Jumping confidence

[Sophiecollins11]

For some reason I have developed as massive fear of jumping straights... I will happily jump a 2'6 cross but a 2ft straight terrifies me!
I'm not a competitive jumper but I do enjoy it for fun only between 2-3ft with my traditional cob. He is the most honest jumper and will always jump what ever is out in front of him and has never stopped once with me!so why am I so scared!!
I lost all my confidence jumping last year after several falls and have started again this year with my own horse and I really want to get over my fear to be able to go out xc or do some novice working hunter classes next year!
Does anyone have any advice for exercises I can do to build my confidence, I'm beginning to get better but haven't been able to go any higher than about 60cm so far...
We can't afford regular lessons although all the lessons I have had jumping over the last few months have not really helped with my confidence in the long run :/

 

[VRIN]

Just stick to the 60cm where you feel confident for a while. If you get into the jump off these fences are bigger than 60cm and will start preparing you for the bigger classes.

 

[Orca]

After you've jumped 60cm, have someone add a pole to make a small spread, with the back pole just slightly higher? Alternatively, try a cross pole in front with a slightly higher than 60cm straight, behind? Maybe playing with the style of jump might help a little ��

 

[Luci07]

Put up small grids for yourself, stick to 60 and a mix of cross poles and uprights and try to do it at least once a week preferably twice. Make it a regular occurrence and then you can build it up again but consistence is the key.

 

[Sophiecollins11]

Thank you everyone I have been stuck on this size straight for about 3 months now! At the momemt I am jumping once a week as that's all I can fit in, I don't compete jumping yet as I mainly do showing and dressage but I would really like to get my confidence up enough to get out to some clear rounds! At the moment I'm worried I will freeze when I get there
I will be Jumping again during the week so will try some different styles of jumps and see how it goes! Thanks again!

 

[Shay]

I know it is tough - but the only way to know if you'll freeze when you get to a competition is to go to a competition!

See if you can find somewhere really friendly with a class starting at 40cm. You are going to be against a load of kids on the lead rein so just be prepared for that. If you are worried because you are an adult go HC. This is where you pay to take part in the competition but don't form part of the rankings. (Or do a clear round of course!) Take a good friend with you. And possibly something like rescue remedy. The more you do the better you'll feel about it - but keep competitions below where you are jumping at home.

 

[Sophiecollins11]

Thank you shay, I think in the new year I am going to have to look around for some clear rounds! I'm not too worried who I'm against, I'm doing it for myself at the end of the day!

 

[wren123]

how's your position over jumps? If you are sometimes unstable and not folding correctly or being left behind, then some good lessons would be in order. A lot of instructors don't actually teach riders how to jump by telling you exactly what your body should and shouldn't do, they just say lean forward and give with your hand. Some riders get it naturally others need more help. If this is the case with you then finding a good instructor could give you confidence.
I have had experience of this myself.
Oh and a jumping lane is a fab tool for helping your position and heading confidence, not sure if health and safety allows now!

 

[Sophiecollins11]

I have had a few jumping lessons with my yard owner over the last few months but i can not afford them regularly sadly and as im more into dressage and showing i mainly use my lessons to focus on those areas! I did have a lesson to work on my position as recently i havnt been folding as much as i should annoyingly! My friends have been shouting fold at me when i havnt done it properly and were getting their slowly haha! 😂

 

[nato]

as im more into dressage and showing i mainly use my lessons to focus on those areas!

If you are in any way a nervous jumper, this is your problem. I am very nervous of jumping, would happily jump a cross pole up to a metre but put an 80cm straight pole in front of me and I fold (pardon the pun!). I love dressage and spent about 8 weeks focusing on flatwork, both at home and in lessons, and this just built up the nerves and fear more in my head because I had let it go so long. The longer I leave it the easier it is not to do it!

I recently got back into jumping and was terrified the first time but I jumped with my coach who I trust to the ends of the earth, and my horse is a saint. I also started off with grids,it places the horse so I can be sure we can just focus on me. As time went on we would do a grid and then do a single fence on the diagonal, starting with a cross pole with a straight in between the crosses, and a final straight.

Last week I jumped a metre course and actually enjoyed it! But I know if I leave it more than a week before jumping again I'll be nervous .

Find a coach who is good for your confidence, and knows the difference between a healthy push out of your Comfort zone and knocking your confidence. Build up over grids and record your jumping, especially the good ones so you can remind yourself of the great rounds and fun you have

But make sure to do it regularly so you don't slip into the dressage/showing focus and lose it again!

 

[Jnhuk]

Try to pop something very small as often as possible but ideally at least three times a week maybe have couple of small jumps that you can pop over from time to time when schooling even if a flatwork session.

Frequent repetitions are key to building confidence but doesn't mean you need to spend the whole schooling session jumping. You will find every excuse going to avoid doing the jumping believe me but be honest to yourself and realise when you are doing that and if you are seriously wanting to break out of this, you need to become aware of this and take steps to overcome this.

If you like flatwork, try to see if you can find any prix caprilli tests as well as going out for some clear round classes and cross pole classes. There are also some XC events with are now offering just small logs on the ground in their schedules so your goals are very achievable but above all keep it fun and enjoy as that builds confidence the fastest, don't feel pressurised to jump out of your comfort zone esp when away from home

 

[blood_magik]

Start off small... height isn't important.

Set up a grid or even a pole with a fixed number of strides (I like to use three) to a small upright and do it a couple of times a week. Once you're comfortable, make the upright bigger. The height can go back down when you take away the pole and you build it back up once you're comfortable again.

Grids are great for building height because you don't have to worry so much about getting a duff stride - this is what I tend to do when I want to get used to jumping bigger fences and not scare myself in the process.

I find that nerves start to creep in if I don't jump regularly. My eye goes out so quickly it's unreal.

 

[Sophiecollins11]

Thank you everyone again, this is so helpful and I have set myself the goal for the new year to jump 90cm as a straight again, I used to do it for fun so that's my challenge! I jump once a week at the momemt as I do compete out dressage regularly so need to get practise in and I prefer having someone on the ground to do poles for me so I do it when someone is free to help me or jump at the same time.
I do really enjoy jumping and I know once I've gone over a straight once or twice I will realise that I'm not going to fall off and I think I need to just build up trust with Banner (horse) as I know he will never stop with me and that's what I'm most scared off I think after a few bad falls last year...
One of my friends may be coming to jump him soon aswell and she jumps a metre or more regularly and is a lot more confident than me, I'm hoping seeing her jump him bigger will make me realise it's not so scary after all haha ��