Help compete or more schooling !!!

confusedmum

confusedmum

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8 August 2011
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desperate for help my teenage daughter is doing really well but gets really nervous, we get the horses jumping well at home but it all goes to pot in the ring ( affiliated showjumping) as she tenses up and gets so stressed the horses react accordingly and everyone gets a bit fed up!! keep telling her its supposed to be fun but we are on a budget and she know how much hard work and money go in to getting her there and as soon as she has a chance of winning something she goes to pieces thinking of going to 4 day show and doing so much she has to calm down is this the right or wrong approach I know what i would do with a problem horse but not sure about teenage girls
never posted before but am so desperate to help her and not sure if i am doing the right thing
 
Take the pressure off, she shouldn't really know that it is alot of effort to get her there, that is pressure, either spend the money on a fantastic trainer who will help her and the horses or sit her down and talk to her about finances and training and find out what she wants to do!
 
have done both, she wants to jump but she wants it too much it is so important to her, have tried slowing it down and stopping have fantastic trainer she rides really well in lessons have discussed finances and said its our descision but hard to hide the fact im up at 6am and hacking out 4 horses for her when she is at school and collapsing in bed at 10pm put her on something she has no chance with and she comes out clear and wins the class!
 
Then I think I would suggest that you contact a sports psychologist and get help with techniques for focusing in competition, if she is talented but cannot apply herself under pressure, then she could benefit greatly, BSJA should be able to put you in contact with people specifically in the equine world.
 
I have had this problem with a girl I teach she wanted to SJ but fell apart in the ring.
What has helped is lots of support, I go with her ,sometimes without the parents [not always an option but look into it ] we went out alot at one time ,unaff. and tried to make it fun again.
Video her at home and away.She can watch and see that a]she rides well:D
B]she rides differently at comps. c]she should become less aware of being "watched" if she is videoed a lot of the time.
Training with the BSJA academy was also useful.
Make the most of every small success and try not to over analyse any round that goes badly just point out what parts she rode well.
The other tip I use is to get them to canter as soon as they are in the ring ,no trotting to think about things just in and go.
I hope some of this may be of help .My pupil is now doing BE she would not have even started a XC two years ago her nerves were so bad.Now XC is the best part:D
 
really helpful, thanks we have taken videos at home and away, she was really shocked at how she looked compared to how she was feeling, she is always doubting herself but she is a really quiet sympathetic rider and looks really tidy on a horse, not just my opinon im biased i know but have earwigged other peoples conversations at ringside best critics of all! thats what i I was thinking of knocking size of jumps down to 80cms classes and staying away just the 2 of us for the 4 days and keep jumping and just enjoy it with no pressure until she gets so used to keep going in ring and its stops being scary ! I think the build to each competiton gets to her and if we stay there its got to wear off sometime just wasnt sure if feels a bit kill or cure but i know i would do that with a horse, make it fun and easy until it is familar and comfortable to do.
Thats amazing if she is now doing BE there is hope for us yet!
 
Good idea she will have fun and be able to spend time getting to know so of the other competitors,realising they probably suffer from nerves too:D
Have a good time there and she should be able to build on a great experience.
 
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