Regaining jumping confidence?

[hiddentalents]

I had a lesson with Jeanette Brakewell on Monday (sj and XC). I was fine over XC but over SJ I was freezing coming into the jumps and got nervous so Gem stopped and I fell off!!!3 times to be exact!

She had me with longer reins and literally kicking Gem into the jumps! But I was so nervous the jumps were smaller sj than XC! How can I increase my confidence? We're both more than capable of jumping bigger than 70cm (and infact was going to do the 80cm last sun had we not had done 5 rounds already!), but I just can't break through enough to do it consistently.

 

[Bubblegum]

It is not uncommon for us XC riders to feel less confident about Show Jumping than XC !

Don't be too hard on yourself.

I would say, forget about the height. It's not important. Put X poles up around your arena, and practice over them until you are comfortable. Just let your horse do the work.
Wait until you are enjoying it, and 'riding' it a bit... then make very small uprights. Do the same, until you make them bigger.
Go from there, and take your time.

I know excatly what you mean, as I had a complete wobble about SJ after I had an accident, but never minded about XC jumping. Made no sense!

Good luck.

 

[hiddentalents]

Thanks, I wonder if we're better XC as we have less experience so less previous problems to go wrong?! I'm planning to enter a hunter trial later this month which is 70cm to get us out jumping XC again.

I also thought (for practicing XC!) about getting some jumps in a field and practicing jumping them out there (ie put my gate filler in the gateway, get some tyres out, few bales of hay, stack of logs/decking etc.

 

[TarrSteps]

Genuine question, what do you think is going to 'happen' if you make a mistake sj? I figure worst case the horse will plough right through and I'll STILL only get 4 faults.

 

[hiddentalents]

I'll fall off (it happened 5 times at the weekend - this beating any previous record I held!) and I don't want a repeat of last weekends falls as it really wasn't funny by the fifth! Lol!

 

[Stroppy Mare]

Maybe try just holding on to mane or a neck strap when you jump?

 

[robynandTilly]

Ohh im opposite to xc now makes me physically sick my horse flipped on top of me 3 months ago xc luckily shes ok and she isnt phased me on the other hand hasnt quite managed to face my fear yet however ive been out showjumping i must face my fear soon thoigh else im wasting the fact my horseys an eventer. i would do as another poster said and start with x poles and build them up. if n e one has an idea for me and xc please send this way

 

[TarrSteps]

I'll fall off (it happened 5 times at the weekend - this beating any previous record I held!) and I don't want a repeat of last weekends falls as it really wasn't funny by the fifth! Lol!

Fair enough!

So the question is why do you fall off sj and not xc? What do you differently? Perhaps it would be helpful to have videos of both to compare.

I think there are two components to regaining confidence. One is, as is always suggested on internet forums , to do enough of whatever it is you're worried about to make it less of a Big Deal. I would roll "feeling better about it" into that.

Two is to increase your knowledge/skill level. I find a lot of the people I meet you say they have confidence issues actually have a hole in their skills and/or their horse (training, soundness whatever) so the anxiety they are feeling, while it might be disproportionate, is not completely unfounded.

This is tricky from a teaching/learning perspective because sometimes people do need a bit of a kick and to simplify their responses - in other words, don't think too much! BUT if there is an underlying issue, even if they do convince themselves that its all okay, that's only going to last until the next time there is a problem. A lot depends on the rider's temperament, of course, but it's not always merely a case of mind over matter.

What does your regular instructor say?

 

[siennamum]

I think you need to understand why you are falling off tbh. Falling off 5 times in a lesson isn't acceptable, we would all have a confidence crisis if that happened.
My friend was constantly falling off when jumping and it has completely destroyed her confidence. Her old teacher was getting her to just kick into the fences, she was getting ahead of the movement, pony was ducking out, she was coming off.
In reality she could pop 1ft from a slow trot and a decent trainer had her ride a pretty controlled approach in sitting trot rather than flat out, pony popped fence and she was all smiles.
You may need to get someone who is good with position, saddle etc to see where your weakness is.

 

[Finns Mum]

I can sympathise, I've had my horse 6 years and never come off him, had a SJ lesson 6 months ago and came off twice once quite badly, the injuries were probably why I came off the 2nd time but it has shredded my confidence showjumping, still loving xc

Hope you find the key to your worries and start enjoying your jumping again

 

[TarrSteps]

Also - not personal to the OP but as a general comment - I would say "one offs", especially with very high powered competing professionals - is probably not the ideal situation is which to address confidence issues. As with everything else in life, you are going to get the best results from a specialist so it can be more useful to go to a teaching pro. I'd say, on average, absolutely top competitors are not the best teachers for most of the rest of us as to some extent the necessary personal characteristics are at odds. Of course there are some notable exceptions but usually people who have really worked on their teaching, both regular students and "cold" clinics where they have to sort problems in a limited time frame, deal with horses that don't want to play, have students of various knowledge levels etc.

