Overfaced - Knocked Confidence

[Roskie]

Help. Have a super little horse. Jumping like stink up to about 4f 2". Pushed the boundry and bottled out and have now knocked my little horse's confidence and can't get over any bigger than 1m. My fault - it was me that lost the bottle. Any ideas how to restore confidence - this little horse has never let me down before but is now pulling out at anything over a metre. I could kicked myself, need to know how to bring the fun back to jumping for this special little horse.

[Wobblydeb]

Is there a chance that you have still lost your bottle, and are transferring it to your horse? Do you really want to go over 1m at the moment - or could they be sensing your nerves and indecision?

My gut feel is that it might be a good idea to separate the two of you at the moment. Can you have some lessons, or borrow a horse that you believe is happy jumping higher? And can you arrange for a confident rider to try jumping your horse?

Just one idea - I'm sure more experienced people might have better suggestions :)

[jUmPingIsLifE]

perhaps take some time off jumping and work on flat work for a while. then return to jumping...just start from the beginning, poles and crossrails. then work your way up at HIS speed.

just give him time to get his head back together and chill out. perhaps get both your heads together. like the other poster suggested, could your confedince also be knocked a bit?

[ponygal200]

perhaps take some time off jumping and work on flat work for a while. then return to jumping...just start from the beginning, poles and crossrails. then work your way up at HIS speed.

just give him time to get his head back together and chill out. perhaps get both your heads together. like the other poster suggested, could your confedince also be knocked a bit?

good idea
i would try jumping another horse or pony and see if it is you that isnt giving the pony an confidence

good look anyway

[Roskie]

Thanks all. Have got my little horse back over the metre - with no probs, quite bold in fact. Will stick at this for next few weeks and book in some extra lessons. Will start edging up slowing - and remember my limits.

[griffytayherb]

start over.. with ground poles to crossrails to verticals, and build up his confidence.

[hackedoff]

How about freeschooling him over some bigger jumps?

[casey]

I believe that a horse only has 'x' amount of jumps in them. I rarely school over more then 1.10m at home. Most of the work is done at 1m-1.05m. There is just no point. As any schooling problems can be ironed out at a lower level.

Keep jumping your horse regulary over small jumps. ie 60/70cm, to keep his confidence up., and save the larger courses for shows.

It takes a 'big' person to admit they've knocked their horse's confidence, and a bigger one to ask for help. :)