Ouch! - how do I concentrate on the positive rather than the negative

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Pidge

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Well thought after the other day where we had a good play over the jumps that would do the same today. Don't know where I went wrong but we had a slight disagreement over whether to jump the wall or not and I plopped over Pidge's head
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Fortunately nothing hurt bar my bum and pride
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Pidge a bit worried as to why mum is sat on the floor
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So get back on and pop a couple of other fences before tackling the wall again and scramble over not very elegantly
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do it a couple of more time and finish on a good note doing the wall reasonably well
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However I just wasn't with it today and was trying to see a stride today instead of just sitting with him and letting him sort it out resulting in him putting in lots of short ones, bad mum
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and I did catch him in the mouth a couple of times as well so feel like a bad mum again
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On the plus side the fences were all 2'3" - 2'6" and I didn't worry about the height at all and I was riding in my dressage saddle as my jump saddle is still not fixed so wasn't ideal for jumping in really! And Pidge was absolutely loving it as would plod around like a snail until I pointed him at a fence
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I do struggle to focus on the positives and concentrate more on the negatives, any tips for reversing this gratefully received?
 
I think you're doing really well!

Horses are funny things tho & never seem to be in the same mood 2 days running, which is why it's so hard to make steady progress sometimes. I bet you'll both be fine next time you decide to have a jump!

You are braver than me jumping in your dr saddle. I have enough trouble staying on in my jumping saddle!!
 
Sounds to me like you're both doing brilliantly well. I think you are a little hard on yourself! We aren't perfect riders all the time are we?! And our horses aren't perfect every day either. Everyone has off days but from the sounds of it, that really doesn't sound like one! You're doing fab!

New year's resolution for you.... Everything you do is an achievement, really try and remember that. Yes, you had a blip at the start of your session, but by the end you were jumping the wall beautifully. This is a great thing, no?!
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I have no general tips for focusing on the positive...obviously, being me....but maybe I can help with the jumping thingie?
If you become fixated on finding a stride, this often goes along with staring at the jump, or worse still, the ground below the jump....
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instead as you approach, look ahead...at trees on the horizon...and try to 'feel' when the jump comes rather than control it.
As a rider your job is to bring the horse to the fence in a straight approach, with enough impulsion to get over it...
Another tip might be to chant 'wonderful, wonderful' in time to the canter rhythm as riding round a course....it helps to keep you calm, breathing, and keeps the tempo constant.
As for catching him in the mouth...this suggests that you are being left behind a little, and there's tension in your upper arms to hands....try doing little circles outwards with your hands, shrugging your shoulders to release the latter.
If you don't feel that you are taking jumping position in good time, try riding the whole course in half seat or jump position...that way you can't be unprepared (but it does need thighs of steel if you're not used to it)
Have fun...and if you do fall off...get pictures for us..
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S
 
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I so often find myself agreeing with you that it worries me, and I might have to convert
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Well, you are one of my target 'recruits'
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Let me know when you need a Satanist starter pack...
S
 
thanks it was all going reasonably well until the disagreement at the wall, don't know why as have jumped it a few times now and he's been fine. Have no option unfortunately but to jump in my dressage saddle as my jump saddle has been away since the end of Novemeber to be fixed but no sign of it coming back yet
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and Pidge and me were going nuts with not jumping so just decided to bite the bullet and go for it!
 
Can I just say that a really good tip, If me and the mare hadn't had a huge fall out (literally) and I've banished her from jumping (well for now anyway!) You would def see me out jumping a course chanting wonderful....... maybe mixed with a few choice words!!
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thanks it was all going reasonably well until the disagreement at the wall, don't know why as have jumped it a few times now and he's been fine. Have no option unfortunately but to jump in my dressage saddle as my jump saddle has been away since the end of Novemeber to be fixed but no sign of it coming back yet
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and Pidge and me were going nuts with not jumping so just decided to bite the bullet and go for it!

