no confidence jumping :(

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MasterMacAndCBH

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Hiya :) I have two ponies on share and both are very good jumpers. I had a few falls off one of them last summer resulting in me having no confidence jumping what so ever. I have gone from jumping 2ft6 confidently to being scared to trot over a cavaletti :( I am scared they are going to over jump as that is why I fell off before as I wasn't ready. I also don't trust myself about knowing when they are going to take off either meaning that i look down which makes it all go wrong :( So does anyone know how I can get my confidence back? Any help would be amazing thank youuu :)))
 
Go back to basics.

I had a huge confidence dent when a horse fell on me. I came off uninjured but it terrified me. My instructor was brilliant. Start with ground poles and work up.

Also, If someone can video you, That can be helpful. I didn't realise just how badly my lack of confidence was affecting my riding in all areas - I was tipping forward, gripping with my knees, pulling on the mouth the lot and i didn't even realise - I even argued with my instructor when she told me what i was doing.

Watching the lessons back help me see where i was going wrong, Instead of just being told and having to remember it for next time. I found it improved my confidence ten fold as before a lesson i could watch my videos back and concentrate on what to do and what to improve on. It was so helpful.

Also, The first time after my fall that i jumped anything more than a 30cm cross was in a game of higher and higher. I found i was so psyched up from the previous jump, adding on an inch or two each time seemed such a small difference i just went for it, It was brill!
 
Back to basics:)
If you have someone on the ground to help you it will be much easier - start with a cross pole (as your jump) with a placing pole on the ground approx 9ft from the aproach of the jump (9ft give or take depending on the size of your horse thus length of its stride;))
just do this from a nice steady trot;)
 
take it REALLY slowly, and just use trotting poles for a good while. Then go up a little very gradually. ALWAYS have someone with you to look out for you - even try being lunged ? And use a good Instructor.

Is it worth going to a riding school and practice on one of the school's ponies in a lesson ?

Good luck xx
 
Ditto the above posts. Also why not just go out & have some fun on the ponies, you don't need to jump! Getting your confidence back in them, & being able to sit better to them (which you can work on even when you are playing with them) will help you feel their strides.
 
I would agree with the others. Get the trotting poles out and get an instructor in that you really respect. When I have lessons my instructor gets more from me than I would on my own. She knows when to push and when not to. Start from scratch and increase very slowly.
 
Thank you everyone! :D I have been given the chance to compete for my school, hence why I want to get my confidence back! I can just compete in dressage but one of my ponies I have on share is more of I jumping pony and he loves it so I really want to get it back and I will be able to go to some shows :D thank you again :)
 
do let us know how you get on - lots and lots of peeps have confidence issues (me most definitely included :o), and it'll be really interesting to hear back x
 
I will :) I finish my exams in a week tomorrow so its horses horses horses now for 3 months ♥ :D xx I hope you get your confidence back as well :D x
 
Ditto the above too!
I have also lost all confidence jumping - used to love it when I was younger, but had a bad fall as a teen, and haven't had much opportunity in the meantime. Fast forward 20 yrs and I'm trying to get my confidence back!

I have found that for me the best route is having regular lessons. I'm having a jumping lesson every week and gradually it's becoming less terrifying. I figure that if I do it often enough it will eventually be OK! I started a few weeks back doing poles just barely off the ground, and now am up to doing a couple of foot. Still scary but do-able. So there is hope,- if I can do it, you can.

So in conclusion, all of the above. Take it slowly, find a good instructor and keep at it. You will get there. Have fun!
 
thank you so much :) I have an instructor who has been helping me and I did my first jump since september over easter but she is recovering from an operation and won't be down for another 2 months :'( So I am looking into asking another instructor to come down and just help me get balanced and confident over really tiny jumps and then when my other instructor comes back I can work from there :D Thank you so much for all your help :D xx
 
thank you so much :) I have an instructor who has been helping me school one of them and helping me gain my confidence, I did my first jump since september over easter, but she is away recovering from an operation at the moment and she won't be down for 2 months :'( I am looking into getting another instructor just to help me gain my confidence while she is away so when she comes back we can continue to make improvements :)) thank you so much for all your help....not that I wish it upon anyone but I am glad to hear I am not the only one with no confidence jumping! All my friends are flying around the field and then there is me just schooling haha :) Hopefully by the end of the summer I will back jumping and hacking with confidence as well :D xx
 
Agree with the above. It is really important to have a good position over a jump.

