Improving My Jumping Confidence

[StormyJ]

Does anyone have any tips for improving my confidence about jumping? The trouble is, when it gets higher than about 1'6", I panic! I have a six year old and need to be more confident. I can do it, and whatever I build I put her at and we get over, and at camp, with my instructor, my mum, I'll do it, it's just that I get so nervous beforehand and it often produces a bad jump. :( If the horse jumps big I often get unseated, and when I did a hound exercise I went on the jumping route and fell off over the only jump I attempted when Phi jumped huge! I would love to do XC, WH etc, and when I see pictures of people jumping I think, yeah, I could do that, but I know I would never do it! I do love jumping, I just never beleive I can do it. I am told I have a good style, and I never yank in the mouth, rarely get left behind, don't know what it is as I have jumped over 3 foot in the past! I did have a long break from jumping, but have jumped 2'3"+ since!
Sorry that post is a bit "messy" if you get what I mean, but any help appreciated! :D

[Cheeky]

Heya,

Dont worry - a lot of people are in the same boat. I took a short break .. actually I Didnt. I found that after the riding school (I quit), no body really "pushed" me to jump, thus my confidence shattered. I do get a little iffy about the jump before hand - but once i am over, I am fine. Its strage ..

I too have been told I am a great jumper - no pulling, I can do almost any jump with no hands (let go) .. but there is one habbit I do have - and that is as the jump gets higher, I usually jump with only one hand on the reins :p hahahaha strange, eh?

I'm the opposite of you - I dont like the small jumps. The bigger are better, to an extent. The smaller ones are too frustrating - I mean I dont mind them warming up etc.. but because of Cheek, who's speed is lyk 1 mile n hr - so slow, he plods it. You really need to get him going for the "oomph" you need. But I still love him and all the jumps :)

As for your confidence... practice. Set up a few small jumps - Xbars, and do these. Trot, canter .. etc.. do them over and over - its good for you. Then jump with one (or no) hands (tie a knot in your reins though). Practice (with these small jumps) extending your strides of canter towards the jump so he jumps "larger" .. then collect them, ... so for example, he should be cantering about 3 NORMAL horse strides between 2 jumps .. (if set up right lol). So, after the first one, push push push him to canter large - thus getting 2 strides in. Then next time, shorten the strides, getting 3-4 in. Then canter normally to get 3. This will get you used to the huuuuuuuge jumps that sometimes happens :) And also great training for the horse!

good luck

[phyzelda]

I know actually what you mean i can set up a course of jumps at a height i think yeah i can do that piece of cake, but when im on horse back the jumps seem even bigger and i panic!! I really want to jump cos i want to have a go at a few one day events and XC, but its just a case of working yourself slowly, dnt let anyone push you, you have to take it all at your own speed!! and dont listen to people if they laugh at you, if you want to foot 1foot then jump one foot!!
One day, now im even worst jumping straights than cross poles, so one day i had just one jump out and started with it on the lowest hole and i kept going over it until i felt ok with it, then i got my mum to put it up to start with i was brave and went up two holes at a time, but then i started to panic so i had it put down a few holes and took it slowly and went one hole at a time, i ended up jumping a straight at over 2foot, i nearly died when i got off, i was so pleased with myself, and my horse. The YO's daughter then went in the field and put the fence up to about 3'6", which to begin with made me feel stupid, but then i started to think to myself, and so what just cos shes jumping that height i dont have too!! I have found the trick is to take it slow, forget what everyone is jumping and just think about yourself!!
Try like what i did, get a friend or family member there with you and make sure they dont push you, make sure they only put the fence up when you say so and when you are ready!
You say your on a 6year old that needs more confidence, well i was actually riding Fizzy at the time and she was just learning to jump, she hadn't seen a jump before, i taught her to jump at the age of 15, she thought it was a great game, but little did she know the game wasnt for her it was for me.

Good luck.

PM me if you ever want to talk