confidence boosts please for jumping 80cm

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Quartz

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Would really like some words of encouragement/advice/wisdom on progressing my jumping. Am taking my galop exams in France and we are now getting ready for the galop 4 which is 80 cm and hopefully this will follow quickly to galop5. I am fine at 60cm, infact don't even think anything of it. But I just see the slightly higher jump and panic, I try to not even look at them when heading towards them so horse does not feel my tension. I did 70cm the other day a few times but on the last turn he took the jump from really far (had too much tension in reins) and I lost my stirrup and fell off, annoyingly when we had landed and stopped, I just whoops slipped off the side. It was the week after my friend broke her back and I just felt quite worried (especially having two small children at home who need me), but still really want to progress. My horse is such a brilliant jumper and has real potential but I am holding him back. Any great words would be appreciated, like don't worry there only tiny etc etc. Thanks
 
Bonjour!
Just get someone to video you riding your fences and once you see how much higher your beastie is jumping the fences with you on, your confidence will get a real boost.
Bon chance with your exams.
Bryndu:)
 
Good luck! The best advice I can give you is; you know your horse, you know he can do it and whatsmore, you know YOU can do it, or you wouldn't be taking the test! If in doubt, sit up, stay looking over the jump, not down at it (you will tip your weight over the horse's shoulders if you look down, and make it harder for him to lift off) and put your leg on!

If you're nervous, talking to him really does help! It makes you breathe (something I forget to do A LOT :o)

Most of all, have fun. I'm sure you will be great :) Pics please!
 
Thanks, I will try and get her to film it next time we jump(will post it on here). It doesn't help with all this bad weather as can't get to do it often enough to practice as arena is so often frozen.
 
I'll bet you find if you take the tip above about videoing a few jumps your horse will be jumping at least 80cm over the 60 cm jumps! I find about 80cm a bit easier than smaller than that (despite being the biggest scaredy cat ever!) as my mare finds it easier to jump something that sort of height than smaller. Feels a smoother round. If you are a little nervous about injurys, which is really understandable if you have just found out that your friend has seriously hurt herself, then would wearing a body protector make you feel a little more protected (I feel safer in mine, but others dislike the feel so it is personal preference really)? If you worry about slipping off a little too easily then can you put a stirrup leather around your horses neck, or an old flash strap through the saddle d-rings? Just something a bit extra there incase you need it that won't affect how your horse goes.
 
FestiveNeighs said:
I'll bet you find if you take the tip above about videoing a few jumps your horse will be jumping at least 80cm over the 60 cm jumps! I find about 80cm a bit easier than smaller than that (despite being the biggest scaredy cat ever!) as my mare finds it easier to jump something that sort of height than smaller. Feels a smoother round. If you are a little nervous about injurys, which is really understandable if you have just found out that your friend has seriously hurt herself, then would wearing a body protector make you feel a little more protected (I feel safer in mine, but others dislike the feel so it is personal preference really)? If you worry about slipping off a little too easily then can you put a stirrup leather around your horses neck, or an old flash strap through the saddle d-rings? Just something a bit extra there incase you need it that won't affect how your horse goes.
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Good idea about the flash strap, will give that a try. I do have a back protector that I wear, but when my friend broke her back she was bucked off and landed on her backside, still in a sitting position and the pressure up her spine broke a vertebrae. Its just a shame its the second time in two years at this club that I have been there when someone has broken their back. But I really think the flash strap may help a bit if I know there is something extra to grab onto if I loose the stirrup.
 
hi

Your not alone, I am coming back after surgery and finding the higher jumps scary. The flash strap really does work!!

The way I do it is to start off at a height I am MORE than comfortable with, jump that a few times then go slightly bigger etc etc, then I try next time I jump I start slightly higher than I did the last time and therefore end slightly bigger as I also found that if I start too small each time I never progress.

Also if your like me sometimes you can find the courage to jump the bigger jump once or twice, then lose it and stop. I guess that is fine so long as after a while that is your middle sized jump!

It's still something I am working on as I find it hard especially as my young horse is still deciding where to take off. At least I know he is not like my last horse who would stop or run out for no reason and at the very last minute :mad::mad:
 
soulfull said:
hi

Your not alone, I am coming back after surgery and finding the higher jumps scary. The flash strap really does work!!

The way I do it is to start off at a height I am MORE than comfortable with, jump that a few times then go slightly bigger etc etc, then I try next time I jump I start slightly higher than I did the last time and therefore end slightly bigger as I also found that if I start too small each time I never progress.

Also if your like me sometimes you can find the courage to jump the bigger jump once or twice, then lose it and stop. I guess that is fine so long as after a while that is your middle sized jump!

It's still something I am working on as I find it hard especially as my young horse is still deciding where to take off. At least I know he is not like my last horse who would stop or run out for no reason and at the very last minute :mad::mad:
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I can see what your saying, but never really thought of it before. I always start with the same small jump. Will try starting small but slightly bigger than usual. My horse is 6 and he never refuses a jump, but can rush them! Oh and also can get very excited when jumping so that when we land we have a few little bucks etc. I have just been reading another thread thats on the go at the mo about jumping, they have also mentioned bits which is quite interesting. Mine is in a Jointed D Ring with Copper and SS Rollers. This is ok but after a while it seems to annoy him and we have a huge fight for his head, he is only happy when I have no rein. Am thinking about going bitless of trying a happy mouth full cheek with roller. PS obviously the bit info has nothing to do with my confidence, just gone slightly off topic there!!
 
how about putting something a bit bigger at the end of a grid so then you know the striding is already sorted out for you meaning less chance of long ones or getting in deep and when you are confident with this put a placing pole in untill you can remove it and both be confident over a single 80cm fence before working up to a course
 
Do some grids with a bigger jump at the end and get someone on the ground to put the jumps up for you, so you don't have to keep breaking your rhythm to get off and put them up.

Also remember that the extra 10cm isn't that much to the horse. I get nervous at 70cm but my doesn't even start jumping until they're 1m high, let alone notice the difference between 60 and 80cm :)
 
I find a good instructor can really help to build your confidence. Have a few jumping lessons prior to your exam - this way you should feel far more confident about going into the exams. As someone has said before, you know his capabilities, and you know your own too. When coming into a big jump, I always tell myself that I am Ellen Whitaker with Ladina, and the jump I am about to jump is absoloutely nothing. Deffinately works for me! Also I find having a grid, rather than just an upright helps me, as it doesn't look so big. Hope this helps & good luck.
 
If you have a look at a ruler and see 20cm isnt such a great difference - it really helps me!

also, mark 80cm out on a wall in pencil and it looks a lot smaller than a fence will.

and above all my best advice, dont forget you've got legs when you get in there - use them!!! (this advice comes from my mum who says it to me just before i go into every round of sj i do!)
 
georgiegirl said:
If you have a look at a ruler and see 20cm isnt such a great difference - it really helps me!

also, mark 80cm out on a wall in pencil and it looks a lot smaller than a fence will.

and above all my best advice, dont forget you've got legs when you get in there - use them!!! (this advice comes from my mum who says it to me just before i go into every round of sj i do!)
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Love this, thanks!!
 
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