Jumping

[C.J_Sox]

This may sound stupid,
i have been riding for three years now and i know i can jump but the point is i dont dare.
this isnt because i'm scared of falling off, i've done that loads, i don't know what it is?
please help me get my confidence back!

[Valentine]

Maybe you could just try trotting over some trotting poles, and then trotting over a small jump, so the horse will step over it more than jump. You can even have a leader if you're really scared. The you could progress to a canter over a small jump and just take it step by step, building up your confidence as you go!!!! :)

[C.J_Sox]

Thankyou Valentine!!
I'm ok with lil' jumps but i start to worry when i get to a noticable height change (when im gradually jumping higher).
could it be because C.J is only small? maybe he doen't want to jump it and it makes me worry?
oh i don't know!
please help!

[Valentine]

Okay then.... maybe you could tell someone and then they could give you some encouragement, i find this often helps. Then take a deep breath and go for it!!! I was nervous when i first started jumping, but my teacher just told me to hold on tight!!! lol :)

[C.J_Sox]

but i have told all the people at my stables, and before I ride i tell my instructors to make me jump whatever i say because i really want to do it, i always flake out though!
:( it's so annoying!

[Valentine]

I know what you mean, the horse i ride bucks alot and i always end up chickening out of riding him, and just lungeing him instead (though i still dread this in case he kicks up a fuss) I'm sorry but i don't know what else to say, just keep jumoing the small jumps until you think you're ready for bigger jumps. The more smaller jumps you jump the more confident you'll be. :)
Good luck!!!!:D

[Sarah1710]

Oh hun, I know exactly how you feel as I'm the same. Riding over 3 years, fallen off a few times jumping (although never really hurt myself) and just can not pluck up the courage to jump anything more than a small cross pole. I will do it if I'm made to (I even ended up being talked into doing a mini showjumping competition at my RS last summer:eek: ) and feel better after doing it, but that feeling just comes straight back afterwards.

I haven't managed to over come it and have been doing nothing but flatwork and hacking for the last year or so. Let me know if you ever figure out how to overcome it!

xxx

[C.J_Sox]

yeah ive done a couple of mini showjumping shows too, they went ok but only because i wasnt concentrating on the actual height, i was making sure that i didn't fall off. hehe
yeh you tell me if you find out oo
-x-