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Yes, you had a 'challenge' at the wall, but you solved it correctly...so think about the positive aspects of solving it...and practice re-riding it properly in your mind.
Next try bareback jumping
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S
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i think your doing really well! falling off then going for it again untill you were happy with it is a very positive thing!

i used to put a placing pole out 3 strides before the jump which helped me with my confidence.

keep at it!!
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thanks saskia
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I know I'm hard on myself but don't know how to change
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but am willing to learn
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So concentrate as well on the fact that when warming up I got him to drop on the bit and use his back end and back properly without the harbridge on which is a huge achievement for us
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and that I wasn't worried about the height of the fences either
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Gosh it's hard trying to focus on the positives - is it just me or human nature?
 
Thanks oh mighty demon one
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you've got it in one, were you secretly watching me today
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Pidge adores his jumping and we quite often come in quickly or sideways with my trying to control the speed, hence the hands and shoulders being tense. When I relax and just go with the flow, or take the handbrake off
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it goes fab and he just motors round and flies over the fences. When I try to interfer with the speed or striding it all goes wrong and you would think by now I'd learn to just leave him to get on with it but no that naggling little part of my brain goes, nice controlled canter, 3,2,1, etc etc and then the poles come done or me! We don't struggle with impulsion as he has so much energy (over 2 hours over the Chase yesterday galloping up lots of hills
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) its just controlling it I have problems with. I have tried to jump round in the jump position but everyone else says this is wrong and that I need to sit up in between the fences, confused I am!
 
haha you and me both, I remember once going ooooohhhh, aah, woah and braaaakes quickly followed by oooops don't squash the assistant!

We went back to the drawing board regarding control after that one!!

but hey least they're enthusiastic?
 
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Thanks oh mighty demon one
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you've got it in one, were you secretly watching me today
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Pidge adores his jumping and we quite often come in quickly or sideways with my trying to control the speed, hence the hands and shoulders being tense. When I relax and just go with the flow, or take the handbrake off
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it goes fab and he just motors round and flies over the fences. When I try to interfer with the speed or striding it all goes wrong and you would think by now I'd learn to just leave him to get on with it but no that naggling little part of my brain goes, nice controlled canter, 3,2,1, etc etc and then the poles come done or me! We don't struggle with impulsion as he has so much energy (over 2 hours over the Chase yesterday galloping up lots of hills
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) its just controlling it I have problems with. I have tried to jump round in the jump position but everyone else says this is wrong and that I need to sit up in between the fences, confused I am!

