Showjumping has become an increasingly technical discipline, demanding utmost precision from horse and rider. While most can acknowledge rider error when a pole comes down after you took the wrong stride, it can be difficult to know what went wrong when you arrived at the fence at a good distance and pace but managed to take the pole down regardless. In these instances, it can be worth looking at your jumping position as a potential source of error.
We often forget the importance of a good jumping position over the fence, as most of our training focuses on the actual ride around the course. This article will investigate the most common jumping position errors as correcting them can help your horse give you his best effort over the fence and avoid those pesky poles.
Balance and body control
When it comes to riding well, balance and body control are everything. Uneven weight distribution can sometimes mean the difference between a clear round and pole coming down. Doing too much with your body can upset your horse’s balance and similarly cause those poles to drop. Sitting like a sack of potatoes will unsurprisingly also result in a less than best effort over the fence. As with all good things in life, practice makes perfect and regular exercises in and out of the saddle will improve your seat and position in no time.
The ‘perfect’ jumping position
- Riders should be in the two-point position over a fence with slightly more fold in the hips, depending on the size and type of the jump.
- Upper body strength is essential for keeping your body light over the fence. You don’t want to be tipping too far forward and falling onto your horse’s neck, but you equally don’t want to be behind the movement.
- Your back should be even and straight, not concave or convex, as either of these shapes will weaken your upper body and lessen your stability.
- Your arms and hands should follow your horse’s neck so that you don’t catch him in the mouth.
- Your leg and knee should be closed but not tight. You especially don’t want to be squeezing with your knee to secure your position as this will restrict your horse’s shoulder movement, but at the same time, you don’t want to be flopping around in the saddle.
- Your heel should be lightly down (not forced) to provide security, especially on landing.
Two-point vs three-point position
Two-point position is where the rider’s two legs are against the horse’s sides, while the seat is out of the saddle. Three-point position is where the rider’s two legs and seat are in contact with the horse. Two-point position is used most commonly by jumpers, but the three-point position may also be used by jumpers when the rider needs to use the seat as a driving aid when there is a chance of refusal or when there is a very tight turn.
Most common errors
Leaning too far forward
Lots of riders compromise their jumping position by leaning too far forward, but this is most common among novice riders and those who lack upper body strength. Tipping your body forward unevenly distributes the weight forward, making it more difficult for the horse to get the front end of his body up and over the jump. Leaning too far forward can also make it difficult for you to get your body back in the landing phase, which can upset your horse’s stride, especially in a combination. Leaning forward at the base of the jump is another common mistake, and what often ends up happening in this scenario is that the rider drops their contact as they put their body forward. The connection with the horse is then compromised, and he may end up deep at the fence or even stop.
Leaning too far back
On the opposite end of the spectrum, leaning too far back distributes the weight backwards, and this can detract from the quality and rhythm of the canter, especially in the take-off and landing phase. Leaning back can result in you being left behind the horse’s movement, and you could end up catching your horse in the mouth.
Looking down
Looking down over the fence and on landing instantly makes your shoulders curl medially and tilts your upper body forward. Looking down also naturally causes your back to round. Always be conscious of keeping your head up and shoulders back in all of your jumping phases.
Unstable leg
Your upper body position can influence your lower leg and heel. Leaning too far forward causes your lower leg to go back and your heel to go up. Leaning too far back causes your lower leg to swing forward into the back of your horse’s shoulder. Gripping with your knee not only causes your leg to swing but also hinders your horse’s shoulder blade from free movement. This makes it difficult for him to bring up his front legs as much as he should.
Twisting in the air
Many riders turn their body in the air in anticipation of where they need to turn when they land, and whilst many do advocate for this option, most of the time it throws the horse out of balance altogether. This habit has also been shown to be damaging to your horse’s back, so rather, focus on taking off and landing straight in your body, looking for where you want to go and turning on your first landing stride.
Improving your position
Gymnastics are a great way to practice your jumping position. Set up a simple line with two or three strides between fences so that you can also practice your body control at the base of the jump and on landing. If you’re lacking some inspiration try this:
- Build three bounces, one stride to an upright, three strides to an oxer, and two strides to an upright. Build the oxer relatively wide so that you can test your ability to follow your horse’s neck with your arms and also sit up quickly after a big fence.
- Over the bounces, maintain a light two-point seat and try not to do too much with your body.
- Sit in three-point position in the strides between the fences, but don’t sit against the movement of your horse.
- Focus on your upper body and lower leg control, and concentrate on staying balanced and light on your horse’s back.
- Avoid falling forward onto your horse’s neck, especially on landing from the oxer. Keep repeating this exercise, starting small and building it up to your competition height (but keep the bounces low).
- The distances selected between the fences here give you enough time to get your bum back in the saddle and in the perfect position before the next fence.
Your fitness
Out of the saddle, work on your core strength. Good areas to target with exercises are your abs, upper and lower back, shoulders, chest and calf muscles. Try to get a few core strength sessions in at the gym or on your bedroom floor a few times a week – you’ll soon be finding it much easier to sit up over the jumps and on landing!
Take-home message
Putting in the work to perfect your jumping position is well worth the effort in the long run. Get it right, and you’ll find those problematic poles become fewer and fewer in number.