12/31/2024
From the amazing Denny Emerson:
That pesky “hip angle” problem---
So so so many photos that we see of jumping riders show them with an open hip angle. What often happened to create that was that when the horse left the ground, the rider pushed on the stirrup and lifted his/her pelvis up and in front of the pommel of the saddle.
Once that happens, the rider’s knee becomes a sort of pivot point, and the upper torso tends to fall forward above the unstable knee, while the lower leg, below the knee, shoots back toward the hips of the horse. This resultant look, the rider draped along the topline of the horse, has been called “The Praying Mantis” style of equitation.
But the better way to remain centered and in balance has to do with CLOSING the hip angle, rather than OPENING it. This is also true for galloping position.
Here are a bunch of photos showing riders with closed hips. The moment the hips go BACK, the upper body goes FORWARD. It is inevitable. So, for a more balanced way to jump, think “HIPS BACK.” This places you in the middle of the horse. It CENTERS you. This is where you want to be.
But your stirrups have to be short enough for you to be able to get up off the horse enough to close the angle. Too long, and you lack clearance.
