i need some more confidence

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d_s

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over the summer i had an amazing time jumping, and even did XC
however i went to a xc that was massive, it was too big and scared the crap outta me....it was awful,
then went to another xc and i freaked again, id done this course before and jumped everything there, and bigger... so why couldnt i get to grips with it and do it properly??

my horse is amazing xc and has a lovely canter on her once youve got over the first few jumps

where has all of my confidence gone?

she gets really excited when jumping at home, gets really bouncy and goes sideways into the fence i can deal with this, and have done loads of times before. when we get it right its amazing....
shes the best jumper ive ridden but the biggest handful
everyone keeps telling me that i am a good rider and that i can do it... but something stops me when i compete, and sometimes even when i jump at home..
i so desperately want to get my confidence back as showjumping/eventing is what i want to do

but how??? has anyone got any tips
im going to wait until the weather is better before i have lessons.... and i have found an instructor to help
i have flatwork lessons, and i am really confident on the flat

help please

xx
 
shes a pain sometimes to hack out aswell, but again i deal with this and have got loads of control over her now, when i didnt used to
 
I would say simply build the height of the jumps back up from very small to what you feel comfortable with it.
You mention flatwork lessons, I would suggest a specific jumping lesson.
The key is to build up the height and thus build your confidence up with the height as you go along
 
Read Pippa Funnell's autobiography, she struggled with confidence and used a sports psychologist. Apparently she visualises going round the whole course(or hack) and coming back safely before she rides it.
 
Go XC schooling on a schoolmaster a few times, and then go round the same course on Wilma because then you'll have got to grips with how to ride the fences and will be able to sort her out a bit more! Or go with some experienced combinations and have a play somewhere with a large variety in height fences- maybe Blackwater?
 
ive read her book... im reading mary kings at the moment

ive always had a flatwork instructor, and have now found a showjumping one that is based in norfolk, so can have more regular lessons... not just when richard barton comes down

nosurrender; i think i may try do that, horseshoe hire the course out too dont they?
 
Yep, but tbh the course there isn't overly good- my horse gets quite stoppy there and I need to ride really strongly to get him over them, and usually Cheeky's reliable and pretty much garunteed to look after you and help you round.

Have you looked at having lessons with Emily Lochore at Burnham? She's fab, and then theres several comps early on
with smaller classes (65cm) to get practising some more... She's a fab teacher and gives you loads of confidence!
 
thank you, ill have a look at her

is her brother alec?? or is that her dad or am i just muddled up completely lol
 
I had the same problem as you, i used to jump 3ft plus with my gelding no problems. but my mare ruined all my confidence to the point i would look at a 2ft jump from on board and think how the hell am i gonna get over that. my instructor made us continuous go over tiny cross poles, do small gridwork etc until my mare didn't find it over exciting anymore. then we began to increase the height we are now happily flying 1metre.

good luck i hope you can sort it out.
 
thanks, thats a good idea, may try that once ive schooled her a bit more (shes had a lot of time off!!) Did you jummp from a trot or a canter?

ahh thanks for clearing that up NS!!!
 
Ok I don't and never have jumped big jumps but I lost my confidence in everything not long after getting George, for me it was little baby steps with everything. When I decided I did want to still jump, my instructor taught me as if I'd never jumped before, so eventually we went from crying with fear over a canter pole to jumping 2'6" SJ at home and doing a 2'3" xc comp. Ok, nothing huge but doing it oh so slowly meant that I love jumping now and George and I have so much fun, I also find if something does go wrong it is easier to get back to where I was.
 
its so annoying, because i know i can do it... and its not like i dont have control of her anymore

well done for getting over the problem you had with jumping :-)
 
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