How to start jumping bigger fences?!

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Sunny_Star

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At the moment I'm jumping about 85-90cm, but would like to start jumping 1m or so, because I seem to have been stuck jumping 85/90cm for ages!
What is the best way to start building confidence over bigger fences?
I know my horse is capable of doing this height because I took him for a lesson with this sj guy who jumped him over some "small" (as he called them!) 1.10m fences. But when I got on and tried to do the same, it failed miserably and I fell off into the jump!
When I see fences that are 1m or above, I get really scared but that's probably because I'm not used to that height, how do you get used to it?
Should I just start working up to this height in jumping lessons?
 
ok no kidding, confidence is the bomb here. you dont fail falling off, its charachter building! ive done exactly the same as youve done, flopping off into the middle the fence.

ive found really sitting up and back until your horse takes off, and keep looking at a fixed point ahead of you really does do the trick, feels weird, but works.

if your horse isnt used to the height, start jumping wider fences at your normal height, and like magic they'll look an awful lot bigger. Your horse will have to put more effort in and without thinking it will jump bigger, so he will be more prepared for a larger jump, making it easier to ride in general. and of course staying on! always incredibly useful.

This has worked for me getting back used to foxhunters after an accident, which was pretty much starting from scratch, so i hope this works for you too. Have fun
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work up gradually, but only on the good days when you're both feeling good.

Also start introducing them in grids, and in combinations/related distances/doubles etc that are on comfortable distances and good strides... to begin with you justy want to get the confidence at that height
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good luck, he looks lovely in your siggy!
 
What worked for me was during a lesson, as I was going round, instructor kept sneaking jumps up a bit at a time, so it wasn't as noticeable. We just kept in a rhythm and it all came together.
 
Most horses will jump 1 metre or more with ease. If you actually measure from the ground to the underside of their belly, they can actually step over that height. Horses don't carry tape measures so don't worry about the height, it's the jockey that worries.

It appears to be a confidence problem with you. As that is the case I would recommend you work towards achieving your goal with an instructor. They can build your confidence as they build the fences. To do it on your own may be counter productive if you have any set backs. Good Luck
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the best thing is to set up a perfect related distance of, say, 2 or 3 strides, from a nice solid little first fence (or a X pole one stride to a fence, then the related distance, if you want to be really sure you'll always meet it on the same stride) that the horse has to jump properly, and make the second fence a sloping oxer with a bit of width. jump the distance a few times, make sure it's right, and then slowly increase the size of the second fence. if your horse is the sort that gets silly and rushes after jumping the same fences a few times, this exercise won't really work though.
how exactly did you fall off into the jump when you tried a bigger fence before? did you over-ride it and the horse refused, or what happened? tbh you need a good instructor on the ground who can work out what you're doing and why, and help you. if you're confident and calm, jumping 4' is no different to jumping 2', as long as the horse is capable and rideable to the fence.
best of luck!
 
Get someone to put the jump up a little but not tell you how big it is. As soon as the say the scary '1m' you start doubting yourself.

Get someone who's good at telling porkies to tell you 'the jump is only 93cm'!!
 
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