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The Spring Analogy

Learning to follow the horse’s motion during a jump take-off can be one of the most difficult things for beginner jumpers to master. It’s natural to want to anticipate or ‘help’ the horse along over the fence. Riders need to realize that tipping their weight forward as the horse lifts its forehand is counter-productive to the jumping motion. In addition to going back to basics to ensure a good foundation in the saddle, the spring analogy can help riders wrap their heads around the motion involved.

As the horse approaches the jump, riders should feel as though they are letting the energy of a coiled spring out in front of them. This helps a rider to mentally prepare for the direction of energy over the jump, and also to feel for the release required for the horse to effectively use their head and neck.

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