david lucas

"Hello Madeline!

First you need to know that if you go too far up on the horse's neck, you will disturb his balance (he will have mire weight on his shoulder and can do more faults such as pole down, or even he can refuse to jump).

You need to really wait for the jump and don't jump before him.
To do so, you need to fix well your leg (it will give you more balance), put your weight on your heels own, do a lot of jumps without stirrups to fix it.

Then, to make sure you wait and don't "fall" on your horse's neck, you can try to jump without your hands or by closing your eyes, it will help you wait for the jump and have a better position.

I hope i could help you :)"

"écuries d'Haziel à cornebarrieu (15minutes de Toulouse)"

"I try to go as much as i can to entertain my horse. I go 4 times a week (5 if i'm on a competition). I change my exercice every day, once i'll do dressage, then i jump, then i lunge and finally i go for a walk or trotting (especially before a competition and after it if i can, i think it keeps your horse with a good mental health :)"

"Hello Margie!

First of all you need to see with your vet if he doesn't have back problems.

How old is he? He's used to jumping? Usually, young horses do that to have fun, they stop with work and age.
It comes from a lack of balance. You can try to stop him right after the jump, try to put a ground pole after the jump, it will force him to find his balance and be focused.

It can also comes from your position, if you stay too much on his shoulder at the landing or don't go with the jump with your hands, he will try to escape by running away.
You can make mechanization lignes so that he stops running away.

I hope I could help you, good luck :)"

"Hello Lea!

First of all you need to know what you're scared of (falling, heights, not being able...)

Then you need to remember that you're horse feels every emotions you have and begin stressed will do no good, it will also put you in bad situations (your body will be tensed, you can forget your race...)

To relax, you need to focus on your breathing (take big and slow breath, you can also try sophrologie before jumping or a competition). Look behind the obstacle and try to think that it is not there, you can also sing a song in your head (it will help you be focused on something else that your stress). Take large outlines to get the time to see the obstacle coming.
If you're really overwhelmed, take an easy horse that is sure and used to it or lower the difficulties to realize that you're capable of doing to.

You can also try homeopathy such as Bach flowers that are really efficient.

Finally you need to remember that you are jumping for your pleasure and so don't think too much about it and let yourself be carried along by the horse.

I hope i could help you :)"

"Hello Haley!

Your horse jumping skills comes from genetics, if he comes from a good jumper family, it will be easier for him to jump.

But you can also work with him on mechanization lines to help him be more reactive.

Then you have to work his suppleness on dressage with for example shoulders in or half pass (it depends on the dressage level of your horse of course).

What exactly is his flaw on jumping?"

"Hello Caterina!

To see your stride coming you need to practice! The more you'll try, the easier it'll get.

But there are some exercises you can do to help yourself.
For example, put two ground poles separated from 5 strides, count them out loud and when you "see" them coming you can try to put one less (4 by pushing a little more your horse) or one more (6 by keeping him with you).

This is the best exercice to help you with your problem, i hope it'll work :)

You can also work on combinaisons lines (you will know how many strides are between the obstacles and it will be easier for you to feel them) or even put a ground pole one stride before the jump to feel the moment your horse starts jumping.

Good luck with that :)"

"Hello Taran!

There are many ways to improve your jumping position.
First of all you need to work on dressage without stirrup to fix your legs and chest, work a lot on descending transitions.

The most efficient is to work on combinaisons on a ligne, it will help you follow the jump and work on your reflexes and suppleness.

Then, you can jump a ligne without stirrups (it will help fixing your legs) or without holding the reins (it will help fixing your chest and finding your balance) or even while closing your eyes (it will help "feeling" the jump).

If you feel like you don't follow the jump, it means you don't see correctly your strides coming which is very important to know when your horse starts to jump and when to follow him. You can work on 2 ground poles separated from 5 strides and then try to put one away (4strides, push more your horse), or one more (6strides, hold him more).

I hope I could answer your question :)"

"Hello Katie!

You need to learn to "see" your stride coming in order to control the jump and not endure it.
For that I can give you some exercices:

-Put two ground rail separated from 19 to 20.70m (5 strides depending on the lenght of your horse's one) and count them outloud. Once your succeed doing it, try to put one less (4 strides by pushing more your horse) or one more (6 by keeping him). This way you will see your stride coming and also reassure yourself by seeing that you are in control of the jump. When you're comfortable with it, do it with obstacles.
-Try to jump while closing your eyes, it will help you feel the movement of your horse and then in a competition, you will feel it easier to know when he starts to jump.

I hope I could help you with your question :)"