Jumping woes due to numpty rider...what would you suggest

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justjoules

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The horse I share is absolutely fantastic - he is a real saint to hack, he will spook but nothing silly which I like as well as having lovely manners and a willing nature on the ground and in the school. He is also a fantastic jumper (Grade C).
We went up to a lovely indoor arena this weekend to just have some fun and a change of scenery and he was fantastic, worked in a lovely contact, was forward and sharp of the aids and it felt great. I had so much confidence in him that we even trotted over a couple of cross poles. It sounds like nothing and most people on here will think it is nothing to be proud of but for a rider who has had so many falls jumping and has totally lost their nerve it felt like a huge achievement.
Decided to have a mini jumping session today with owner as she knows the history and is an instructor herself. It was far from great - I got so tense and 'froze' as we approached the jump that I set him off and he got strong and even had a broncing fit. I stayed on and rode him through them and we ended on a good note but I can feel myself falling back into the self-critical trap and almost resigning myself to flatwork. I love flatwork but I really want to jump and he loves jumping too. How do I keep my confidence up?!?!
 
How about sticking with pole work and just the odd cross pole to make flatwork more interesting? Then when that seems no big deal, add a tiny bit more. No need to rush on, just add little extra bits (either an extra fence, a couple of inches higher, a v short grid etc) as you get comfortable with what you have been doing. No need to push yourself too far and get in a panic, it is supposed to be fun remember!
 
Just recently been through this with a mare who started stopping due to me 'freezing'. She was very capable and I wanted nothing more than to jump but just couldn't stop freezing.

What I did was keep everything so small and just bowl over it, keep leg on and don't ever, ever overface yourself. Go along (even just trotting poles) until you get so bored and then raise them just a smidge. But fillers in the side, trot around them, through them. Make up courses, just bowl along and have fun. Go through the motions, sit up, light contact, leg on, correct landing, smooth turns etc. I was on teeny cross poles for a month before I ventured into a straight. It's so much easier when the fences get bigger, just try and ride exactly the same. Just build yourself up slowly, keep everything fun and very do-able so you just ooze confidence. Then when you're jumping teeny spreads and straights get a lesson, but explain at the beginning exactly your situation. I find I'm more confident with an instructor, but if you're unsure just say. I'm now jumping around 3ft courses again which to me is amazing. Just take your time and good luck, I had sessions when I wanted to give up but keep going and you'll get there :)
 
I know just how you feel.

I would recreate your good seesion where you popped the cross poles. What I did was every time I schooled I would put a pole or two out and a couple of cross poles. Then, if I was feeling good and the session was going well, I would do the poles and maybe the cross. If I didn't feel good I would just do flat work. It made life much easier to have them there so I didn;t have to get off, lug jumps out etc or plan to jump and put a course up then bottle it and feel crap!

It also helps to have someone there so that if your cross poles go well, you can maybe pop them up a hole or two againwithout it being a big deal. I did loads and loads of this, and am still reluctant to canter straight at a jump however small!! I have to trot at it first, but that suits me I never wanted to be a show jumper anyway!
 
Solo1 said:
Just recently been through this with a mare who started stopping due to me 'freezing'. She was very capable and I wanted nothing more than to jump but just couldn't stop freezing.

What I did was keep everything so small and just bowl over it, keep leg on and don't ever, ever overface yourself. Go along (even just trotting poles) until you get so bored and then raise them just a smidge. But fillers in the side, trot around them, through them. Make up courses, just bowl along and have fun. Go through the motions, sit up, light contact, leg on, correct landing, smooth turns etc. I was on teeny cross poles for a month before I ventured into a straight. It's so much easier when the fences get bigger, just try and ride exactly the same. Just build yourself up slowly, keep everything fun and very do-able so you just ooze confidence. Then when you're jumping teeny spreads and straights get a lesson, but explain at the beginning exactly your situation. I find I'm more confident with an instructor, but if you're unsure just say. I'm now jumping around 3ft courses again which to me is amazing. Just take your time and good luck, I had sessions when I wanted to give up but keep going and you'll get there :)
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^^^^^ Echo this ^^^^^^

I am also a numpty, who freezes, and pony stops dead when i do!!! i have had some disasters out in the show jumping ring, and a few weeks ago, i felt like giving up. However i have done just as Solo1 suggests, keep going over teeny tiny jumps, until your bored, put em up a little bit at a time and keep doing it until your comfortable. If you can get your instructor out again its easier to get someone else to put the jumps up for you, and its easier having someone on the ground who will encourage you.

It will come - ive just had a fab weekend, 2 double clears at our local RC :D

Keep it up and don't give up :D
 
Echo what other people have said, I had an accident jumping and broke my arm in two places, and had to have two operations and some plates put in my arm as well as being in a cast for 6 months (I'm not one to do things by halves!) needless to say, I lost my balls somewhat at jumping to the point I was terrified to even walk over a pole on the ground.

I've just taken it really steadily, I do get envious when I see other people flying round 3'+ courses because I know I have the ability to do it and my mare never stops or runs out or anything - she's a great confidence giver. I will get there eventually though! That's me going over a little cross in my avatar. Just don't push yourself and only stick with what you're happy doing! :)
 
A cross pole to some folks is a 4ft fence to others :D good on you guys for giving it a try, dont compare yourselves to others, every day you go over your fence you are a step closer to attaining the goal you set yourself.
 
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