what to do

[irishhorse142]

recently i’ve been having trouble with confidence on my mare, i had a fall in august and ever since then i’ve had a fear of jumping, this isn’t helped by the fact that she gets incredibly sharp when jumping as she loves it. But it’s also given me a fear of really silly things that i wouldn’t have thought about at all before such as getting a weird stride and jumping on the slight downhill side of the arena
i was just wondering if anyone experienced something like this before and how they got through it thanks

ps if anyone has any tips on getting the energy out of her before a ride i’d love to hear it ive tried lunging but shes not exactly fazed by the lunge whip so she won’t move unless your in her lol

 

[Lots of Gift Bags]

I never find that lungeing does take the edge off, you've either got a sharp horse or not, lungeing them just makes them fitter and more of a handful!
I'd start by looking at/cutting out or down on hard feed.
Then go back to basics, do polework and gridwork until jumping becomes just something you both do easily, build up your confidence. If your confidence with her is knocked enough for that not to help, get someone else to jump her, and go get some confidence giving lessons on something else.

 

[irishhorse142]

I never find that lungeing does take the edge off, you've either got a sharp horse or not, lungeing them just makes them fitter and more of a handful!
I'd start by looking at/cutting out or down on hard feed.
Then go back to basics, do polework and gridwork until jumping becomes just something you both do easily, build up your confidence. If your confidence with her is knocked enough for that not to help, get someone else to jump her, and go get some confidence giving lessons on something else.

i wasn’t surprised that she turned out sharp as when she came to me she was quite badly underweight so i knew when she was healthier and at herself she would perk up which i was fine with i can deal with sharp which is why i was surprised that i was this shook after a fall shes not on hard feed just hay/haylage mix i think going back to basics may be the way forward we had a bit of a breakthrough today with raised poles which isn’t a lot but i was chuffed.i think i’ll ask my YO to ride her as she has helped me before in similar situations just to get through some of the winter energy lol

 

[SWE]

I'd be tempted to dot poles around the arena in shapes where you can continuously school over them, sort of in a course, to just make it the norm. That becomes part of your schooling then, so they're not fun. Then make 1 a small cross pole, but continue on your course so you have the next pole to aim for. Then slowly add more fences through the the course when you feel ready.

I'd also recommend having an instructor or experienced friend on hand to help you stay focused, which should make you more relaxed. I tend to overthink things way too much when jumping on my own!

Energy wise... I think you have 2 options, you either get on and give her a good canter round to get some steam out of her, then do some forward and back transitions within canter to check shes listening to you. Or you get on, and start with little exercises straight away to focus her mind so rather than 'getting it out of her' you refocus that energy in what you want from her.

Also agree with JB, check you're not overfeeding her as so many horses get more feed than required for the work they are doing.

Good luck!

 

[irishhorse142]

I'd be tempted to dot poles around the arena in shapes where you can continuously school over them, sort of in a course, to just make it the norm. That becomes part of your schooling then, so they're not fun. Then make 1 a small cross pole, but continue on your course so you have the next pole to aim for. Then slowly add more fences through the the course when you feel ready.

I'd also recommend having an instructor or experienced friend on hand to help you stay focused, which should make you more relaxed. I tend to overthink things way too much when jumping on my own!

Energy wise... I think you have 2 options, you either get on and give her a good canter round to get some steam out of her, then do some forward and back transitions within canter to check shes listening to you. Or you get on, and start with little exercises straight away to focus her mind so rather than 'getting it out of her' you refocus that energy in what you want from her.

Also agree with JB, check you're not overfeeding her as so many horses get more feed than required for the work they are doing.

Good luck!

i really like the random poles idea i’m definitely going to do that it sounds beneficial for her and me, i do find it a lot more relaxed when jumping with my instructor she reassures me as i do doubt my abilities when i know i’m capable. I was told that it was ok to go straight into trot or canter as long as you keep them on a loose rein and don’t ask for much but i’m not sure if that’s kind on their muscles
thanks for the reply it was definilty helpful

 

[HashRouge]

As others have said, take the pressure off and put the jumping to one side for a bit. Make flatwork and pole work your focus for a couple of months and don't even think about jumping. Confidence can be quite a fragile thing and you have to give it time to build back up again - and don't let yourself feel bad about taking this time! I suspect you will find that it comes back almost without you noticing, and one day you will find yourself really wanting to jump again

 

[Lots of Gift Bags]

Don't be ashamed at having taken a knock to your confidence either, it's a fragile thing, and those who haven't experienced it often don't understand. I was at the point once of having someone walk round the arena with me on foot, I could hardly ride as I'd got so nervous. Of course my nerves transmitted straight through to my (already nervous) horse and we just made each other worse. Things did get better and I was back jumping him, hacking alone, and eventing him soon enough. It was a real shock to me as I'd always been a confident rider, and I'd never imagined I could turn into a quivering wreck!

Take it slowly, don't worry about it being "only" raised poles, don't worry about doing tiny jumps; at the end of the day if you can get your confidence and technique sorted over small jumps, it's much easier to then work your way up, than if you keep trying over bigger fences and lose your confidence and your horse's confidence.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

You don't have to jump. You can take this time to concentrate on your dressage work which can improve your jumping, and give you a better sense of control and precision within the gaits. You can also set up a course of poles on the ground and ride poles until you're bored to tears and then start slowing raising them. Take the pressure off and get your groove back.

 

[irishhorse142]

Don't be ashamed at having taken a knock to your confidence either, it's a fragile thing, and those who haven't experienced it often don't understand. I was at the point once of having someone walk round the arena with me on foot, I could hardly ride as I'd got so nervous. Of course my nerves transmitted straight through to my (already nervous) horse and we just made each other worse. Things did get better and I was back jumping him, hacking alone, and eventing him soon enough. It was a real shock to me as I'd always been a confident rider, and I'd never imagined I could turn into a quivering wreck!

Take it slowly, don't worry about it being "only" raised poles, don't worry about doing tiny jumps; at the end of the day if you can get your confidence and technique sorted over small jumps, it's much easier to then work your way up, than if you keep trying over bigger fences and lose your confidence and your horse's confidence.

it’s nice to know i’m not the only one that’s been through this i thought i was just being silly, i keep trying to tell myself that i’m not afraid jumping i’m just afraid of hitting the floor and it seems to be helping lol thanks for your help

 

[babymare]

My big lad saw a jump and thought he had to go at it at100mph. His previous owner thought everything was on the clock! Jumping a course was out question if you valued your life. I removed the poles and placed the wings so I could just school through them with plenty transitions. Probably not conventional but it worked and over time we jump a lovely "controlled" course ?

 

[Annagain]

I've had a similar problem with my jumping confidence since I got my new boy. He's done nothing wrong it's just that he's not Monty, who looked after me for so long. My first session jumping Charlie was a lesson - in hindsight I should have started on my own but I thought I'd chicken out without someone telling me to do it! I was terrified and couldn't bring myself to canter at a fence. The instructor was great thought and said just trotting was absolutely was fine.

Since then I've hired a local school with a full course of jumps and gone over with a friend. We've started with poles on the floor and gradually lifted the last one, then added a jump 4 strides later, then put in a jump at the start so we've finished with a little grid. They're still tiny - less than 2ft (and Charlie is so not bothered that he barely jumps, just canters over them) but I'm happily cantering at them now and even cantered at a filler at the end of the session. Baby steps. I know I'll get there, and so will you.