bricking it about tomorrow...sorry bit long

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catwithclaws

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so, background story. about 8 years ago i had a rotational fall doing xc with my old boy - out for nearly 24hrs, in intensive care for over a week - and since then i've been terrified of jumping.

i got my big mare back the other day, she has been out on loan for 6 months during the latter stages of my pregnancy and first few months with baby, however hadn't ridden her since i fell pregnant due to being banned by hubby :D. she has won up to foxhunters sj, will jump anything off any stride, at any time, NEVER stops - but this doesn't give me any more confidence, WHY NOT??

taken it slow over the last few days, (as i literally haven't even sat on this horse in a year) just a bit of w/t/c in the school, and a gentle hack round the block in walk. had a good friend who is very experienced take her out for a faster hack yesterday and said she was a total diamond.

my YM and friends at yard have been really encouraging, but have also pushed me (as i cantered her on the left rein the other day, then for some weird reason lost my bottle and didn't want to canter the other way :confused:) but they made me do it and she was fine.

now they say the last thing i need to do is jump her, as this is the thing that i hoped my mare would help me achieve. so d-day is tomorrow evening, approx 4pm, they only want me to warm up and then jump a teeny tiny x-pole, but even the THOUGHT of it literally brings me out sweating and trembling. i KNOW she will jump it, i'm even pretty sure i'll stay on - but i'm absolutely TERRIFIED!!!

any pointers/encouragement/kick-up-the-a**e/vibes any of u lovely people can send me?? if so i will even try and get pics so u can CC me :) xxxxx
 
You'll be fine, just think how far you have come. Start off with just a pole on the floor and then if you feel up to it then do the cross pole. Remember to BREATHE big deep breaths in and out. Talk or sing to her and sit up.

Pls report tomorrow if you can, will be thinking of you xx
 
Only have one thing to say,

You only live once, if you don't do it tomorrow, forget the people at the yard, give it twenty years and you'll regret not trying.

I try to live life a little on the edge, after all, don't read into it too much, but I'd rather die young having tried everything that die old wanting to know how it feels.

I hope I haven't said the wrong thing, I'm sure you'll be fine. Maybe ask someone on the yard to pop her over a jump before you if that would help?
 
OFGS, WHY are you putting yourself through this? If you don't feel like jumping, don't jump - do something else with your horse, or not. You have a new baby, enjoy your time with baby, horse, whatever, and do not beat yourself up.
 
I do agree, if you really want to do it then go for it. If you don't then accept that and tell others.

Personally jumping scares me but I love doing pole work so am happy just to stick with that xx
 
thank u guys :D i really really want to get over this fear as i used to love jumping so much!! she should be the perfect confidence giver but i don't know if i'm too far gone. but we're gonna give it a go. i'll update with report and pics if poss :)
 
Why don't you take the pressure off yourself a bit and ask a friend to jump her first whilst you watch, and if you feel happy with how she's looking then hop on and do a small jump then congratulate yourself and get off smiling :)

By the sounds of it you'll be fine; i'd be willing to bet once you've got the first jump out of the way you'll want to do more!!!

Best of luck, pics would be awesome :) Xxxxx
 
I'm a total coward about jumping as is my horse. So I'm with the people who say leave the jumping for a while - there are so many other fun things to do.

One thing I would say though, as a mother, is that the first year of motherhood (at least) does make you far more nervous and emotional than you might otherwise be, and there are lots of physical/hormonal reasons for that, and you might be better off relaxing on your horse, and leave the adrenalin rush for later on..
 
You had a bad fall while jumping solid fences .. You are jumping (I'm assuming!) a easily knocked down jump on a horse that you know won't put a foot wrong :)
I'm sure you will be posting on here tomorrow evening about how happy you are!
 
Ok look at things in bitesize chunks. Jump small unlikely your horse will refuse, wear a hat and body protector for saftey, have others around who inspire you with confidence. Think Jump when you see the thing ahead and smile!!!

Seriously hacking these days is a lot more dangerous than popping over a little cross pole, you will be fine and probably LOVE IT
 
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