Monday, October 24, 2016

Anticipating the jump...

The single hallmark of riding horses is jumping high and fast.  I know there's other stuff people do like depressage and grooming, but honestly that's for people with ADHD.  It's all about showing off brute strength and aerodynamics.  This strangely fuzzy black horse I found on the Google surely knows it:



(Look at him soar through that standard!)


So I began doing some more the Google searches to study how other riders get the most out of their jumps.  What I can observe is a culmination of subtle but necessary posture developments.  It's not the kind of thing that emerges overnight [challenge accepted] but takes years of careful training.  I guess that's why horse lessons cost money?  Anyway, see if you can also find what I saw in these photos that was so illuminating about the process of jumping.  (Hint: it's subtler than you'd think.)



(Look closely...)

(This one is obscured by angles)

(This horse is probably R. Kelly)

(LOL j/k this one is a poodle)


The answer is this: they're all leaning forward!  All those riders are like way over the horse's neck.  That's the secret!  To jump high and fast, you need to lean forward.  Try it.  I'm not at the jumping stage yet, but it's never to early to get started, right?  So for your edification, and in anticipation of one day jumping myself, I tried it out:



YES PEOPLE.  This is the look you want to go for when jumping.  Make sure your trainer knows.  (You can never be too sure if they've done extensive The Google searching like I have.)  Good luck on your next jumps!

9 comments:

  1. If they had a Pulitzer Prize for blogs, I think you'd win it Kathy.

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    1. Maybe I should apply for it. That's how it works, right? I'm glad I have your vote!

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  2. You're gonna be flying in no time. I believe it.

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    1. Thanks for your confidence! I think about it every night and day.

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  3. "I know there's other stuff like dressage and grooming" hahahahahahahahahahaha I mean yes, there's lots of other stuff

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  4. LOL oh snap, I must be a jumping PRO then

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    1. I'm sure you are! The mantra "Just keep leaning" will take you far!

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  5. Great post!!! would you like to follow each other's blog dear? Please let me know, I am following you now.thank you :)happy halloween!!!

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