SJ nerves! Help!

[Axella]

Hi

I am new to this forum and after some help! I get very nervous when jumping (more so than XC and hunting!) and my riding goes to pieces and my pony refuses/runs out etc. I know she can do it, and at home I can do it, it's just at shows. The last one I went to in Jan, she refused at the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, then I got my act together but went too fast and ended up swerving and I hit the deck. The next class I was more determined and we flew round with only 4 faults where I didn't turn in time for a jump, but I can't keep waiting for the 2nd class to get my act together.
Next sunday I am doing 75cm and 85cm and I would really apreciate any tips. My pony is an awkward ride and will nap AND bolt but I feel it is me being to feeble and she is taking the mickey....(chestnut mare...)
We also have problems with fillers, again I can jump at home but she spooks at them at shows.
Any ideas?? I already use Rescue Remedy which does help to a certain degree...

[nutkin]

Are you putting yourself under too much pressure? Sometimes its hard to forget that people are watching and the worry of something going wrong in front of them becomes too much.How much experience at shows do you and your horse have? If the answer is not much then it may help to go to some very small local shows and clear round evenings to get used to the atmosphere there. If its just nerves on your part and the horse is taking the mick you need to imagine the spectators naked or just try and forget they are there full stop.Confidence comes from within and nerves do feed through to the horse so if you are confident then your horse will feel better too.
Lots of practise at home over as many spooky objects you can find as fillers will help to overcome the filler problem. From reading about the not being able to turn in time you are going too fast.Is this a problem at home or just shows.Gridwork will help with the control issues as will just working around jumps in the school and not actually jumping them.Also practise being able to come to a halt as soon as possible after a fence and remember to treat each jump on the course as an individual fence.

[SJ wanabe]

Next time your horse refuses a fence instead of feeling negative ab=nd loosing confidence, be determined to jump the fence to the best of your ability. Insted of thinking about getting around the course think about every fence, as you are going over one start planning your route for another. On your approach sit deep into the saddle keep your leg on no matter what speed your horse is going at but half halt at the same time so that you have a shorter canter stride, this will make you feel more in controll, and it will also give your horse more scope, about 1-2 strides before the jump let the canter strides get a bit longer so that the horse does not think that you are pulling it back, this will also give the horse more confidence. When learning the course plan out all the things that could distract your horse, don't be afraid of them, just aware that they are there so you may have to put a little extra effort in. It sounds like you should also go to some smaller shows and jump smaller than normal, this will help with your confidence. Hope this helps

[Axella]

Thank you both, some great ideas there, I like the imagine the spectators naked one!!
I don't think it's the being at a show that's the problem, I just get it stuck in my head that she will refuse, and then of course, because I am riding like a lemon, she does!
The idea of treating each jump as an individual sounds like it would work, I tend to also panic about forgetting the course and want to get to next jump quickly so I don't foget! (Yet can remember 2 dressage tests?!)
I am determined to go clear this time...

[myhorseisginger]

Hi - I've just recently starting competing at showjumping again after many years away. I felt exactly the same. I'd say the best thing you could do is enter a smaller class - the first class i did was the 2ft-2'3'' and i'm so glad i did. It completely took the pressure off as I didn't even have to think about getting over the jumps - he could have walked over them! It gave me time to concentrate on the course and not have to complicate my delicate mind with working out lots of striding etc.

Once you've gotten round a smaller class clear - and maybe got placed - your confidence will be so much higher honestly! We came second in our first class together and now i still get a little nervous but i think that's good - keeps you competitve!

Are you competeing at BSJA level or unaff? If Unaff you can always ask the collecting ring steward if you can ride near to the end of the class - then it gives you plenty of time to watch everyone else go round and see how they ride it.

And finally, I always remember that if i fall off / have a refusal or whatever, LOADS of people before me that day will have had the same problem and no one bats an eyelid - At the end of the day we've all been there!

[ILurfSmurf]

i have my own little ritual. I walk the course on my own, then walk round it with a friend telling them where to go. Then my YO gets me to tell him so we can check im deff. not going to forget it. Then he makes me list all the reasons im there, what im going to do, what im not going to do etc.
Im there to have and enjoy my horse. Im going to relax and ride him forwards. Im going to forget about winning and everyone else. Blah blah blah it works though, i calm down, chill out and we generally do well. Then again, my YO is an ex jockey, who refuses to make a big deal out of anything, so its kind of hard to get wound up when he's saying, 'what the worst that could happen? You fall off. You've fallen off him loads!'
He alwayz makes sense, its quite annoying!