Random Horse Jumping Question

seraaches · Post by **seraaches** » Wed May 03, 2006 5:08 pm

right, i'm asking all over, because i can't find the answer anywhere. <<;;;

does anyone know why a horse with a rider can jump higher than a horse without? oo;;; i need to know for an essay i'm writing. . . . thank you!

Shard · Post by **Shard** » Wed May 03, 2006 5:28 pm

Is that true? Weird.

I would say (not knowing any professional stuff mind you) that because a rider and jumper work as a team, the horse with a rider takes better cues from its rider, when to go faster, when to start the jump, etc.

It could also be a difference between breeds and quality but all this is just speculation on my part. Interesting question, I'm gonna be watching this thread for the real horse pros to answer it.

seraaches · Post by **seraaches** » Wed May 03, 2006 5:31 pm

i found a way to get around talking about it, but this article i read said something about the "lift" the rider provides. it's an interesting little bit, actually. . . and very short. ^^ well worth a read.

http://www.time.com/time/archive/previe ... 87,00.html

jess d · Post by **jess d** » Wed May 03, 2006 5:32 pm

Honestly I don't really know, but I would guess it would have something to do with motivation. Horses without riders would have far less reason to jump anything incredibly high. They would just find a way around the obstacle

It could also have to do with impetus/kinetic energy or other physical equations I know nothing about

Sorry! I'm not much help!

Edit: the lift effect you mentioned is what I was thinking in the second part, just didn't know how to describe it

LakotaWolf · Post by **LakotaWolf** » Wed May 03, 2006 6:07 pm

Sera, ask on the VHR forum XD

http://www.virtualhorseranch.com/phpbb2/index.php

A lot of the people who play it are actual horse breeders, showers, and competitors, and someone there is bound to know!

seraaches · Post by **seraaches** » Wed May 03, 2006 6:17 pm

HEHE! great idea, lakota! thanks!! *goes to spam them too*

*fluffs jess* daijoub, daijoubu. ^^ i think that sounds right, too, but i still want to understand it. . .hehe

Xalia · Post by **Xalia** » Wed May 03, 2006 9:00 pm

It does have to do with lift. If you've ever ridden a really well trained jumper over fences you know just what that feels like. A horse alone will decide the jump is too big and not jump it. A horse with rider feels the rider leaning forward, and 'lifting' to prepare for the jump and will rise with the rider in an effort to keep themselves balanced. That's the entire theory behind the rider's position in jumping. Way back in the day the rider stayed seated on the horse over fences until one day someone said, huh, but if we lifted up and got out of the horse's way, it'd be a lot easier on both of us! So two-point position came about. And jumping position is a forward and up position for the rider. A well-trained horse will actually wait for the rider to shift before jumping and they also judge how high/powerfully to jump based on how much 'lift' and push the rider gives as they approach the fence.

Yakima · Post by **Yakima** » Wed May 03, 2006 9:13 pm

cool...considering my horse is a clutz, he ain't going to learn to jump! Of course, my horse drags his feet so much that his hooves are flat in front because they scrape along the road when we go for rides. The only way I know of to get him to pick up his feet is to put shoes on him but I don't have the money for that...

Xalia · Post by **Xalia** » Wed May 03, 2006 9:17 pm

Yakima wrote:cool...considering my horse is a clutz, he ain't going to learn to jump! Of course, my horse drags his feet so much that his hooves are flat in front because they scrape along the road when we go for rides. The only way I know of to get him to pick up his feet is to put shoes on him but I don't have the money for that...

Make him walk, trot and canter over poles on the ground...he'll learn to pick them up real quick or he'll be stumbling every other stride! XD

Midori · Post by **Midori** » Wed May 03, 2006 10:17 pm

I honestly I think it all depends on the horse. Some horses enjoy jumping with or with out a human on it's back, some are simply trained to jump with the human and will do it, then there are horses that though they can jump their conformation makes it very hard for them to negotiate the jump presented in their path with our without a human on it's back.

Some on one hand yes a horse will/can jump higher with a human on it back only if the human 'knows' what they are doing and cues and encorages the horse in the right manner and has the right mind set.

Example my gelding is a wonderful jumper enjoys it and will jump pretty much anything. My mares conformation though she'll take a jump it's psyical disconfort for her to and has injured herself countless times jumping the fence trying to get away or get to something/someone. Everytime she's given herself puncture wounds.

So really it's a true toss up some horses can jumper higher with a human some just can jump priod it's a hazord to their health because they aren't built for it.