In the Arena
Your position in the saddle as your horse crosses over an obstacle is important for keeping both you and your horse balanced.
At the walk, you might tend to lean forward when crossing an obstacle, but this puts too much weight on your horse's front end and puts you off balance. Practice riding over poles on the ground at a walk while staying upright in the center of your saddle. Look ahead, not down at the pole or ground.
At the trot, your horse's stride will become bouncier as he trots over an obstacle.
Set up poles on the ground, and practice riding over them at the trot while focusing on keeping your shoulders back and your seat centered in the saddle. When you negotiate poles at a trot, lean back with your upper body and you won't bounce in the saddle.
Pick a point in the distance ahead to focus on. Don't look down, or your upper body will start to tilt forward, putting you off balance. Don't push down in your stirrups for balance; this will actually push your body up, which will lead you to bounce in the saddle. If you start to bounce, your horse will stiffen up in anticipation.
Step #4: Jump Low Obstacles
One of the more exhilarating things you can do on the trail is to jump low logs and obstacles. First, don an ASTM-approved, SEI-certified riding helmet. Then check for holes or rocks on both sides of the obstacle to avoid potential injury.
If the obstacle is more than one foot high, get into a forward position, and stand up slightly in your stirrups. Hold onto the mane or horn with one hand if you like, so when your horse jumps, you stay balanced; hold both reins in the other hand with even tension and light contact to steer your horse. You can certainly post to the trot, but well before the log, you need to be balanced and in this forward position.
As you approach, close your legs on your horse's sides two to three strides before the log. Avoid clamping onto his sides. Rather, gradually close your legs, and add some pressure. This helps him gather his hind legs underneath himself for a soft takeoff to jump over the obstacle. And don't look down at the obstacle; doing so will put you off balance. Keep your chin up, and focus on a point on the other side of the obstacle. Then jump, keeping a balanced position.
If you're an experienced rider, and your horse jumps confidently at the trot, you might want to negotiate obstacles at the lope/canter. To do so, get into a forward position, and stand up slightly in your stirrups, as you did in the trot. This will help you stay in balance so you don't get left behind when your horse jumps. Again, close your legs on his sides in the last two to three strides before the obstacle, and don't look down as you approach or are going over.
Control your horse's speed and direction to give him the best chance for a smooth, safe jump.
