Hacking and jumping confidence

R

R...

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I struggle with my confidence out hacking (I worry about my horse taking off and not being able to stop). I also struggle with my confidence jumping (falling off or crashing through a fence). I haven't had any of this happen with my current horse, although my previous horse was really strong and fast out hacking (he was usually really lazy in the arena), but my current horse can be a bit spooky (he just moves sideways and doesn't like things like bins and large vehicles etc). Does anyone have any tips to help me gain confidence out hacking + jumping? Or any tips to handle spooks a bit better? Thanks
 
No great advice yet I’m afraid , I’m going through the same hacking, fear of being out of control. I’m going to try the “confidence course” with Karl greenwood and see if that cures me. I do find playing music on my phone a good distraction from rustling in hedges and being repetitive with the nervy “good boy” comments!
 
ycbm said:
Sing!

It really works. My song is usually I'm a pink toothbrush
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Yep. Personally I favour Ten Green Bottles (on a bad day I start with twenty or thirty green bottles) and Doh A Deer, ad infinitum. It slows your breathing and makes you both calmer.

And there's nothing wrong with just walking on (ridden) hacks if you're worried. Walk walk walk until you're bored and feel safe.
 
Singing out hacking (morning has broken, top of the world, all things bright and beautiful).
For jumping, I would recommend a good instructor. A few short sessions can nake a lot of difference.
 
If you're more confident on foot, why not take your horse out in hand? It's what I'm doing at the moment!
Tris takes confidence from me on the ground, and seeing him cope with traffic builds my confidence. I'm probably going to be riding him on the roads within the next month. (I know that sounds like quite a long time, but I really need to build my confidence and actually enjoy walking with him!)

I also agree with everyone re singing - Nelly the Elephant is my choice!

Widgeon's suggestion of walking on hacks til you're bored can also be applied to jumping. An instructor will work wonders, but if that's not an option for whatever reason, do poles til you're bored, then raise them, then just stick to each height until you really want to put them up!
 
R... said:
I struggle with my confidence out hacking (I worry about my horse taking off and not being able to stop). I also struggle with my confidence jumping (falling off or crashing through a fence). I haven't had any of this happen with my current horse, although my previous horse was really strong and fast out hacking (he was usually really lazy in the arena), but my current horse can be a bit spooky (he just moves sideways and doesn't like things like bins and large vehicles etc). Does anyone have any tips to help me gain confidence out hacking + jumping? Or any tips to handle spooks a bit better? Thanks
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I would dial back to a level where neither you nor the horse are worried. Whatever that means for you- smaller jumps, someone with you in the school on the ground, hacking in company, quieter route- whatever it takes for both of you to relax.
Then hack and jump at that level in many different places until you are an experienced team, thinking "we've got this" .

Also I'd do some less usual things, depending what is available to you but how about groundwork clinics, Le Trek training days, archery, cattle herding, side saddle? Just say yes to whatever is going on to build your relationship.

And, yes, keep singing- it regulates your breathing and heart rate so the horse doesn't know you're scared.
 
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