the thing that u will never stop hearing no matter what the level of the rider is, "put that heel DOWN!" and,"SIT UP to that fence!" . the best advice i have for you is that take advantage of the fact that you have an experienced horse and learn from him

Yes heels are a very important thing.
If your heels are up over a jump, you leg slides back and you pitched foreward and you whole jumping position is all off. So heels down is important. And don't push it. If someone say's your ready to jump higher, and you don't feel like it, just say no until you feel like your ready. Or try the higher jump and if it wasn't comfortable with you go back down a little lower and work on that alittle more. :)

Definitely! He'd make a pretty hunter. =]

Actually, you can't really tell from just a pic of his head. But he looks like he'd be pretty willing and has a nice temperament. Have you ever asked your parents, trainer, or other professional?

I have to tell you that conformation means nothing to a jumper. If they have the heart they will jump and if they don't then you will constantly be working against them. But hunters do look for conformation and form and your horse looks cute as a button. He looks just like our little wonder pony, Tigre` [14.1 hh] who jumps 4' regularly and has jumped 4'6". He looks fine to me :]

you mean my little wonder pony don't forget i trained him to jump over those 4'6 fences though i don't take full credit i could never have done it with a pony that had less heart ,will, or desire to please his rider

conformation means alot to be a jumper.
i have two types of jumpers. 1 - a big 16.1 hh lean, long back and neck and finer boned mare, who jumps smoothly and gets lots of air.
2 - a 15.3 hh thick and compacted body, medium back & neck, but he's got thick bones, he jumps with power, that can actually unseat you easily, and he has scope.

My 15.3 hh is a jumper and a hunter, he does both very well. And my 16.1 hh horse does both as well. It doesnt matter about build really, it matters how smoothly and quietly the horse goes to the hunter jumps and how well you ride the horse in the hunter ring. And in the jumper ring it doesnt really matter what you look like as long as your clear and have good time lol. :)

Yeah If he seems to catch on quickly and seems to like it, go ahead. Btut if he doesn't improve much and really doesn't seem happy about it, then he really can't make it as a jumper. He will get sour about things if he's ridden to much in something he doesn't like.

Polo wraps or splint boots work just fine. I prefer polo wraps on the front and boots on the back. Some horses don't need any leg protection. Especially if they're young cause it teachs them to pick up they're feet. Back leg protection isn't needed as much.

It's not protection from the fences necessarily that's needed. A lot of Jumpers use open-front boots. The purpose of boots is to support the leg from the strain of take-off [back legs] and landing [front]. Open-front boots allow young horses to learn to pick up their feet as Madeleine said, but also still provide the vital support that young tendons and ligaments need.

young horses are the ones with the most need for tendon and ligement support open fronts are the best option for reducing strain but still allowing the horse to feel when the horse hits a rail :)

I have some issues posting too and tend to post to high. Its definitely harder than a canter. The canters smoother. : ) My instructor makes me post at a walk. Its hard, but it works the muscles that you need and makes you work to control your movements. Whenever I do this exercise, I NEVER post too high. Also, try the same thing and drop one stirrup so that you will be posting with only one stirrup. Do that for a while and switch stirrups. Its even harder, but really strengthens those muscles that you need to build up. Just make sure your horse is calm and will tolerate awkwardness because it will be awkward when you start.

Also, it might help to think 'down' when you post. That helps me as well. Regardless of what you are doing, stretch down into your heels. When the horse pushes you up, press down into your heels.

Those two things have really helped me a lot, along with a lot of practice - Its taken me a while. You'll get there eventually. I have faith in you!

As for posting too fast for your horse...try to put more weight in your stirrups every time you post and make sure that your back is straight and tall (not collapsed) should help. Allow the horse to lift you. You do not need to do any lifting. Let the horse push you out of the saddle and when he does, sink low and deep into your heels.

That's all I have for you. I also suggest talking to your riding instructor about your concerns also ( if you have one). They might have some other exercises that they know of that may help you as well.

Alright, thank you so very much. I'll try to keep it in mind. And I'll let you know what happens. n.n

What my coach did to me was lengthen my strirrups two holes. I ride better now, I can wrap myself around the horse in any gate. And it helps for jumping too. :)

That's neat. X3 I'll keep that in mind.

I never had an issue with posting- for me it was diagonals. It literally, no exageration, took me about three years to tell my diagonals. I knew how to tell, but when I looked at my little ponies shoulder, to me, there was no way to tell the difference. lol. Then one day, I just saw it. lol. I looked down and I could suddenly tell the difference. I don't think that helps you, but just to let you know that everyone struggles with something in the world of riding.

Hows your progress coming along? I hope its good.

If you can try dropping your stirrups and post without them I did that for a while and i can post bareback, use your heels and think that there are weights and you're pulling them in the sand, it works thats what I did and it works great!! Just start a little at a time. I did tons of riding without stirrups just mainly focus on your core dont use your hands to post, if possible have someone lunge the horse and ride without reins and without stirrups it helps your body strength a ton; you will get very strong AND balanced...which is always a plus ;) good luck!

also about posting too fast for your horse, if you post slower your horse will catch on and yall will get a good rythym together.

You really just need to relax and find your seat. Once you get in rhythm with your horse you should be able to find the balance between speeds with your horse. If you look at your outside shoulder, everytime you go up the shoulder should be forward, that might help you with your speed as well. Use your thighs to lift you and not your whole legs. This will prevent the moving or stretching of your legs.

The best way I've found to get in rhythm with the horse is to lose the stirrups. No matter how much you feel you need them, you really don't. When you trot with no stirrups, you will feel when their feet hit and when they are suspended. Then you can also build exceptional muscles by posting without stirrups. Just wrap with your legs and push your hips forward. The motion of posting is not created by pushing down on your stirrups, but pushing your hips FORWARD. You never have to extend your leg or exert any force downward. It is simply opening the angle of your hip to lighten yourself on the horse's back. I hope my advice helps you :]

Alright, thank you all for your helpful comments. I'm definately gonna try the dropping of the stirrups. I know that I need to strengthen my leg muscles tenfold, so why not kill two birds with one stone? Unfortunately, I haven't been able to ride for a while since I don't have the money for lessons. Are there any exercises that can be done off the horse in the meantime?

YOU CAN DO SOME SQUATS AT HOME THAT WILL HELP YOU LEARN TO KEEP RYTHM AND IMPROVE YOUR LEG STRENGTH ALSO FIND SOME STAIRS AND STAND ONTHE EDGE WITH THE BALL OF YOUR FOOT WITH YOUR HEEL HANGING OFF AND RISE UP on your toes then sink you heels as low as they can go also to add to my sisters advice above when people sit the trot they tend to want to tighten there legs and often one gets shorter than the other you wan to relax your butt thighs and knees to let you truly feel the horses rythm and try not to grip with your legs it makes the horse want TO TROT FASTER