is called the defensive position when you slide your legs forward just in case your horse stops. But if you do this normally your leg will become unbalanced and it is not anywhere near the side of the horse where you need it to support or squeeze.

[@muffin5404]

@@KirstinKellyEquestrian but should it be more forward on approach to jump then say on the flat ?

[@KirstinKellyEquestrian]

@@muffin5404 you need a straight line from knee to toe , if the toe is in front of that line, you end up sitting on the back of your seat rather than lightly on your seat bones . You’ll keep this position cantering in between the jumps as well as the approach

[@zustihorsesandponies]

My hands and arms get launched forward at the ends of my jump. I don’t feel it while jumping but I see it when looking back at photos. I don’t know what’s causing it.

[@KirstinKellyEquestrian]

It could be you need to drop the weight into your elbows better or it could be the style your horse has. I had a horse that braced over his back and I always felt like this. There will always be a frame in the shots that don't look the best, focus on the take off, mid-flight too

[@angelomg9721]

I’m nervous today I’m going to do jumping for the first time ever and I’m super scared

[@KirstinKellyEquestrian]

I hope you were brave and jumped and it was awesome. Small steps each time. Start with trotting and cantering poles on the ground first.

[@mariaassuncao5048]

Hey! Love the video! How do I keep my heels down while keeping leg on?

[@attempting2ride525]

Ride for hours without stirrups

[@KirstinKellyEquestrian]

Thanks for the great feedback, You need to do heaps of work in Two point so you ride with balance over your leg. When your balanced,the leg will stay in the correct place and be easier to apply. Then it's practice being able to keep your weight down into your heels and squeezing at the same time. If your horse is really lazy you'll find you slide the leg back to kick so for a while carry a dressage whip to gently tap him when he is lazy so you can practice squeezing rather than kicking or gripping up with the leg

[@KirstinKellyEquestrian]

Riding without stirrups is ok for improving your seat balance but not really effective for your jumping position as we want 60%-70% weight into your leg and lightly sitting on your seat. If you develop this skill then it's easy to adjust and sit heavier if a horse needs it.

[@ishwarsinghbhati106]

Ishwarsingh

Lovely content! Keep it up! Would you like to be KZbin friends? :]

[@the_horse_girl3710]

What if you can't afford 3 lessons a week?😂😭🐎

[@KirstinKellyEquestrian]

Most people can’t , I certainly couldn’t . 😳 You need to have strategies so you can self check and that’s the whole reason I’ve made these videos, to give you tips and solutions so you can help yourself 🥰

[@the_horse_girl3710]

Kirstin Kelly Equestrian thx I am also gonna start working at the barn for lessons!