Lost Jumping Confidence

[Ziggy_]

I jumped today for the first time since my last jumping lesson. If anyone didn't see that thread, here's the link...

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/sh...rue#Post3455888

Anyway, the first thing I noticed was I had a lot more control, when warming up and over the first couple of jumps. We popped over a few up to about 2'6'' with no problems. Nice controlled canter, got the strides right, etc. Then I decided to try a few bigger ones. We tried a one stride double - the stride ended up far too short and we cleared it with a huge leap. We got way too deep to an upright about 2'9'' and knocked it down twice. We tried a spread about 3', got too deep and had a horrible awkward jump that resulted in me landing with no stirrups

Tried it again, and after 2 refusals had the front rail. Tried it again and went through, rather than over it, with myself and my horse rapidly losing our last little shreds of confidence. We popped a few smaller ones just to finish on a good note but I just feel useless!

I lost my confidence big time when a horse landed on me 4 years ago. At the same time, 4 years ago with another owner, my mare went on total strike from jumping and would have an absolute tantrum if faced with a trotting pole. We both slowly built our confidence in our own time, in our own style and until that lesson had never had a pole down, refusal or run out.

Why, when I have the slightest semblance of control, does my horses' ability to clear fences go flying out of the window?! I really need some advice on how to get our confidence back. She never used to refuse, or knock fences down and now it happens constantly and I just don't know what to do next. I'm developing a mental block about jumping higher than 2'6'' and apparently so is my horse

 

[inamo]

How long have you been jumping with your horse for? Have you eliminated physical pain as a reason for her struggling with higher jumps?

Assuming that she's not in pain it sounds like she's confused. Have you still got your legs on to compensate for the increased rein contact? It sounds like you are using too much rein and have ended up with a slow flat canter rather than a bouncy collected one which is making it hard for her to jump.

Go back to the absolute basics, once you get those right everything else will become easier. Make sure that you can canter at a steady pace and also send her on and bring her back easily. Next add in cantering over poles. Move on to simple fences with a placing pole so that you can judge her strides better and help her take off in the right place. Then and only then, move on to doubles and grids.

I'd also strongly suggest that you explain your problems to your new instructor and also get a friend to video to help highlight what the problem is.

Good luck

 

[fanatic]

Check out www.beckychapman.co.uk she is over in Ashen Suffolk I had a really nasty series of falls and I would not go over a cross pole, this lady is amazing she runs lots of different courses for both horse and rider, she works with a guy called Pete Docherty, I attended one of their EFT courses it was brilliant and it worked, and I am a huge sceptic. thoroughly reccomend it especially as Im back jumping affiliated again, all the best

 

[jumpthemoon]

What do you want to do with her, competition wise? Are yo uaiming to affiliate, or do you want to stick to local competitions, etc? Has your instructor given you any indication of why you are getting in so deep at the bigger fences? I would guess that it is something to do with your riding, rather than the horse (no offence, but you have said you lost your confidence). Is it possible you are changing something without realising on the approach to a slightly bigger fence? Have you tried a different instructor, just to see if they can shed any light on the situation?