Nerves and a mental block when jumping - tips to get over this?

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equitum

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I will admit that since I had my little boy my nerves certainly aren't what they used to be.

I started learning to jump a month before finding out I was pregnant, and have just recently over the last couple months got some more confidence to begin again (I didn't ride at all whilst pregnant) with jumping lessons.

I thought I was progressing and have been jumping 60/70 cm in my lessons (unfortunately I don't have the facilities to practice at the yard at home) but I seem to have hit a wall and gone backwards. I am now fine with cross poles but the moment we start jumping higher I get scared which reflects on my horse as he will lose confidence the moment I do. The more I tell myself to be brave the more scared I get.

Despite this I actually really love to jump and really enjoy having the lessons so I want to persevere.

I know my seat needs more work and I need to learn to keep my heels down to stop me flying upwards (which certainly doesn't help with me feeling scared!) and I am sure with practice this will come in time but how on earth do I get over these "new mum" nerves?

Any tips or similar stories would be great :)
 
I know how you feel. My boy is not an honest jumper and would duck out at the lat minute, we worked through this and started jumping ok but on occasion he would still throw his toys out of the pram and I wouldn't get over fence 1. Then I got pregnant and stopped jumping, after baby number 1 m jumping confidence was in tatters and we were back at tiny cross poles and not always getting over them, then came baby number 2, this time I got an instructor and we are doing well it's not been easy and there are times I still feel sick at the thought of jumping (although I love doing it) when in doubt I grab a big chunk of mane - makes me feel safer.
So that's me, nit much help I know, but at least you know you are not the only one :)
 
I think one of my confidence issues is because deep down, I think I'm not a very good rider, but I think the more you do it, and the more lessons you have, the better it gets. Holding a lump of mane is good, sitting up as late as possible so if he does stop or whatever you're ok and visualising perfect jumps in your head, over and over again, all helps.
 
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