Can you help me improve my jumping and some of my riding habits?

[Robyn]

The horse I'm riding at the moment at my riding school is good, he enjoys jumping (he doesn't like getting pushed too hard though), he's not the best at it but he's decent.
He has a strong bit (I think it's called a bubble bit?) and in my opinion he doesn't really need it. Well, one of my main problems is that I don't hold the reins tight enough. I feel bad for holding them tight because of his bit (I'm afraid that I might hurt his mouth). I know you're supposed to have contact (and I'm not saying that my reins are extremely loose).
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Another problem is that I fell off yesterday and I was jumping a tiny cross pole jump. He jumped the other bigger ones fine, but he clipped his front hoofs and tripped up so I came flying off (haha :o). Do you think my reins being a bit loose caused this? I want to improve my jumping so that it is safer for both of us.
Also, you know when you're going over the jump (or going towards the jump) in canter is it okay to kick with both legs or does it have to be only the inside leg? Sorry. Thanks for your help.
Tips for just jumping in general would be good. Thank you! x

[bella127]

If you were riding my boy towards a fence and kicked with only your inside leg, you'd find yourself shooting off towards the outside wing and doing a lovely leg-yield in canter away from the fence ;)

You should have both legs firmly on to "channel" the horse towards the fence. Ride positively and confidently and look UP and OVER - never down, never ever down.

Keep a contact, but remember to release over your fence. Dropping a contact immediately in front of your jump is a bad habit to get into (and one I used to do) and gives the horse every excuse to stop, run out, or jump sloppily.

Don't worry about his bit, just ride with the same sensitivity and feel as you would in any other bit :)