Confidence - mines like a 'lightbulb'!

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cob1

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Hi everyone!

The question is how can i get my confidence to stay steady - instead of either being fine, or just totally panicking when i ride (more so jumping than anything else!)?

My trainer stated its like a 'lighbulb' - either one or off! Hes been very good on the riding side of things, but i need some general help with positive thinking!

My horse can be a bit nappy and evasive at times, and knows how to play me (which is improving with time), he has never done anything really bad, but i cant get out of my head the 'what ifs......'!

He is a rather talented cob and can be sharp at times, and jumps effortlessly well - if i could get past this confidence issue we would be able to do some RC SJ and unaffilated stuff with no problem at all :(

He gets schooled by a prof (on livery) as well - due to work commitments i often cant give him regular work that he needs since coming into full work after an injury last summer.
 
Is there anyway you could have some lessons on a jumping schoolmaster to get your confidence back up? I totally understand what you mean about the 'what ifs' it's so difficult not to think that way but for me, it's always been directly related to the horse I'm riding, not necessarily the discipline. What tends to make you panick and how long have you had your horse?
 
Totally sympathise im going through this myself atm. The only thing i've found is im more confident if im doing what im scared of regularly. The more often I do it the better I feel. I had a lesson on a schoolmaster and it worked wonders so definately recommend that too. Have you tried the confident rider CD's? There is one for jumping I think.. I found these good, not a cure but did make me feel calmer about things. Good luck!
 
Bens mum - the plan is to jump at least twice a week. I think it is a general issue rather than the horse - ive had some really bad falls at riding schools in the past (not even jumping) and i cant get them out of my head.

I just panic for no reason really, even if ive just jumped something, i struggle again in case i fall off or something happens. He has fairly decent brakes and we can canter and stuff on hacks no problem which used to be an issue.

Ive had the horse 2 years and its been a rocky road - he got injured not long after i bought him (field injury) and his behaviour was terrible - we werent sure if it was his real personality coming out or what at the time (he was a sweetie when i tried him).

It was a ligament in his back and took a while to diagnose as his behaviour wasnt consistent. Hed be fine one day and rearing full height the next.
 
Snap! I just go into total panic even getting on mine after a couple of bad falls, from a previous horse. However I find that if I force myself on everyday it seems to slowly get easier, if I miss a few days it seems like a mountain again. I went for a riding lesson on a schoolmaster and was ironically confident straight away and jumped a course of jumps even, because I knew it was safe and I could concentrate on me. This did give me a major boost so would recommend it if you can just to let you have a really positive experience for yourself before tackling it with your own horse. I know how hard it is but the positive lesson proved to me I could do it and made me more confident in tackling my own horse and made me feel far more positive. Its really hard when you get into the cycle of being scared but im hoping time will eventually get rid of my 'issues' and yours! Any other tips apreciated from anyone else to date ive tried; hypnotherapy, CD's, Rescue Remedy, Lessons and lots of books all have helped a little but nothing has 'cured' it as such. I have spoken to Jo Cooper who does NLP which sounds brilliant but funds haven't allowed me to try it as yet...
 
Falls are the worst :(
I had a bad fall near on 2 years ago and I still haven't done the ride where I fell again.
One day this summer I'm hoping to, I'm going to take someone else with me who I get on with so we can chat through it and hopefully it will take my mind off it!

But yeah definitely agreed with above, can you find a schoolmaster who will jump push button perfect and take you over the jumps (no disrespect) until you find that confidence? When you have found that confidence (it will be there somewhere!) try building it up on your own horse, starting small and getting a solid confidence base before you move on :)
Well done on addressing it though!
 
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