Jumping - self confidence

[Jinx94]

Hi guys,

I had a jump lesson from a friend (qualified coach, big focus on sports psychology) on her horse yesterday. Really enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next one, she wants me to jump her mare at least once again before Christmas

Until yesterday, I hadn't ever jumped anything that really uses its back end over a fence. It was definitely a change! My technique did improve quite a bit but I still have a long way to go.

All went fairly well until our final jump. Our approach was good, I felt confident and relaxed, the mare had a really good rhythm and I had a point to focus on beyond the fence. I had a moment three strides out, but mentally recovered and cracked on. Unfortunately, as she took off, my brain suddenly went "Oh ****!" and I forgot how to ride. I got left behind and landed on her neck (apparently succeeding in not socking her in the gob?!) she bronced and I pitched straight over her shoulder and got trodden on ? I'm fine! I got really lucky and just have some nasty bruising, ankle and foot are definitely not broken. I couldn't get back on at the time, but have ridden since and made a point of pushing myself outside of my comfort zone so that the fear doesn't have a chance to set in.

My question is, how can I get rid of this ridiculous freezing??

It is nerves, but I'm not scared. It's more that I lack confidence in my own ability?

The height of the fence doesn't seem to be the issue as I froze to an extent before almost every jump. My brain spits out "you can't do this" and for a second or more, I believe it.

It might sound crazy, but I do actually really enjoy jumping ??

So.. any advice for fixing the self confidence??

TIA!! x

 

[VRIN]

Nothing to offer just keep going! It will get easier the more you do - maybe do some work on making yourself more secure in the saddle, maybe lots of work in a jumping seat ..

 

[be positive]

Gridwork is ideal for this, you do not really have to set the horse up so can focus on what you are doing on top which should help you relax, start to go with the horse more naturally and hopefully enjoy it, any one who lacks confidence usually benefits more from gridwork than jumping individual fences and it does transfer once the feel is there although may take several sessions to really allow the rider to relax.

 

[Red-1]

^^^ I too was gong to suggest grid work, but I would include on a schoolmaster that doesn't bronc you off and tread on you if you make a mistake!

I use grids of up to 5 fences, starting with poles on the floor, trot to the first pole, then X pole 9 ft approx to get the canter in the perfect stride, then 9-10.5 ft to the next then 10.5 isa for the rest, a touch bigger if you are learning on giants.

I didn't let people jump single fences until they were confident down a grid up to 80cm, as an over.

Bounce fences are also great for learning to sit and let it happen.

But on a more forgiving horse!

 

[SmallSteps]

1) echo the school master point, if you make mistakes and it doesn’t matter, you’ll stop freezing, if you’re put on a horse that broncs you’ll learn to freeze particularly if the horse only bucks sometimes when you’ve got it wrong
2) keep busy! You need to be doing something else to not freeze, not moving about and distracting the horse but keeping your heels down, hands up, back straight, whatever gives you something to really focus on *to the point of distraction*. (You can even ride in the style of someone else, an impression of someone stylish and confident doesn’t give you time to freeze, but that’s another thread)

 

[Gill & Laney]

Hi guys,

I had a jump lesson from a friend (qualified coach, big focus on sports psychology) on her horse yesterday. Really enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next one, she wants me to jump her mare at least once again before Christmas

Until yesterday, I hadn't ever jumped anything that really uses its back end over a fence. It was definitely a change! My technique did improve quite a bit but I still have a long way to go.

All went fairly well until our final jump. Our approach was good, I felt confident and relaxed, the mare had a really good rhythm and I had a point to focus on beyond the fence. I had a moment three strides out, but mentally recovered and cracked on. Unfortunately, as she took off, my brain suddenly went "Oh ****!" and I forgot how to ride. I got left behind and landed on her neck (apparently succeeding in not socking her in the gob?!) she bronced and I pitched straight over her shoulder and got trodden on ? I'm fine! I got really lucky and just have some nasty bruising, ankle and foot are definitely not broken. I couldn't get back on at the time, but have ridden since and made a point of pushing myself outside of my comfort zone so that the fear doesn't have a chance to set in.

My question is, how can I get rid of this ridiculous freezing??

It is nerves, but I'm not scared. It's more that I lack confidence in my own ability?

The height of the fence doesn't seem to be the issue as I froze to an extent before almost every jump. My brain spits out "you can't do this" and for a second or more, I believe it.

It might sound crazy, but I do actually really enjoy jumping ??

So.. any advice for fixing the self confidence??

TIA!! x

Self hypnosis Rider Confidence cd has really helped me with my jumping.

 

[Trinket12]

I focus on counting, for me it's canter poles that I have a freak out on (no idea why ) but I count the strides, or the rhythm of the canter (1,2,3,1,2,3 etc.) under my breath. It seems to stop my brain from going and I focus on what we're doing (though I still don't like canter poles, give me a nice gymnastic anytime )