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I watch everyone....all the time....
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There are a number of reasons why horses use speed when jumping...lack of engagement behind, habit (ex racehorses), anxiety, sometimes weakness behind.....rather than doing courses...when it can get fast and furious by the end, try doing single jumps for example apex jumps to teach him to round and bascule, or grids...where he'll learn from the spacing...or you can jump him from trot...gives you more time to sort out speed, line, on the approach and he'll be able to jump the heights you are talking about from trot.
Hope this helps. For positive thinking, try looking at some of the author Jane Savoie's books and CDs.
S
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thanks serena it din't feel like it at the time as I was cacking it coming down to the wall again
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doesn't help that is a proper big wall like they do the puissance with just ours was about 2'6" not over 7'
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you definately were watching weren't you as we played with single fences or doubles or related and then progressed to courses of 7 fences and yes towards the end we were motoring too fast
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I think Pidge goes fast jumping for 2 reasons, 1 he absolutely adores it and I do call him my cruise missile as he definately locks on to the fences and takes you to them
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and 2 he came from a hunt yard in Ireland so think he is used to jumping at speed
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we do grid work but unfortunately he has a habit of motoring and last week he nearlly did one stride instead of two and that was strided at 16 paces
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(he is 17hh and has a long stride!) what is an apex fence?
have never managed really to get him to trot over fences
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[ QUOTE ]
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you definately were watching weren't you as we played with single fences or doubles or related and then progressed to courses of 7 fences and yes towards the end we were motoring too fast
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I think Pidge goes fast jumping for 2 reasons, 1 he absolutely adores it and I do call him my cruise missile as he definately locks on to the fences and takes you to them
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and 2 he came from a hunt yard in Ireland so think he is used to jumping at speed
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we do grid work but unfortunately he has a habit of motoring and last week he nearlly did one stride instead of two and that was strided at 16 paces
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(he is 17hh and has a long stride!) what is an apex fence?
have never managed really to get him to trot over fences
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You could try slowing him down by insisting on a halt a few strides before the fence...and halting a few strides after...this can make you 'hold' a bit too much though.
Or if you think he's set in his ways...with a reasonable speed technique, you could sit, relax and enjoy?
An apex jump is a straight bar...but with two poles coming in from the sides...with one end meeting on the straight bar...hard to describe but I don't know how to add images.
Maybe someone else will do it for me?
S
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hmmm tried that one but it just resulted in us pinging around before and after fences as it seems to make him worse
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He doesn't buck or rear under saddle but has mastered the rocking horse sideways canter to perfection
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Think the sit relax and enjoy could be the better option, will he slow down if the jumps get bigger do you think?
Got it, I know what you mean now by apex, 2 poles that sit on the jump pole in the middle of the pole going outwards making you jump the middle of the fence right?
 
Lower your standards! I took my strange mare showjumping for the second time yesterday over ridiculously small fences (she's done a bit of BSJA with a professional before I bought her). We got eliminated at number 5. I was chuffed to bits that I didn't get pi**ed off with and we managed to get over numbers 1 - 4! Although this is perhaps why I have never managed to win anything in my life - don't listen to me.
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Seriously though, as long as when you get it wrong you just come right back round and make a better job of it you are being positive and you should find yourself flying over the jumps beautifully and feeling more confident in no time.
 
My old boss's son used to jump one of his extremely whizzy horses in one of those bit's, might see if she still has it hanging around!

Although our brakes aren't a huge issue at the min, it's the fact she's decided to do this silly leaping thing on landing where she puts her head between her knees and does what my instructor describes as a new born lamb impression!!
 
I think he will slow down as the fences get bigger...and he finds it more technically interesting. I wouldn't be all that worried about the speed issue...as long as he's not crashing through them.
Or drink heavily before jumping?
S
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PMSL now that definately needs capturing on camera
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I find that bit quite good as he can't grab hold as much with that one, shame its not dressage legal tho!
 
no worry about him crashing through them, only has a pole down when I interfere
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think once my saddle has finally been fixed I need to start jumping him bigger and oh yes then alcohol may be needed, bearing in mind I don't touch the stuff it could be interesting, perhaps a sniff would suffice rather than an actual sip?
 
Once I'm feeling brave enough to tackle the issue again I'll have camera on standby! Although little sod succeeded in dropping me the other week doing it and deciding it wasn't sufficient threw in a huge buck! Needless to say we parted company but she clipped me in the back of the head with her back leg! Obviously accidental but bit of a confidence bashing, camera would of been really beneficial then, nice £250 from you've been framed!

Def going to look into that bit now, just been reading about it and sounds a good place to start, my instructor recommended a gag but I really don't want to go into the whole bitting game when it's only going to result in her being hard mouthed, the less harsh the better!
 
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no worry about him crashing through them, only has a pole down when I interfere
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think once my saddle has finally been fixed I need to start jumping him bigger and oh yes then alcohol may be needed, bearing in mind I don't touch the stuff it could be interesting, perhaps a sniff would suffice rather than an actual sip?

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I'd share the bottle with the horse if I were you.
S
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ouch that sounds painful!
got a gag from St Bernard but tried this one first and I've found it really good as he just can't grab it like he can with the snaffle. DEfinately given me brakes
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