New to jumping - Help Please

[becky_bongoose]

Hello!

Dont usually post, much prefer to look at peoples pretty horses on here but just wondering if anyone could give me any tips for learning to jump?

I am pretty novice at riding having horse for 9 months, I have tried a few times with little cross poles but have zero confidence and I'm not sure why, I darent even go over a caveletti now! my horse is a lovely 17 yr old and can jump perfect and my friends jump her often to keep her going as she loves it, but I just can't see myself getting over anything I have a friend who teaches me at the moment but wanted to see if anyone had any other ideas I could work on.

Any tips or exercises or anything much appreciated

Thanks

 

[Merrymoles]

Go back to doing flatwork over poles on the floor, ask your instructor if they can eventually be laid out as a course and concentrate on riding nicely around the course with a good rhythm and nice softness and before you know it you'll be asking for a little tiny crosspole at the end!
Seriously, most people get a touch of the nerves from time to time and by taking yourself back to the beginning you can start to build yourself up again. Take your time but demand that you improve a bit each time and it will give you lots of confidence for when you are ready to leave the ground again.
Good luck!

 

[CatStew]

Hello,

I think the best thing for you to do would be to have jumping lessons from a qualified instructor if you're not already!

Exercises you could perhaps try at home would be to ask a friend to lunge your horse whilst you ride so you can practise the forward seat and jumping position, first on the flat, to help you find your balance and then progressing onto ground poles and cavaletti and a very small cross pole.

I really would recommend finding a qualified instructor though!!

 

[becky_bongoose]

hello

thank you for replies, now i have some idea of what I can do to get started

well my friend/YO is a qualified instructor and today she was teaching someone else while I was pottering about and said I should pop over a teeny one but I was too nervous and felt really annoyed with my self for being a wimp so I think if I have something to work on to get me jumping instead of just going in blind it might be better...or maybe I should stop being a wimp and just do it... thank you xx