What could be more fun that cantering over hill and dale with your horse, jumping over the obstacles that come in your way?

Whether you want to learn to jump because you don’t like going around the logs and hedges on your trail rides, or whether you plan on taking your horse into the show ring, the basics are the same. The most important foundation in learning how to jump is getting a good half-seat.

The Half-Seat

The half-seat is basically your jumping position. When you are in half-seat, you are balanced between sitting and standing. In addition to jumping, the half-seat position is also used for the posting trot, for going up hills, and for helping riders learn to balance and keep their heels down.

Want to try out your half-seat? Here’s how: Tilt your body forward from your seat bones, allowing your seat to go backward a little as your shoulders go forward until they are just over your knees. Let your heels sink, letting all your weight rest in your thighs. Your head should be up and your eyes ahead. You should feel balanced, with you seat just over but not touching the saddle. If you are leaning on your horse’s neck, or if you are standing up, you are not doing it correctly. Try again!

It is important when you are just learning the half-seat not to punish your horse’s mouth in the process. To that end, rest your hands on your horse’s neck or use a neckstrap so that you don’t pull on your horse’s mouth while trying to find your balance. Begin practicing at a walk, and then move on to a slow trot. Be sure to let your ankles, knees, and hips absorb the shock.

Using Invisible Jumps

I know how eager you are to go over those ground poles and then progress to real jumps. But before you do so, trying riding a few “invisible” jumps first. It’s a great way to practice control and steering, and will prepare you well.

So, how do you set up “invisible” jumps? Easy! Set up two jump standards, just leave out the poles.

Once your invisible jumps are set up, aim your pony through them by focusing on something that is in line with the center of the jump. Be sure to keep your head and eyes up! As you turn toward the invisible jump and ride through it, keep your eyes on your target and never look down! Keep practicing aiming at your target until you can ride your horse through the center of your invisible jump successfully without looking down.

Once you can do this while sitting, try doing it in a half-seat position.

Time for Ground Poles

When you have your invisible jumps down, you can graduate to ground poles. Ground poles are about 10 or 12 feet long, and four to six inches thick.

Make sure you place your ground poles so they won’t roll if your horse should hit them with his feet.

Once your ground poles are set up, ride over them just as you have ridden through your invisible jumps. In other words, keep your head and eyes up, and focus on your target. Start at the walk, and steer with your eyes as you ride over the center of the poles in your half-seat position. Be sure to keep your hands firmly on your horse’s neck or on the neckstrap so you don’t pull on his mouth.

As your horse crosses over each pole, he should stretch his neck out and look where he is stepping. Just as before, let your heels sink and take the shock of the bounces through your ankes, knees, and hips.

Remember, you should always be in half-seat when your horse walks over a pole. Once you’ve got the walk down, you can progress to the trot, and then to bigger poles. If you take it slow and learn correctly, you’ll be going over the big jumps in no time!