Nervous about stopping at jumps.

[LadyLimerik]

For a while I thought I was nervous about jumping but I have realized that it's not the jumping that I'm worried about but the horse stopping at the jump. A few years ago I had an accident while jumping a course where I got knocked out and ended up with a concussion. Then I started riding my trainer's pony who is a notorious stopper. Even if you got a perfect approach she would pull dirty stops at least twice at every jump (even though the lessons were at her home). After you forced her over she would be fine. She would even get really excited about the jumps and get really strong. Even since then though I am terrified of horses stopping at jumps. I get really shakey when doing a course and I feel like I am going to hyperventilate (sp?). Even though the though I have since jumped courses and the trainer even said 'perfect, don't change anything' I still couldn't figure how I did ok when I just wanted to get it over with. I just know that if I could get over being nervous I would be fina afterwards. Any advice?


p.s- sorry about all the rambling.

[FreedomStar]

well, all you got to do is have a really strong approach, and confidence. Start over low jumps and then go higher as your confidence builds. Part of your falling if is probably because you are jumping ahead of the horse. It's easy to correct this problem; just approach your jumps in 2 point several strides ahead, and each time you come to the jump come into 2 point one stride less than before. If you still don't feel secure coming in at 2 point, come in at half seat position, or your 3 position. And most horses can trot jumps, so start off trotting over them. If you still are nervous, try taking deep breaths, and concentrate on your position, or do anything that'll make you forget to be nervous. good luck!

[galadriel]

I am surprised that your trainer would put you on a notorious stopper for lessons. To learn to jump properly and without fear, you need a horse who will teach you--*then* you can move on to learning how to deal with problem horses. It's quite common to learn fear when you are trying to learn to control yourself and the horse at the same time.

If I were you I would start learning to jump back at the basics again, perhaps with a different trainer. Without tension and fear you will be able to relax and move with the horse, and once you learn to move with the horse, *then* you will be able--if you even WANT to--to try to deal with problem horses.

[Sparkle]

Try working over trotting poles, then increasing the jump height as you get more condfident. If you don't have much choice of height, ride at the jumps as if you were condfident, even if you're not. Keep your heels down and sit deep until you get to the jump, and grab mane as you go over it. Make sure you have pressure on both reins, and try to make a "barricade" on the side the horse usually ducks to with your leg and rein. The earlier you get into your jumping position the easier it is for your horse to run out, so try to keep a deep, foward seat until right before the jump. And of course use a lot of leg to keep the horse going foward, with a big nudge at the takeoff spot before the jump. If you really feel uncomfortable, tell your instructor. Make sure that he/she knows that you are afraid, even if you are jumping correctly. Maybe you can back off the courses for a while and work on some trotting/cantering poles, dressage, etc for a while to build up your condfidence again.

[western]

i think that you should go from small jumps to big jumps . if you start small it builds your confidence level and dosent make you scared. sometimes the horses will stop because the rider will look down at the jump and not outward , because if the rider looks down then the horse looks down and the horse will stop and throw you off. but it takes lots of practice and set your horse up right and he will do the rest.

[LadyLimerik]

When I had fallen off I was jumping slightly ahead of the horse but I didn't fall off over the jump. It was right after. The horse I was on was a bit green and really nervous (due to a rider that would whip her until she jumped no matter if she was scared or not) and she did not pick up her legs high enough. It was only a small jump but it was enough and she kind of lost it running into a brick wall in th process. I think the reason my trainer put me on the stopping pony was because I had been jumping for quite a few years and i was used to naughty behavior. But it's kinda hard to tell someone that you don't want to ride their horse. I think I must still have somewhat of a jumping instinct from all my lessons because a trainer I rode with (a different one from the first) wanted me to show her pony, but I can't seem to get rid of the panicky feeling. Do you think it's one of those things that will just go away on it's own? I am not nearly as nervous if I am just jumping on my own not in a lesson.

