Nerves - holding me back?

[chickflick1066]

Hi... I am not usually a nervous rider but recently I've gotten bad. I dread riding in the menage as I dont feel like achieve any real progress schooling, and jumping is just something which I would love to do but am currently too scared. :(

I'll happily jump Stumpy over like 1ft raised trotting poles but anything slightly bigger then that I panic - so Stumpy refuses jumps becuase I am not confident enough to get her over :o

I was out hacking alone today and there were a few large branches thin and not very high off the groud (my height judgement is pants :rolleyes: ) and she happily trotted over them but got very strong and fast even over the smaller ones.

I was actually quite happy doing that height and feeling more confident after doing it a few times. I then went to find small logs to jump over when I found a long log with a high end and a slightly lower end. I really wanted to jump the lower end but I just froze...it seemed so HUGE in my head :eek:

I did attempt to get her over it but we both weren't 'feeling' it enough to get over it...feeling very disappointed I decided it wasnt the time - it's just making me feel so miserable...

I dont no if you can offer advice how to make both myself and Stumpy confident over jumping even tiny jumps, but il be grateful if you can :)

[No_Angel]

I sometimes get like that, and what get sme going again is watching a show. I then get all 'oh I want to do it!' and then ill make myself do it and then im ok for a while. Hope this helps :)

[casey]

www.jo-cooper.com

This lady is fantastic. She has been featured in Horse magazine too. If you want to know more, you can PM me. Or give her a ring. :)

[eventerbabe]

Hi araminta,

i think the key to getting over this fear is to have trust in Stumpy, that she CAN do the fence and that you have nothing to worry about. i used to get crippling jumping nerves, and this rubbed off on toby. wasn't until i started having lessons with a friend that things came together. i think in reality i needed a push and someone to keep on at me and not let me give up. my mate harriet did this. in 2 lessons we were jumping over 3ft, when before i was in tears at the prospect of jumping 6 inches.

if you can afford it, find an instructor to give you a hand. keep things very small to begin with. have you had a bad experience/bad fall in the past that is making you nervous?

[Mehitabel]

have you been practicing the stuff we talked about about riding with your seat and legs more? i think doing that will give you a greater grasp of the subleties of how you affect the horse, and generally help you feel that you're progressing - which will boost your confidence generally, which you can then translate into jumping.

what is it particularly that is worrying you about jumping? have you always been nervous about it, or has something happened? have you become nervous in any other areas?

[Naturally]

For what it's worth here, might I suggest that you watch your horse jumping on line first, then you have an idea of how he moves, how clearly he manages the jump and how and where he will land. THEN imagine yourself on him riding the jump and take it from there.

[chickflick1066]

Mehitabel, I have been following your advice and it has made a difference but I haven't put it into much practice. I shall re-read what you posted to me and try and reapply once she's settled into new yard.

I've had bad falls in the past but none are jumping related, I'm always scared of what 'might' happen...I know these jumps are teeny but they just seem like a massive block in my riding which I can't get over.

This only happens when I am on Stumpy too, I used to really enjoy my jumping lessons at the riding school on a big athletic ex-jumper who just used to jump anything, but since having my own pony the fun of jumping isnt really there anymore.

Anna, I know I should trust Stumpy more, you think I would seeing as she can be such a lovely mare. I hope once we are this new yard then I can start having weekly lessons...

It's like the other week whilst out hacking in a diff woods there was a log blocking the path, no way to get round and then i started to panic. Had I been in company I might have had the urge cos Stumpy wouldve just followed the leader...I was thinking of turning back but id already come so far. It must have taken me about 7 attempts to get over this tiny log and even then it was a cat leap :rolleyes:

I only want to jump for pleasure, small courses and logs in the woods etc but i cant even do that now...

[Cherokee]

is it possible for you to ride with a friend or have a group lesson ?.Because then you might feel a bit more positive and want to jump when you see someone else do it and it all goes well and also someone there to encourage you.

Hope that helps
Good luck :)

Lucy xx

[chickflick1066]

Good suggestion, thanks :)

[Eli_Jay]

Personally I find myself able to 'ride through my fear' when with others. at my previous stable most of my riding sessions were conducted in an indoor school alone or with an instructor.
I moved a few months ago to a stable with alot of people my own age and right from the start having people there with me, going through similar problems with there horses, was almost a comfort.
I've moved from just scraping into grade 5 PC to being 4/3 in a matter of a few months. I also attend pony club, which has the same basic benifits. Out XC there was a monster jump that i would never have even looked twice at if i was alone, but i was expected to JUMP it and because everyone else did, i felt like it was not an impossible fete and - voila! - i got over it.
Sorry, I'm off track, but you get my drift!!

[Mehitabel]

sometimes it helps to break down exactly what you're scared of - more specifically than 'what might happen'. it does depend on the person and how they work, but it can be useful.

so, what *might* happen?

you might do the jump and ride away as normal - that's far and away the most likely.
she might refuse. what happens then? you pick yourself up off her neck, ride a circle and do it again.
she might run out. what then? you come round and ride for the middle this time.

often, if you break it down and face exactly what you're scared of, in your head, you realise that actually that wouldn't be so bad. you can then work out beforehand how you will cope with each scenario and it'll lose its scariness. once you know exactly what is worrying oyu, you can also take steps to make that as unlikely as possible - so if oyu're scared of losing control after the jump, you can work on control - practice onthe flat and out on hacks until you know in your head and your gut that you are in control al lthe time. if you're scared of losing your balance you can work on balance until it improves so losing it isn't an option.

[Naturally]

There is a great book by Dr. Stephanie Burns titled "Move Closer Stay Longer" the sub title says "Don't let fear keep you from getting what you want, doing what you wants and going where you want to go". It's based around horses, but really reflects anything remotely to do with fear. Dr Burns is hooked up with Parelli, but that has nothing to do with the concepts of the book. You can check out her website at www.stephanieburns.com if you're interested.

[Lucy J]

i am exactly the same, and now because i havent jumped in a while i feel sick when i think about it. my problem is i got my mare unbroken and i know she hasn't done a lot of jumping so i find it hard to trust her. if i am riding a 'proven' horse i can jump 3ft no problem.

i'm just a wimp! except at a show, i tend to ride better at a show as i am there to try and achieve (plus there are lots of people to scrape me off the floor) also the surface and jumps are generally better and well placed.

at the yard its too easy to chicken out.

as ive moved my mare onto grass livery from part livery I plan to use the extra cash for lessons which i think will help improve my confidence.