Also, you want someone who will be available to you. When people come to me with confidence issues we usually start with a few sessions close together (I do a specific "bulk rate" to make this more attractive and affordable because I know from experience that's what works best) and discuss any concerns I might have about tack (you'd be surprised how many "confidence issues" are actually saddle issues!), soundness, suitability of horse, even feeding, exercise schedule etc. It doesn't necessarily mean we make big changes, and it has to be done with concern for budget etc, but just see the whole picture. Then, when everyone is in a good place, space between sessions increases to something sustainable, and will differ depending on competitions etc but people always know it's at least worth a call if they want to do something on short notice. Then gradually we pull out the space - I may see some people only a couple of times a year, if that - and the rider works more independently but knows support is there (even if it's a "get on with it" text ) if needed. At this point we might also discuss other coaches/clinics to go to that we think might bring something new to the party. It's a very organised, problem solving approach. Really, it's easier, quicker, and cheaper in the long run to approach it as a problem not a personal failing.

I'd look at it like hiring a contractor - you want to do a bit of digging, get a "quote" (not an actual one, but a discussion of how the trainer would hope to proceed) and see if you think it's going to be a good fit.

And some of it alas, is personal preference, which you can't always know without trying.

It's no comment on either party though - a big part of having a system that gives you confidence is getting all the pieces in place and that won't be the same in every situation.

 

[smiffyimp]

I started jumping again about 3-4 years ago after a 15yr break. I hadnt had any nasty falls, just hadnt jumped for a long time and its scared the life out of me. I bought a 2yo, and after backing etc (not at 2!) I took him to my Eventer friend so she could get him working over poles etc as part of his education. It turned out he was rather talented! It took her 6 months to talk me into jumping him. She set out trotting poles and I could have thrown up! I was petrified. By the end we were jumping a little grid, probably a couple of foot high. Funny thing was, the 4yo horse gave me all the confidence in the world - he LOVES jumping. My friend was and still is the best confidence giver there is, she knows my ability, she knows how far to push me and a huge range of good exercises. I would always say jump regularly, if you have time off its one step back with nerves. My boy was diagnosed blind in left eye earlier this year due to cataracts - due to all sorts of problems he hadnt jumped since early April, I jumped him at the end of July, and once again I could have thrown up! Too much time off, but we started small and just played around in the field - we were fine, I stayed on and more importantly - he jumped like a trooper!Im jumping 1.10m now which is a little out of my comfort zone, but ive seen the boy fly a 1.20+ so no excuses Having said all that, you still wont get me over XC jumps, they dont move or break when you land on them, so I stay clear Little and often is my advice along with the trusty trainer

 

[hiddentalents]

Fair enough!

So the question is why do you fall off sj and not xc? What do you differently? Perhaps it would be helpful to have videos of both to compare.

I think there are two components to regaining confidence. One is, as is always suggested on internet forums , to do enough of whatever it is you're worried about to make it less of a Big Deal. I would roll "feeling better about it" into that.

Two is to increase your knowledge/skill level. I find a lot of the people I meet you say they have confidence issues actually have a hole in their skills and/or their horse (training, soundness whatever) so the anxiety they are feeling, while it might be disproportionate, is not completely unfounded.

This is tricky from a teaching/learning perspective because sometimes people do need a bit of a kick and to simplify their responses - in other words, don't think too much! BUT if there is an underlying issue, even if they do convince themselves that its all okay, that's only going to last until the next time there is a problem. A lot depends on the rider's temperament, of course, but it's not always merely a case of mind over matter.

What does your regular instructor say?

I think I'm 'safer' xc as we've done less of it therefore had less incidents so feel braver (although still have the confidence barrier to a point). I do have various videos of both and will post when next on pc as still on the camera.

I think my biggest barrier is that back in 2006/7 I was ready to do my stage 3, but finances and time didn't allow me to book on it. I was happily jumping up to 1.10m on other horses. With current horse I had a few falls (due to my confidence, her inexperience and a poor instructor (IMO - I told him the distance to a grid was wrong for my horse - 5 bounce efforts - but he insisted I was creating over nothing). I went through a phase of falling off from getting left behind, and I fixed that with a few lessons but now get thrown forwards which becomes my main problem as when she refuses I fall off. I'm also nervous that she has a huge pop on her, and as the jump goes up her springs become more active so I don't want to get chucked out the saddle from a big jump!.

I think you need to understand why you are falling off tbh. Falling off 5 times in a lesson isn't acceptable, we would all have a confidence crisis if that happened.
My friend was constantly falling off when jumping and it has completely destroyed her confidence. Her old teacher was getting her to just kick into the fences, she was getting ahead of the movement, pony was ducking out, she was coming off.
In reality she could pop 1ft from a slow trot and a decent trainer had her ride a pretty controlled approach in sitting trot rather than flat out, pony popped fence and she was all smiles.
You may need to get someone who is good with position, saddle etc to see where your weakness is.

I didn't fall off 5 times in one lesson, was 2 on Friday and 3 on Monday, so still pretty bad!

