Does it make me a really rubbish unconfident rider if I never want to jump?

No Not at all, It has helped me to set certain goals for myself, silly little things that I only tell instructor about. What you have to do I suppose is sit down and decide what it is you enjoy doing. If you like flatwork, do that for a while, hack out after that for a while. Then what helped me was going to camps and being pushed a little out of my comfort zone. You do have to be a little selfish about it though they are your goals for your riding. You may have to lay it on the line for people that you will not do certain things. My goal next week is to jump at 90 so am going to have a go. I often kick myself for the thing that I have not tried rather than the things I have messed up in my riding. Good Luck to you whatever you decide. :D
 
if not wanting to jump makes rubbish and unconfident riders then theres a lot of us out there;) i can jump but i don't enjoy it so i don't jump! riding is supposed to be fun and if you get your fun hacking then hack:D I don't enjoy jumping, used to when i was a teen, now i'm an adult i have no desire to throw myself over jumps;)
 
I only hack out, never jump due to my old pony that would jump anything but did so as fast as her little legs would carry her, scary!!! She put me off for life! I also hate schooling and can feel myself going into panic mode when I enter a school, as a result my cob that needs schooling also gets nervous so I don't school in a school but work on him whilst hacking. I do what I enjoy and as he is my horse on my own yard I don't really see that it has anything to do with any body else. You do what you feel comfortable with and what you enjoy isn't that why we all starting riding in the first place. I know people who have horses and just spend time brushing they don't ride at all but horses are well cared for and happy. I gave up riding for a long time when I stopped enjoying it but have recently started riding more again and am now starting to enjoy again so don't lose heart do what you are comfortable with and enjoy.:)
 
Of course you don't have to jump! You must do exactly as you want. I really only hacked out with the odd lesson in the school and DEFINITELY did not want to jump - I had done a tiny cross pole once or twice and didn't like it.

Then one Sunday my instructor said 'go on, have a go' and she took me through it step by step. She knows my horse and knows how he goes and so could tell me how to get the best out of him. H loves to jump and he looked after his mum ;) Anyway, long story short - it's still not my favourite thing to do, but I AM prepared to do it and I agree with my instructor that it really helps your seat and balance.

Just put us down for Rio 2016! :D
 
I really understand how you feel. I have recently returned to riding after a break of twenty some years and my confidence is very fragile, I also had a wee meltdown after a big spook and questioned whether I even wanted ride (far more aware of injury than in my teens!). In the end I have gone back to the most basic riding school plod and decided if that was my level than it was fine. As soon as I took the pressure off my confidence returned and I'm ready to try something more lively again. As others have said I think it is a fun hobby and although the Internet is full of people jumping and doing x country I believe there are many many happy hackers who are happy with a Pootle around.

I think it's one of the wonderful things about the hobby is that there are so many directions you can take and levels to suit everyone :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top