Tell me I won't die if I jump...

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trundle

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I have a LOVELY Share Mare, that i absolutely adore despite her little quirks. She loves jumping, and gets very excited (read; strong and fast). Last time i lunged her over poles, she was jumping over the trotting poles on the ground...

I want to jump, but i am not good at it. The taking off bit i don't mind, its just the landing - i am always worried that my balance will desert me completely and i will go straight over her head on landing, or that i will sock her in the mouth. I don't really have the option of learning on a quieter horse, so does anyone have any useful suggestions that I can take on board (besides Rescue Remedy) to help me get a bit more confident when jumping.
 
Keep looking up, the more you look at the floor after the jump, the more likely it is that you'll end up there!!! Just start over something very small, even cantering over some poles to start with, and go on from there. If you are worried about socking her in the teeth (which I'm sure you won't do) then either grab some mane, or use a neckstrap to help you. Can just use an old stirrup leather as a neckstrap.
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And enjoy it, its meant to be fun!!
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You won't die!!! Take it slowly, build yourself up and get yourself an instructor that you trust who will help you get htere.

Good luck!!
 
I lost lots of confidence jumping, but have slowly been building it up, almost without knowing it. We use to spend lesson after lesson doing raised pole work (with and without stirrups) it kinda of reintroduce poles etc in a dressage enviroment - so the poles became less and less scarey.

I know its not huge but we will now happily pop around 1m and even did a working hunter recently. Keep looking up and focus on a point at the end of the areana well after the jump. Don't worry about striding for the moment, it can confuse and worry you more, and a low height 99% of horses will sort themselves out.

Good luck and its really not that bad once you've made it over the first jump!
 
oh dear, lol- i tried my old horse over some trotting poles and he jumped them and had me full off! However, it was the first of many and i partly think had i not fallen off then i may not have tried it at all! I'm not the most confident but i'm getting there, i'm taking it slow like others have said and its working for me- my hardest part is remembering to sit up after the jump and not fold too early.
 
Actually its good that you have a confident horse who wants to jump and you aren't that good. It would be more risky if you had a horse that didn't know how to jump so thats a positive. Get a lead rope or an old stirup leather and put it round her neck so you can hold on to it to stop you worrying about pulling her in the mouth. Just start off with something small so you don't have to rise or lean forward to much and take it at your pace. Also what i found extremely effective with my mare is to half halt as you go into the jump just to keep the impulsion but to stop her rushing and tanking off. Hope this helps. You will not diex
 
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