I can sympathise, I've had my horse 6 years and never come off him, had a SJ lesson 6 months ago and came off twice once quite badly, the injuries were probably why I came off the 2nd time but it has shredded my confidence showjumping, still loving xc

Hope you find the key to your worries and start enjoying your jumping again

Thanks

Also - not personal to the OP but as a general comment - I would say "one offs", especially with very high powered competing professionals - is probably not the ideal situation is which to address confidence issues. As with everything else in life, you are going to get the best results from a specialist so it can be more useful to go to a teaching pro. I'd say, on average, absolutely top competitors are not the best teachers for most of the rest of us as to some extent the necessary personal characteristics are at odds. Of course there are some notable exceptions but usually people who have really worked on their teaching, both regular students and "cold" clinics where they have to sort problems in a limited time frame, deal with horses that don't want to play, have students of various knowledge levels etc.

Also, you want someone who will be available to you. When people come to me with confidence issues we usually start with a few sessions close together (I do a specific "bulk rate" to make this more attractive and affordable because I know from experience that's what works best) and discuss any concerns I might have about tack (you'd be surprised how many "confidence issues" are actually saddle issues!), soundness, suitability of horse, even feeding, exercise schedule etc. It doesn't necessarily mean we make big changes, and it has to be done with concern for budget etc, but just see the whole picture. Then, when everyone is in a good place, space between sessions increases to something sustainable, and will differ depending on competitions etc but people always know it's at least worth a call if they want to do something on short notice. Then gradually we pull out the space - I may see some people only a couple of times a year, if that - and the rider works more independently but knows support is there (even if it's a "get on with it" text ) if needed. At this point we might also discuss other coaches/clinics to go to that we think might bring something new to the party. It's a very organised, problem solving approach. Really, it's easier, quicker, and cheaper in the long run to approach it as a problem not a personal failing.

I'd look at it like hiring a contractor - you want to do a bit of digging, get a "quote" (not an actual one, but a discussion of how the trainer would hope to proceed) and see if you think it's going to be a good fit.

And some of it alas, is personal preference, which you can't always know without trying.

It's no comment on either party though - a big part of having a system that gives you confidence is getting all the pieces in place and that won't be the same in every situation.

You sound brill as an instructor! I do plan on having regular 3 monthly lessons with her so she will get used to us and hopefully improve us, but obviously it isn't really regular but as I'm back to uni soon it should work for us as it'll keep me coming home more regular to have lessons and ride.

I guess having someone more local is difficult as IMO it's very difficult to find a good one. I could arrange to have regular lessons with a bsja coach who is not too far down the road from me but is quite pricy. She was the one partly to get me going again after the tragedy of 2007, where I turned to pure dressage til the end of 2008 (although various accidents on both our parts have stopped us from looking at decent lessons etc until really this year, when I'm now 3 hours away mostly, at uni!). I've had some locals out who are so wrong, and tbh have had us going backwards rather than forwards.

I started jumping again about 3-4 years ago after a 15yr break. I hadnt had any nasty falls, just hadnt jumped for a long time and its scared the life out of me. I bought a 2yo, and after backing etc (not at 2!) I took him to my Eventer friend so she could get him working over poles etc as part of his education. It turned out he was rather talented! It took her 6 months to talk me into jumping him. She set out trotting poles and I could have thrown up! I was petrified. By the end we were jumping a little grid, probably a couple of foot high. Funny thing was, the 4yo horse gave me all the confidence in the world - he LOVES jumping. My friend was and still is the best confidence giver there is, she knows my ability, she knows how far to push me and a huge range of good exercises. I would always say jump regularly, if you have time off its one step back with nerves. My boy was diagnosed blind in left eye earlier this year due to cataracts - due to all sorts of problems he hadnt jumped since early April, I jumped him at the end of July, and once again I could have thrown up! Too much time off, but we started small and just played around in the field - we were fine, I stayed on and more importantly - he jumped like a trooper!Im jumping 1.10m now which is a little out of my comfort zone, but ive seen the boy fly a 1.20+ so no excuses Having said all that, you still wont get me over XC jumps, they dont move or break when you land on them, so I stay clear Little and often is my advice along with the trusty trainer

well done sounds like you have a good partnership. Thanks

 

[LEC]

I am LOL at this because Tarr Steps has written you some of the most insightful posts about confidence that I have read in a long time and you have completely missed the point.

 

[hiddentalents]

I am LOL at this because Tarr Steps has written you some of the most insightful posts about confidence that I have read in a long time and you have completely missed the point.

No I didn't, I understand it totally but without doing research as to who is the best instructor for confidence giving in the area as I can name about 3 hands worth in the area who would do the total opposite.

And I answered TarrSteps' first post completely?

 

[kerilli]

tbh if you are falling off that much I think you need to go right back to basics with a good instructor to work on your centre of balance, your two-point seat, etc etc. You can be trained to be more secure. With all due respect to Jeanette, who is an absolutely excellent rider, I wonder whether she can understand the problems you are having, your nerves over jumping small fences... I genuinely don't know if she is good with teaching the basics that sort of level.
If I fell off that much I'd be nervous too!