[LadyLimerik]

After having a nice hot soak in th bath I have an idea of what to do. If I memorize as much of the advice that you all gave as I can and repeat it in my head, not only should my position improve but it should keep me too busy to work myself up to much. Now the only thing I have to do is find a decent place nearby to ride at....

[FreedomStar]

Don't memorize the advice, just print it all out and take it with you!:p Seriously though, don't memorize it, just read it, go over it, until you know it. When you are concentrating too hard, you will let other things slip also. So just relax, and let your body follow the movements naturally. Have you jumped bareback or no stirrups? See if you can get a good, easy going horse who will not stop to get your confidence back, and try jumping no stirrups or bareback, it really helps with position because your body naturally folds as you go over the jump, but if you're scared of falling off, then don't try it.

[LadyLimerik]

I think I might actually have trouble remembering all the advice. I have jumped bareback and loved it but the pony I was on was one i had been riding 2 or 3 times a week for a few years so we kinda knew each other inside and out.It might sound stupid but I think i would do better if I closed my eyes after being sure my aproach is ok. I know I am usually a bit ahead of the horse and I am terrible for looking down at the jump. My old instructor used to have us close our eyes, go into jumping position and put our arms out to either side once out aproach was good and the pace was right. The last instructor told me to look away from the jump so I couldn't anticipate it but would that not throw the horse off? And surely i can't jump with my eyes closed forever....I might look a bit strange.

[FreedomStar]

NEVER NEVER NEVER jump looking away from the jump! Always have your eyes forward, set beyond the jump. Your problem is jumping ahead of your horse. That causes you to land awkwardly, does it not? Ask your instructor if you can try a gymnastics to help with your jumping problem. A gymnastics forces you to focus on your position. Go back to my first reply, and read what I wrote there.

[Fridaythehorse]

I'm not joking. When I got nervous, my instructor made me sing- the "ABCs", "Happy Birthday", anything easy to remember. My problem- when I got nervous, I held my breath! I don't know if singing will help with your situation, but it's always worth the try. Besides, if you're singing, you really can't think of the jump, because you have to remember what comes next!

Holly and Friday

[tarkia]

When I watch people and their horses jumping I find that some on the riders lean to far up the neck which can unbalance you both but it is far easier to thrown over the horse's neck if he does decide to stop. I find it easy if you use a neck strap to hold onto just incase, make sure you have a strong, straight approach to the jump and let the horse jump, dont pull on the reins or stop him from jumping how he should, if you do he won't trust you and will be more likely to stop.

[savannah1270]

first of all, ask your trainer for a horse that never refuses. this is important if you want to get your confidence back, so you can start exercises without worrying if the horse will stop on you.

once you have your horse, practice working on distances (seeing them, manipulating them, etc). riders who cannot see distances tend to panic on the last few strides, then jump ahead by throwing their body forward a couple of seconds too early, therefore causing them to unbalance their lower leg position (in most occasions they'll swing back as you lean on the neck for balance) and unbalance their horse as well. if you know exactly where to take off, you can relax and keep your body straight until the time comes when need to shift your weight just a bit more forward.

in a lesson, try working also on 'feeling' when your horse will take off, and responding to his body movement naturally. my instructor had me jumping while keeping my eyes on her for the last few strides (she would stand about 15 feet away from the jump, off to one side), and you learn to 'feel' when your horse will take off. it's another very useful tool for

shoulder and leg strengthening exercises are useful too. in the event that your horse does pull some stunts, you need to be strong with your body so you don't collapse forward and put yourself in a precarious situation.

finally, you need to learn to trust your horse again. your horse will be less likely to refuse or run out if you trust him, and he trusts you. if you feel him start to back off the jump (and you will be able to feel this, either he hollows his back and raises his head a tiny bit, quickens or stares at the jump in an odd way), don't just sit there and panic. take the initiative to provide him some of your courage. clucking will help, or the reassurance of your calf providing firm pressure on his side.

good luck!!

[AmIafriendorFoe]

As my instructor always says and I'm sure many other instructors say the same, toes up heels down. So if the horse does stop that will help you stay in the saddle.