And you need really short stirrups. It feels wrong to have short stirrups when you are trying to wrap your legs as far round the horse as possible, but it really, really helps.

With long stirrups, you pitch forward because you come up onto your toes, so find an instructor who specialises in jumping and who is really insistant on a good position over a fence.

Good luck.
 
Do you enjoy jumping or is it something you think you should do because ponys good at it/ friends enjoy it? I spent years bullying myself thru confidence issues to do competitions which to be honest i hated, but i thought because everyone else enjoyed it I should too. Now I have a fat cob to hack around the country going on all sorts of adventures and I love it! Never been happier with my riding! Even if your horse is good at jumping he isnt going to mind if you don't do it. Just enjOy yourself! But if it is something you enjoy then go for it!
 
thank you :) I enjoyed it when I had the confidence and I love it as soon as I landed after the jump safely haha :) I think I worry to much about messing it up and I just need to go for it even if its just a small cross pole :D Hopefully the horses will forgive me when I do get it wrong!! :) I have booked a lesson for next tuesday so hoping it all will go ok :D
 
hiya, sad to hear it :(
i would personally recommend booking a lesson with becky n.
i can give u her number if needed
she is an AMAZING instructor and rider, shortlisted for the olympics so they say!!!
ill give ya a few tips from her:
-kick
-close your eyes
-leap
-realise youve forgotton the pony
-cry
-flop
-ouch
-repeat

and youll be jumping 3ft in no time!!! either that or come watch me ride mi beastie, have a good laff and then realise how amazing your ponies are hhah!
see you at chobham chasers bruvv xxxx lovies xxxxxx
 
Hi, I have never had a lot of confidence jumping and I have been riding 40 years, I havent done any real jumping for the last 15 years after a nasty fall, pin and plated leg, just the occasional log out hunting, anyway went to help a hunt hireling yard last year and rode lots of different horses, we used to take the horses to the woods for some fun and we were jumping all the logs and ditches, it was so much fun, still won't do competitions, but now I don't worry so much jumping, went last month to woods and jumped a 4yr old that was just broken 3 weeks previous, not jumped anything, she was a star, I was so thrilled. Have some fun jumping then progress from there, especially if you have a pony that's good at jumping he/she will give you more confidence.
p.s. I am 60 yrs old by the way and I still get very nervous but try to ride through it. Good luck please don't give up.
 
sally87 said:
Do you enjoy jumping or is it something you think you should do because ponys good at it/ friends enjoy it? I spent years bullying myself thru confidence issues to do competitions which to be honest i hated, but i thought because everyone else enjoyed it I should too. Now I have a fat cob to hack around the country going on all sorts of adventures and I love it! Never been happier with my riding! Even if your horse is good at jumping he isnt going to mind if you don't do it. Just enjOy yourself! But if it is something you enjoy then go for it!
Click to expand...

Really Sally87, is that you in your avatar, that looks a good jump to me?
 
Housemouse said:
Agree with the above. It is really important to have a good position over a jump.

And you need really short stirrups. It feels wrong to have short stirrups when you are trying to wrap your legs as far round the horse as possible, but it really, really helps.

With long stirrups, you pitch forward because you come up onto your toes, so find an instructor who specialises in jumping and who is really insistant on a good position over a fence.

Good luck.
Click to expand...

Hmmm, I know where you are coming from but with an over-jumping baby I find a slightly longer stirrup more secure - stops you from pinging. Also if they stop you want to be longer and more sitting back. Truthfully I think the length of stirrup has to depend on the saddle. With a good jumping saddle yes - shorten up. With a GP, I would advise caution!
 
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