All the showjumpers

Continuing from my last post, I decided to expand my range of trainers and use multiple trainers to help me with multiple things.  While they all find most of the same faults in me (which means I either suck consistently or they are all quality instructors) they approach things differently. 

Featured this week is my ultra fancy jumps Grand Prix trainer.  He has really been helping me focus on my position in the air over the fence as well as my approach to the fence in a quiet and methodical method that I seem to work well with.  Here are a couple videos from my most recent lesson. 

The first video is Stella in a one stride that was originally just one fence.  You can see how my first approach sucks big time so Stella stops at the new thing.  Did my approach suck because I thought she was going to have a problem and under rode on purpose?  Thoughts to digest.

Then as my approach becomes more consistent Stella gets better and bolder

Then we put everything together into a course.  I really like my approach to the diagonal fences.  Maybe the blocks have something to do with it, maybe they are there because I suck at turning.  I'm getting Stella to the fence with a clear plan.  Who woulda thought!

Solid in the saddle

Spring is in the air?  Or at least the prospect of another show season is looming and I've got goals!  I made a decision over the winter to expand my trainer horizons and do things with people that challenge me.  I'm signing myself up for clinics and I'm pushing myself by taking lessons with a variety of people.  I want to put a strong focus on my position over fences, and I've picked a HJ trainer to help me with that.  In general, no eventer is going to complain about you getting left behind, it's a position of safety to be in the back seat over a solid fence on questionable footing. 

While hunter jumper riders believe that a position that more closely follows the horse is better for the horse's form over fences on groomed footing.

On occasion I feel I have a semi solid position, but you can still see that my leg has slipped back

WAYYYY back

My hips don't fold and my default position is to stand in my stirrups.  While my hands have a good release, my lack of folding throws my legs back and I don't have a solid base in the air, which causes me to get left behind on the backside of the fence.  Potentially putting me off balance and punishing my horse.

I don't want to go in the opposite direction, the "hunter duck" or "praying mantis" which is an exaggerated trait that people feel shows off your horses big jump the best, but maybe we can meet in the middle?