Anettte Willson | 0447337276
Anettte Willson | 0447337276
Horse-Riding Posture Jumping.
The jumping position for show jumpers and cross-country riders differs. The 2 and 3-point positions can be trained with movement patterns and exercises. The stirrup length is different for each. There is a lot of information available from riding instructors, books, videos, and YouTube about the jumping position. I have reviewed much of it, and, in my opinion, much of the information is well put together. However, there are a few points I disagree with, and I teach differently. This does not mean I am right or I am wrong; it means this is my way of riding and teaching. I think all riders need to look at what instructors have to offer and pick out what works for them.
The jumping position differs from the dressage position in many ways. This is common knowledge, and all riders know it. First, the saddle is a different shape. Obviously! Jumping saddles today are made with different materials in the tree, different widths, and different seat postures. It certainly pays to ride in the one you want to buy rather than just sit in it at the shop. I also advise riders to put stirrups on the saddle on the stand. To go from dressage to jumping, the stirrup leather length is the most obvious difference. The weight-bearing body parts are also very different. The stirrup is shorter, and the weight of the rider is through the stirrups (heels) and not the seat, as in the dressage rider. Certainly, the rider does move their weight from the seat to the stirrups when jumping. The dressage rider also moves their weight from their seat to their feet, but in the rising trot only.
The posture of the rider’s body in jumping is forward, with the shoulders over the hands, not upright as in the dressage posture. The jump rider’s lower leg is also more forward than the dressage rider’s. This is also different for showjumping and cross-country. The cross-country rider should have their heel very deep, lower than the toe level, for greater stability and safety.
The traditional 2-point jumping position refers to the rider’s feet being the 2 points bearing weight. The traditional 3-point jumping position is when the rider has weight through both feet, with the seat as the third point. It is disappointing to find instructors don’t teach riders where to put their hands or what to do with them. The Applied Posture Riding program addresses this problem in detail. Riders are told not to PULL, but not told where to aim their hands or what to do with them. Humans use their hands for balance, riders use them all the time for balance, and the horse cops it in the mouth. This is where I differ from the mainstream teaching. My technique includes instructing riders on how to use their hands during training and over the fence. This technique gives the rider stability, balance, and confidence, and their horse loves it too.
My 3-point jumping position is the same as that of other instructors. This is a position riders adapt between fences, not over the fence, so riding around and body will be more upright and the set is in the saddle. Once again I train a movement pattern to teach riders what to do with their hands and stop them from pulling or being left behind when jumping. This is about training the correct stability and balance by practising movement patterns. If you want to learn these techniques, I can teach you through the Applied Posture Riding Program.
This can be a personal thing; I teach and ride in my jumping saddle with quite short stirrups. Many riders and instructors are now teaching and riding with longer legs. I teach and practice what I do because I think it is safer and the rider has more stability with a shorter stirrup length (and can back it up with physical evidence). As humans, we balance with bend through our body, not an extension. If you lose your balance, you will crouch or curl up and grab with your hands; you will not grow taller or longer. The same instinct occurs in the saddle when the horse jumps too big, gets the stride wrong, or stops. I tend to ask riders to lift 2-3 holes when they first start riding short and practice at this length until they are stable through the lower leg and want to go shorter themselves.
Again, this is taught differently by different instructors. Some like the lower leg and toe turned out, and a few teach the lower leg turned in and the knee in as well. Have a look at this rider with the toes in different positions. If a rider has a very strong core and a flexible lower back and pelvis, they have greater strength and stability.
The show Jumping versus the X-Country Position
Showjumping is a confined arena with uniform fences and a set line between fences. There are no ditches (unless in a Derby), no banks, hills, or water crossings. The rider’s balance can be well managed and controlled. Upsets happen, but show jumping is less risky. The show-jump rider spends a lot of time between fences in the 3-point position, using their seat, legs, and hands to guide their horse. The jumps come up in order, and the striding is usually walked out in the course walk. The horse is more likely to be in a shorter frame, with a good-quality canter, up in front, and strong from behind. The speed is slower, and the jumps can get very big at a world-class level. The show jump rider usually rides with a slightly longer stirrup
The show-jump rider usually rides with a slightly longer stirrup length because of the time spent in the saddle in a 3-point position. The X-country rider, on the other hand, spends time galloping with their butt out of the saddle and hence in the traditional 2-point position. To achieve lower-leg stability for long periods, the rider should have their stirrups shorter and their weight lower and deeper for strength, stability, and safety. The lower the weight and body are to the saddle, the more stable the rider is if the horse is rocked off balance with a fence, a stumble, or a landing into the water. Here we can see the hands at the neck, and the lower leg deep has saved this rider from a fall.
If you want more information on the jumping position or the horse riding posture and how to train it, then look at my Applied Posture Riding Program.LIKE and follow my Applied Posture Riding Facebook page for tips and advice on rider training.
