In horse riding, the most important thing when starting fence work is to make sure to have a balanced, solid lower leg. Learn how the horse should meet the rider during jumps with help from a riding instructor in this video on basic fence positions in horse riding.
Hello, my name is Chelsey Sawtell, primary riding instructor at Black Friar Farm in Kingston Springs, Tennessee, and today we will be discussing basic position over fences. The most important thing when starting your over fence work is to make sure that you have a nice balanced supple solid lower leg. Begin in the two point position. In two point, you would like your heel below your hip, heel deep, shoulders raised, lower back arched. You would like to be balanced, not needing your hands to maintain your position. If you fall backwards your leg is too far forward. If you fall forward, your leg is too far back. Many people believe that when jumping, you fling yourself on to the horse's neck. This could not be farther than the truth. In reality you hold a two point position over the fence allowing the horse to come up and meet you and come back down. This is what gives the appearance that the rider is diving his chest. The horse is actually coming up to meet the rider and going back down. As with anything, always start small and perfect the little things before moving on. Just because you can jump a six inch cross rail, does not give you the opportunity to go jump a two foot rail. There are two predominant hand positions while over fences, the crest release and the automatic release. During the crest release, the rider's hands are half to three quarters of the way up the horse's neck. This is good for beginners who may need to grab the horse's mane in order to hold their balance over fences without pulling on the horse's mouth. The reign should be short enough to maintain a soft feel and control of the horse but not so tight that the horse is unable to use its neck and back over the top of the fence. In the crest release, the rider approaches the fence over the top allowing their hands to slide up the crest of the horse's neck in order to give the horse room to stretch and lengthen its body over the top of the fence. A more advanced technique is the automatic release. In the automatic release there is a straight line between bit and rider's elbow. Rather than sliding up the crest of the horse's neck, the rider slides its hands down the sides of the horse's neck, allowing the horse to reach down and forward, lifting its back and jumping through its wither. In closing, basic two point over fences and your basic position over fences are the same. You should be balanced in your lower leg and heel, not pinching with your knee, hands up the horse's neck, not relying on their neck for your balance.
Specialty: Young Stock and Horsemanship
