jumping breakthrough

[Sparklie]

I'm petrified of jumping more than 6 inches...I really do have a jumping fear! I'm fine jumping small logs out hacking and I can pop over a small straight bar or a slightly larger cross pole (why are straights so much scarier than crosses!?!) but that's where the line is drawn.

Twig on the other hand gets wildly excited about jumping and tells me 'come on mum, it's so much fun, lets bomb towards this one at 90mph!'

Well today the kids on the yard were watching me ride and commented that they'd never seen me jump. So I popped over a cross pole no problem. They then asked to put it up to a small straight (jump block on its side) and I was feeling brave so jumped it. Then they put it up to a full block straight...then it went a little wrong :o

Me and Twig got the wrong stride totally, he took off horribley and we cleared it in a fashion...scrambled over it was probably more correct. I think I managed to sock the poor thing in the mouth when he lurched over it so unsurprisingly when we tried to jump it again and got the wrong stride he thought 'no way mum' and stopped dead.

Wheeeee goes the rider over his head :o

So the breakthrough?

I laughed, scolded him in a very unserious way (roll of the eyes 'naughty Twig') and got back on :D I then went round and jumped the jump at a slightly smaller height a couple of times, gave him a pat and stopped jumping. I'm so proud of myself, no freaking out, no 'I'm never going to jump again' moments...I feel my confidence slowly returning ;)

[vince42]

Whoo! score one for positive mental attitude:D

Nothing better than getting it right after making a mistake - great proof of progress.

Well done - pictures of you jumping next time? ;)

Vince

[domane]

Well done for climbing back on and doing it again!

I too fear jumps and jumping!

I too have a horse who spots one and careers towards it (clearly doesn't share her mum's fear!)

IF I let her jump it (ie, it's not too high) she always leaps it like Bechers Brook the first time to assess how high it is then finds she can virtually treat it like a trotting pole the second time (See? Told you they are low!!!)

But I too am starting to conquer my fear and I will actually keep my eyes OPEN when going over a jump now!!! :D

[Sparklie]

yay!! good for you too domane

oh and as for photos...might have to wait til it's dry enough to ride in the outdoor arena...indoor photos just don't work well

[caraid_alba]

Im screaming :) "well done" :) and even more so for getting back on and jumping again...........
I myself have jumping fears..:o

[Whatanejit]

Yeah! Fantastic Sparklie.

It has taken me ages to eventually get to the stage where I don't fall off when I jump through wobbly nerves.

It is awful getting back on when you fall off as the legs are shaking:o

Wow. Well done you.

xx

[Ross]

well done :) It's great that you got back on and did some more :)

But you shouldn't feel obliged to jump! If you're happier with logs and things, and really want to get jumping, how about a pleasure ride? They tend to let you have a go in a relaxed atmosphere.. But only do it if you want to!

Ross

[Sparklie]

yeah, I'm hoping to find some fun things for us to do together once the weather gets a little warmer. I've had Twig about 3 months now and he's really good for my confidence. He never does anything naughty...both times that I've fallen off have been my lack of balance and not his nasty behaviour.

He has hunted previously and enjoys cross country so fun rides would be great! If I can't find any near us I might even organise one myself, there are loads of farms about and I'm sure that they'd all be up for a fun ride.

Oh and whatanejit...no shaking legs, definate improvement :D