_MizElz_
Well-Known Member
Do you feel that fear is holding you back?
Not any more - I've conquered my demons! The trick, for me, is to remain within my comfort zone - if I feel myself begin to worry, I drop back a level until I'm confident again. But until last year, yes, fear definitely held me back from doing what I loved doing.
Do you feel your fear is rational or irrational and why?
Rational - I had a crashing fall during a schooling session in which Ellie came down on top of me. If I'm honest, I think I blamed myself for having let it happen, and began to feel very guilty. Although we got back to jumping after I'd recovered, I started to 'drop' her at the bottom of fences when my nerve kicked in. Pretty soon I realised I had to give it up before we got hurt again.
Can you trace your fear back to a particular situation/experience/time?
Yep - the fall, as explained above!
Do you feel you get more fearful as you get older?
I've done the opposite!! As a kid, I was never a daredevil rider, unlike most of my friends. I was always quite nervous, but this was hidden by the fact I was fortunate enough to have had fabulous ponies who made me look better than I was. Then I got Ellie, and became much braver because she is, quite literally, an absolute star when it comes to jumping. Obviously my nerves got the better of me again and I did give up jumping in 2004 - but now we've got back to it, I'm braver than I ever was as a child! We'll go 2'9 cross country now quite happily; this was something I'd have sworn blind I'd never be brave enough to do
What have you tried to deal with your fear?[/QUOTE]
Giving myself time. Going out on fun rides and taking a lead over a couple of fences, and going hunting have both helped a lot. But really, it's just been a case of doing what I feel happy with - and not succumbing to pressure. It's a lovely feeling
Not any more - I've conquered my demons! The trick, for me, is to remain within my comfort zone - if I feel myself begin to worry, I drop back a level until I'm confident again. But until last year, yes, fear definitely held me back from doing what I loved doing.
Do you feel your fear is rational or irrational and why?
Rational - I had a crashing fall during a schooling session in which Ellie came down on top of me. If I'm honest, I think I blamed myself for having let it happen, and began to feel very guilty. Although we got back to jumping after I'd recovered, I started to 'drop' her at the bottom of fences when my nerve kicked in. Pretty soon I realised I had to give it up before we got hurt again.
Can you trace your fear back to a particular situation/experience/time?
Yep - the fall, as explained above!
Do you feel you get more fearful as you get older?
I've done the opposite!! As a kid, I was never a daredevil rider, unlike most of my friends. I was always quite nervous, but this was hidden by the fact I was fortunate enough to have had fabulous ponies who made me look better than I was. Then I got Ellie, and became much braver because she is, quite literally, an absolute star when it comes to jumping. Obviously my nerves got the better of me again and I did give up jumping in 2004 - but now we've got back to it, I'm braver than I ever was as a child! We'll go 2'9 cross country now quite happily; this was something I'd have sworn blind I'd never be brave enough to do
What have you tried to deal with your fear?[/QUOTE]
Giving myself time. Going out on fun rides and taking a lead over a couple of fences, and going hunting have both helped a lot. But really, it's just been a case of doing what I feel happy with - and not succumbing to pressure. It's a lovely feeling
