I really dont know what to dooo! (Quite Long)

[ForeverBroke_]

I'm so awful at making up my mind.

Basically, I've had Darcy nearly a year. In that time i jumped him when i tried him just over a little 2ft straight and he was like a lamb, infact a little hard to get going. Then when we brought him home for a 2 week trial, he became very anxious when we had a go and he got my friend off 3/4 times in 10 minutes via refusing.

Then about 6 months down the line i got back on him and just popped him over some teenie tiny 1ft crosses. He was good in general , a little refusey etc. However the problems started when this VILE (dont get me started,) woman asked me to do doubles etc. Anywho, he became very strong after the jumps and it just went to pot.

Anywho, I walked away from it quite pleased as a whole, despite this woman demanding she rode him over some instead etc, being that he hadn't bucked, had only had a little rear and i hadn't hit the deck. But its slowly been eating away at me and its become something huge. I'm now terrified of even trotting poles . Sounds ridiculous - i know.

Finally, about 3 months ago when i was apparently feeling brave i booked myself up into a horse camp which of course has a lot of jumping/ xc. I thought brilliant, i'll do a little bit before hand so i'm not holding everyone else up and we'll come away from it having learnt something. The issue is, i havent started jumping him yet, and im absolotuly terrified at the idea. I really, reaaally dont want to spend the week terrified which i know i will do . I wouldn't mind if it was maybe 1 or 2 jumping lessons etc but it's going to be every day and eep. The camp is in July.

I dont really know what i'm saying tbh.
What would you do?
My instructor isn't really a jumper and doesn't think i should jump him until maybe early next year which to me, does sound logical. I also dont want to have jumping lessons almost 'behind her back.'

Help?

 

[Spellbound]

Hey
If you don't feel confident to jump right now then don't do it
Nothing like pushing yourself to far outside of your comfort zone. Slow and steady would be my way forward
What about lunging and ground training him over some small jumps and poles, that way he can start to get some confidence and you can as well by working through issues with not being on his back.
With regards to horse camp what a great idea and a lot of fun. Just be honest to the instructors there about how you feel and how nervous you are. I am more than sure they cater for all riders and horses. So what if you trot round a course of poles that will be an acheivement for you guys.
Don't put pressure on yourself I do it all the time and it really isn't good lol

 

[ForeverBroke_]

I'm just worried i'll be the one that everyone has to sit around waiting for whilst Darcys possibly being a tart or the instructors are putting the jumps down. -sigh-.

My heart says no but my head says yes lol, if that makes sence.

 

[golddustsara]

Why does your instructor think you should wait so long to jump him again? Are his back/teeth ok and been checked? I think if you can get a few more lessons in with your instructor or perhaps a new instructor could bring a fresh light to things. My young boy was very unhappy about going over planks/fillers or anything different to polyjumps so I went to a different instructor for some confidence building lessons before going to summer camp last year. It really helped build both of our confidence and he actually jumped everything at camp, being the only horse in our class that did. Having had a break from jumping for a few months he is a bit rusty and refusey but I'm going to persist with the regular lessons. Do you think perhaps if you kept at the jumping little and often it may help? Perhaps try and make it fun by popping some logs out with friends to give you a lead if needs be or even your local XC venue may have a 1ft 6 course - I know a few round here do. That way your keeping on top of it with an instructor and having fun.

Hope that all makes sense!

 

[Foxyeventing]

If you really WANT to jump then i advise a couple of lessons before you go, if your instructor doesnt specialise in it, explain that you are going to train him a bit with a friend, and rope a knowledgable friend into it. Where abouts are you, i specialise in jumping, if you were closeish i would help.

But as Spellbound says, if you are scared then take your time and do it when youre ready.

 

[ForeverBroke_]

I'm definitly braver going XC for some reason than i am coloured poles/ fillers etc. Don't ask me why lol. I think its the approach to jumps that makes my heart just hammer and Darcy obviously picks up on it.
I think he just needs a little more work on the flat regarding balance but i also wouldn't have said he needs that long. He's all up to date with every kind of check too.
I'm off to a sponsored ride next weekened where there will be optional jumps, so who knows if im feeling brave lol.
I'll get the rescue remedy out now!

 

[golddustsara]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm just worried i'll be the one that everyone has to sit around waiting for whilst Darcys possibly being a tart or the instructors are putting the jumps down. -sigh-.

My heart says no but my head says yes lol, if that makes sence.

[/ QUOTE ]

Should have added to my post a lot of the people at my camp had very little jumping experience - my friend actually went to teach her horse to jump. I find the atmosphere at adult camp really chilled, no-one has to do anything they don't want to and its a really good laugh (with wine at lunch

)

 

[Spellbound]

Go for it at camp, bet it wil be s step towards the making of you jumping.
God I sooooooooooooooo wish I could have a week of intensive riding and instruction with my nag. I might actually get somewhere.
Go for the experience keep your aims simple and acheivable for you both and by the end bet your amazed and doing more than you thought you would.
Maybe try and get a bit of jumping in before going. Just chuck one or two poles out and pop over them in a normal schooling session. Get a lead horse if you need to and then slowly build up to what you are comfortable with.

 

[ForeverBroke_]

I'm thinking of biting the bullet on Sunday (next avaliable free day e.g no lessons/ scheduled hacks

) and putting some trotting poles out. Least then that'll be one less of the list.
So long as he doesn't buck me off like last time

 

[MontyandZoom]

Is it the camp organised by OSBWK hunt??

 

[Spellbound]

Stick a neck strap on as well for added security
I have a handle on front of my saddle that clips on and I won't ride anywhere without it.
Scatter your poles out a bit, legs on big smile relax and go for it. Easier said than done ( I know I have zero confidence) just aim for some fun and if you get round one be really pleased.

 

[ForeverBroke_]

Thanks

I'll keep you updated! Hopefully i'll be physically able to

 

[MontyandZoom]

Oh no.....I think you missed my post!

I was only asking if it was OSBWK camp because I'm going too!!!

 

[ForeverBroke_]

ooh sorry!!
Nope its not

x

 

[Bug]

I am also much more worried about SJ than XC - stupid eh?!

To make myself braver I lunged mine over jumps to see that he miraculously could:

a) jump them
b) didn't fall on his face

This gave me a bit of confidence!!
I just started with poles and then raised them slightly with bricks and then made tiny cross poles (like a grid). This was done over a couple of weeks but did really help.

I also find that I need to do it regularly as otherwise I build it up in my mind as a massive issue!!

I also prefer to do it with a friend on the ground just changing the poles than with an instructor, as then you can feel comfortable that you aren't letting anyone down etc.

Good Luck and I would say bite the bullet, it is fun for me now!

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

DL - I would just start with trotting poles - put them out in different patterns and places and then just keep riding him over them - Nixon is a complete tart at riding trotting poles and will try to go round them when possible!!

- is really good for your seat and using your seat and legs to keep him going forwards over them. When you feel confident doing them move on to little jumps - I would speak to your instructor and find another instructor who does specialise in jumping to help you. I'm sure your flatwork instructor will understand. That way you will have a bit of confidence about going to camp and will enjoy it and get so much more out of it! At least that is what I would do - as you know I am a complete wuss and don't really 'do' jumping!!