Need any answers asap! Jumping confidence/will my 14hh do it?

[franlottie]

I've had my 14hh 16 y/o dun mare, Lottie, for 5 and a half months.
She's been to BSPS jumping 1.10m, HOYS doing WHP, Winter & Summer Champs, and BE courses.
At first she'd jump top of the blocks easily (90cm) when I got her. I was over the moon. I think I over jumped her and she started to get bored. So, I stopped jumping her for a few weeks and did different things.
Now, my confidence is just gone. I've fallen off her 5 times already. She occasionally bucks (I stay on) and even if I feel like she will go into the jump that she's going to refuse.....and she sometimes does. So, I take her round 3 times again and see if she does it. She normally does!
But I get so anxious. I always just want to go and see her, and take her into a 1 metre jump. Whether I fall off or not, do you think I should just do it and try and constantly try?
Please give tips for my jumping, confidence, and ways to stop/ignore her bucking!
Also, what height jumps do you think my first WHP show should be?
Thanks xxx

 

[Arizahn]

Get her saddle, teeth, back and feet checked, and also whether the bridle and bit fit properly. In the meantime, take jumping lessons with a good instructor on a confidence giving type of horse. Once you are confident and jumping well, get lessons on your mare and develop your jumping with her.

Start small and build up, but remember to keep her interested and not let her get bored or sour - maybe alternate jump lessons with dressage, or else some fun hacks or forestry rides?

 

[Jnhuk]

I think you need to think about you and your pony's technique rather than be so height focused. Get some on the ground help from an instructor to see what is going on. If the mare has the experience you state, then it is most likely that it is you that is affecting her jump and the fact that you seem to think you have sickened her of jumping.

I would go out and do some low clear rounds to get you both going again once you've worked out what you are doing. If you are tense and worried, there is high chance that you are giving her signals that ask for her to refuse. Forget about the height just now.

Presume you have had her checked physically and all is okay? Bucking and refusing can also be a sign of something wrong

 

[Shay]

Ditto get the medical checks done. At 16 she is probably about ready to step down a level. Make sure you get hocks / fetlocks / tendons etc checked for early signs of degeneration - unless you had that done as part of 5* vetting on purchase? It does all depend on conformation and previous use but she is relatively small for 1.10+ as a veteran and might need a bit of technical support and good rider balance to help her.

Once you are sure there no pain, tack fitted correctly etc then get some lessons from an accredited instructor. Try the BS or BE register to get someone who specializes in jumping. Start low and try to re-build confidence in each other. Don't worry about WHP classes etc until you've got the kinks sorted out.

 

[chestnut cob]

What other work do you do with her, besides load of jumping?

 

[hnmisty]

Froget the height for now, you're not doing either of you any favours by fixating on that. Why keep trying to jump 1m when you think you're not going to manage it, when if you just lowered the pole and jumped 50cm you'd feel confident. Sounds like trying to open a door by knocking your head through it rather than using the handle to me!

As has been said, she is quite small for jumping 1.10m tracks (jumping that as a single fence is completely different from jumping a course that won't only have the height but also the spread). If you have lost your nerve, then you are asking her to take you over big fences with no help from you. Also agree that at 16 she might be happy to drop down a level or two.