FEAR of JUMPIN i dont fink it will go now

[Mighty_Atom]

A few weeks ago i had a jumpin accident. Well last sunday i tried jumping atom again but didnt feel safe so i went back 2 troting poles 2 regain my confidence. Today i rode a pony who doesnt like jumping called eddie. Anyway wasnt sure bout jumping as i hadnt since my accident. So i gave it my best shot. We trotted up to the jump, stopped, put on foot over and then eddie decided he couldnt do it and went backwards bringing the jump with him. He then turned sharply and cantered off. Now at this point i had totally lost *** was happing and to me it felt i was flyin beside him. Anyway i landed on my side in long grass with a big thud. And somehow i had managed to snap the reins. I have bruised bones but im ok. Then i dont think i can jump again. I used to love jumping until i started jumping atom. I need advice PLEASE HELP ME!!! WILL I EVER JUMP AGAIN???

[Mighty_Atom]

That was atom. This is eddie:

[Bay Mare]

Originally posted by Mighty_Atom
A few wks ago i had a jumpin accident. Well last sunday i tried jumping atom again but didnt feel safe so i went bk 2 troting poles 2 regain my confidence. Today i rode a pony who doesnt like jumping called eddie.

Hi, first of all ....... you may get more replies if you didn't write in text/teen speak. There are people on here who don't understand it and also people whose first language isn't English. :D

I have to say that riding a pony who doesn't like jumping ISN'T going to help your confidence. I can relate to that completely as I broke my ribs jumping a horse who wasn't a 'good' jumper (she tends to put stops in and you can't actually feel if she's going to jump or not). I was then lucky to ride horses who liked and were good at jumping and got my confidence back. So much so that I've started lessons at my school again.

UNFORTUNATELY they tend to keep the jumpers for the more experienced people. Doesn't make sense to me, it's the likes of me who aren't as experienced that need the 'easier' horses. I've jumped one of the jumpers before and it was so comfortable, I KNEW that he was going to jump, I KNEW that he could adjust his stride so that he didn't unbalance me and I could feel when he was taking off.

Anyway, I rode one of the less educated horses today (uneducated on the flat never mind jumping) and he was fine on single jumps but the problems started on the double. Again he was ok when the first jump was a cross pole but when it was put up to a vertical he just lost his rhythm (I know that I have something to do with this, I'm not blaming him entirely, but I just don't have the experience to compensate yet). The upshot of it is is that once the jumps were put up he started jumping long (the distances were tailored towards the WB & TB's) and then started putting in semi-stops before cow jumping over the second part! I ended up going over his head!! I finished off by doing the course twice (with the jumps lowered) but called it a day after that as I just didn't have confidence in myself getting him to do it without further incident.

What I'm trying to say is that if you REALLY want to get your confidence back then why not have some lessons on a jumping 'schoolmaster' or at least one who likes and is good at jumping?

Good luck



x

[canadianbeaver]

I went throught exactly the same thing as you. I fell off jumping one day at a new stable and was at the end of the lesson so the coach didn't feel a need for me to get back on. Also was told my jumping position was not very good. So.... never ever wanted to jump again. Moved stables, and came to a very confident, calm, understanding coach which was exactly what I needed. Had about a month of lessons until she set up a tiny crossrail and asked me to go over it. I did and the joy of all my jumping times came back. I kept jumping and a few months later I was jumping in a ring at a show!! It all turned out great, and am now jumping up to 3"3!! I hope everything works out for you, just hopefully you have a lovely coach who understands your needs.

[katiee]

Go right back to basics. Work with an instructor on good horses on your forward positition on the flat with jumping length stirrups. When you feel happy in walk, trot and canter you can begin to reintroduce trotting and cantering poles at the correct position for your horse. When you do start jumping again, keep the fences small and simple and if you ever feel over faced go back a few steps until you feel happy again.

And remember, there's far more to riding than just jumping!

[MlilBee]

I agree with what everyone else says. The horse you are riding will really effect your confidence, ad going back to basics to get your confidence up is the best solution. I have a similar problem, but my horse is a great jumper, he will really go over anything, but since i fell off once and almost broke my back i have been really scared, not of jumping, but falling off while jumping. Myhorse is 18hh and it is a big fall! so if you have advice for me 2...