Improving confidence - jumping heights

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YummyHorses

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So I have a very capable horsey (KWPN, out of Indoctro) that can jump anything and will jump anything bless him. He is a very geniune horse that always looks after me.

BUT I just clam up when it gets bigger. Okay with Novice and Disco but I get nervous above this. I start to question everything - well mainly my stride coz I feel that if I get it wrong when its bigger than we can both potentially get hurt. I guess this could happen at any height but I seem to have a bit of a mental block on the height.

My ambitions are not for the 1.30m plus world, I want to be a competitive entry around the 1.10/15m height on the local circuit. I am not aiming for HOYS in other words!!!

Feel a bit silly and cross with myself as I am wasting a talented horse. I am made out of tough stuff so I will get through this - I just wanted some guidance and ideas I guess.

So anyone else had this? Been through similar? Feel this way? And what have you done about it? How did you get over it?

Thanks in advance.
 
Dont worry - you are not alone! I start to freeze up at anything above 1m. My instructor has always said that I must keep jumping those heights to get used to them, but being totally honest with myself, I think my naural ceiling is 90cm/1m. Like you, I start to worry about getting the 'right' stride, but also think some of my confidence issues could be that my equine partner is only 14.3hh - although he is very capable up to 1m 10, coming into oxers at that height freak me out completely!
The only thing that helps me is to jump smaller at home but compete at higher levels - my competitive edge gives me the determination to get over, whereas at home I like to stick to my comfort zone.
Good luck
 
I had similar problems, the horse I ride is more than capable of jumping really decent fences but I had major confidence issues with anything above 2ft. What helped- a person on the ground (or 2 in my case) who knew both the horse and my capabilities well, they gave me so much confidence and I trusted them that they wouldn't put any fence up that they didn't believe both the horse and I would get over. That and lots of practice have helped me so much :) We went from jumping tiny 1'6" logs to 3'3" with a 3'9" spread :)
 
Before I am go show jumping I have to have schooled over bigger fences at home so I 'know he can do it' despite the fact he would probably jump it anyways. I have a measuring stick in the car so when I go schooling I can measure the fence to make sure! Bit obessive!
 
Thanks guys - glad I am not alone.....I guess I just need to jump higher and I will then get used to it, it will become natural. They just look so bloody big - particularly the oxers.

Anyway, gunna talk to my trainer and get her to help as well. I really want to do it - no matter how scared I am - I am determined to jump higher.

Take care and thanks for your comments....
 
Another thing I do is set up a straight forward grid and keep increasing the last element - then I feel more confident about the height without the worry of the striding....
 
I don't know if anyone will see this;
I have a similar problem! I get so nervous when jumping bigger fences and I think I effect my horse as well. I know this is bad but I was listening to music to try and keep myself calm because I get worked up and worried and I felt more confident. Is there any way I can become more confident? :confused: :(
 
I have to concentrate on keeping a steady forwards-moving counter so I sing to myself :)
I also school over bigger fences at home - we're doing 1.10-1.20 and 90 at shows :o
 
I think many of us have these confidence issues. An old friend who competed internationally gave me this advice: a good, experienced horse will manage his own stride up to about 1m jumps. He reckoned at 1m we make too much fuss about seeing the stride. (well, certainly I do!)

I didn't believe him, but gave it a try. It has worked for me. But that might just be because horse sense means my horse knows he has a person with no rhythm on his back, so he'd better sort himself out. So far, "point and go" works with him.
But it doesn't mean I'll be jumping higher on him any time soon!

As for "wasting a talented horse".... I've been through that angst too, and it still worries me because one of mine is really really good. However he is happy, we work well together, so why should I "promote" him to a better rider?! A good horse is NEVER wasted if he's happy, enjoyed, and appreciated.:)

And grids and bounces help, IMHO
 
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If my horse as well isn't too confident, how can I improve my horses' confidence? I've been doing grid work and jumped up too 3ft6/9, but I'm too nervous to re jump it again:/ I know she can jump it, I'm just nervous :confused:
 
I lost my confidence totally jumping after my horse got ill and I just stopped jumping at all.
I started having lessons on YO's horses (very, very capable and honest!) and she got me used to jumping 1m (I'd only ever jumped 1m once before!) - built it up little by little at first, but then that just became the norm.

Unfortunately, I've lost all my confidence again through not doing it :o
Just keep going at it, jump the heights you're confident with and get used to that, until you get more confidence then move up slowly :) it will come in time.
K x
 
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