Help - Losing all confidence at competitions

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Ellevis

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Does anyone else struggle with this?
Up until the last few months we've been jumping really well around 80/90cm with a couple of wins at the start of the year. In the past we've been confident up to 1m - but pony is clever enough now that if I don't ride every fence properly there's always a chance he'll find a way out, and after a couple of falls in April I feel I've lost my bottle :-( My problem has generally been worrying about strides and pulling him into the bottom of fences and relying on him to get us out of trouble - and this is where he's picked up a habit of stopping.
So, I addressed this problem by starting to have lessons with a brilliant instructor who has really changed my way of thinking and we've had a couple of really great, confident jumping lessons.
So at the weekend I thought I'd put it into practice at local SJ - we entered 85 + 95. Had a good warm up and went in - good forward canter really riding like I meant it. First few fences great - then stop at innocuous upright. Think I switched off around the corner and didn't meet it on the best stride - but no pulling from me so wasn't too worried. Carried on jumped the next few great until another stop at an oxer. On watching video just looks like I was riding too strongly and going too fast and he just didn't see it. So went into 95 absolutely bricking it, managed to get round the whole course with a couple of poles until the second to last fence (the same fence we had the first stop in 80 at) where we had 2 stops again and eliminated. Just really not sure what's happening now as I am no longer pulling him in deep but riding a lot more positively - I just feel like we're completely out of sync.
I'm now thinking it's my nerves that are affecting him more than anything else - we both feel great when jumping at home/ training, but as soon as it comes to putting it in to practice it all seems to go to pot. Was just wondering if anyone else has felt like this and has any advice as it's seriously tempting to just give it all up and do dressage which I really don't want to do :-(
 
Do you think maybe you went out a bit too soon? Maybe focus on the lessons more, then hire out some arenas, then do some clear rounds at an even smaller height until you really nail it? That's probably what I'd do if I had a set back.

Sounds like you're learning a new way of riding together and it might just need a bit more time and practice without adding to your nerves out competing. Maybe also try lessons on another horse if it's a confidence thing for you, and get someone more experienced to take your horse to shows?
 
I also think you went out too soon, after just a couple of lessons which will have helped but not yet really established a new way of going or allowed the confidence to build up properly, I would also suggest you drop down a level to consolidate the lessons and build back up gradually, however well things go at home you will lose a bit at a competition so dropping down should help, go and have some fun at 70-75 cm doing the next class if it goes really well or even leaving on a good note so the memory for both of you is a positive one.

Just to add don't rule out the pony having a physical issue if he started to struggle at times, it is easy to "blame" the rider but sometimes the riding gets worse when the horse is not giving the right feeling, it can be very slight but if he is in discomfort he may become less accommodating when you are not quite right on top.
 
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^agree with above posters.

When you start going out again, why not see if the instructor can come along to warm you up and give another set of eyes? Also take the video to your next lesson and show the instructor, so they know what you're talking about.

I would also caution against going into a higher class if you've not gone well at the lower one, and you're scared. Sometimes, discretion is the better part of valour!
 
Yes think you are both right - I think because I've always been happy jumping that height I thought I'd be fine, but it was actually a bit much too soon. Think next thing to do is just troop on with the lessons and as you suggest, build up the height gradually again. A friend has offered to let me have a jump of her schoolmaster as well so i may take her up on that. Thank you!!

be positive very interesting point there - we have physio coming out today so will see what she thinks :-)
 
thanks smja - I'd love to bring my instructor with my but he's extremely busy! Good idea about showing him the video though because I suppose he sees us at our best on the lessons, but not when we're struggling.
 
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