Want to Improve Your Jumping?
Turn to Dressage.
Like many "horsey girls", I loved jumping. Dressage? That was for fussy old ladies (from my young viewpoint). Just look at them, going round and round in circles, making their horses cross their legs and other silly things. What was the point?
Until I started to feel I was stalling out in my jumping. Something was keeping my wonderful 16.2 hand thoroughbred mare from achieving the quality of jumping that I knew she could. What was keeping her back?
Out of curiosity, I decided to take a few lessons from the dressage trainer at my barn. And, as they say, my eyes were opened.
Until I started to feel I was stalling out in my jumping. Something was keeping my wonderful 16.2 hand thoroughbred mare from achieving the quality of jumping that I knew she could. What was keeping her back?
Out of curiosity, I decided to take a few lessons from the dressage trainer at my barn. And, as they say, my eyes were opened.
I felt how my own aids were keeping my horse from improving, in particular, my rein contact and my misunderstanding of the term "half halt". As I worked on developing a more balanced seat, a more elastic contact, and extending and collecting my horse's frame at trot and canter, my jumping improved in leaps and bounds. (Yes, pun intended). I also noticed that my horse's topline became stronger, and that she was jumping more by pushing off from behind instead of throwing her forehand over the jumps.
So, again as they say, I became a believer.
As long as you’re here, check these out!
Equestrian Products That Make Your Riding and Horse Care Easier and Better!
Engage Your Horse's Back To Develop His Topline
More practical tips for improving your dressage riding and scores
More practical tips for improving your horse jumping
Happy riding!
Copyright Denise Cummins December 9 2009; updated Jan 23 2020
The Thinking Equestrian
Photo Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/borgmichael/7128856473
So, again as they say, I became a believer.
As long as you’re here, check these out!
Equestrian Products That Make Your Riding and Horse Care Easier and Better!
Engage Your Horse's Back To Develop His Topline
More practical tips for improving your dressage riding and scores
More practical tips for improving your horse jumping
Happy riding!
Copyright Denise Cummins December 9 2009; updated Jan 23 2020
The Thinking Equestrian
Photo Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/borgmichael/7128856473
