Want to jump but I panic!

Floppy91

Floppy91

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Feb 10, 2017
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So I've ridden for years but have recently gotten back into lessons after a 2 year gap! I gave it all up after a bad fall and developing an intense fear of jumping which turned into a weekly battle with my instructor.

Been back riding 2 months and already I am starting to jump. I did not expect this.

One of my instructors is very keen on students jumping and calls students out for being wimpy if they don't at least try.

I've been known to ride towards a jump and then turn to go past it ! I just panic!

I can now go over very small cross poles but god forbid they get raised a hole or even put on a straight! I am so scared! My 2 point position surely can't be good enough and I'm not even sure what I'm doing when I jump and land! Even the smallest jumps make me nervous!

I'm feeling the pressure since being moved up a group and I'm the only one that's scared of jumping !

I am scared of the horse over jumping and that my balance won't be good enough but I'll be going to uni in 2 years and dream of trying out for BUCS but you need to be able to jump 90cm! :( wondering if I will ever get over this it is like a mental block and it sucks!
 
Just keep on with small jumps for now. Don't get too pressured to jump higher if your not happy at the moment. If your instructor is picking on you talk to them. You will know when you are ready to jump bigger. Try to work on technique with just doing small jumps.
Do not keep bottling out at the last minute. You will teach the horse that that is what you want and will have a fight on your hands. He will start to think that is OK if he wants to run out on you.
If you can work on technique the horse will flow better over the jump, if he flows it will then naturally help to carry you over the higher jumps when they do go up.
 
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Do loads of small jumps your happy with have fun and take the pressure off you'll find this will give you more confidence and it won't feel like such a big deal. A honest genuine horse helps too.
 
Floppy91 said:
One of my instructors is very keen on students jumping and calls students out for being wimpy if they don't at least try.
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I personally don't agree with this. You're not 'wimpy' if you're not ready and shouldn't feel pressured or put on the spot.

Do the jumps small if that's what you are happy with and don't be pressured into doing anything you're not comfortable with because IF it goes wrong, it will shatter any confidence you have built up to this point.
 
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Agree with what has been said so far. Talk to your instructor. There is a difference between instructor knowing you can do it and pushing you a bit, and jsut pushing for the sake of keeping with the group. If you don't feel confident then tell them, as a scare wil definitely undo your confidence. Stick to small until you have your position and confidence in then go up slowly. Also if possible do lots of 2pt jsut riding round the outside of the arena to strengthen your muscles. Also riding flatwork with no stirrups help too! Is it your horse or a riding school one?
 
You might benefit from some CBT - brain training to help you stop associate jumping with your accident. It's a huge psychological hurdle and not one you can just 'get over.' Sports coaches like Helen at Rezone or Jenni Winter specialise in working with nervous riders - I've had some help from both and think they're both very good. If that's too expensive, you can download some self-hypnosis audio files which, again, I've found helpful - I have one specifically for jumping confidence which I listen to in bed (always helps me fall asleep - bonus!)
 
The other thing is, do you want to jump? Why? Is it cause you think you have to or because you geniunely enjoy it?
 
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