When to amit your rubbish and you should just give up.

Til last year I hadn’t jumped in more than 20 years and done ok ... I got a bit bored of flat work so I’ve bought a horse that jumps but I get scared ... it doesn’t mean I’m rubbish or I’m not rubbish it just means it’s challenging for me... there is nothing wrong with riding dressage it is not inferior to jumping (far from it) it’s just a different sport... enjoy it pop a log or a cross pole occasionally and have some fun rather than beating yourself up- give up if you want to but not because you’re rubbish but because you don’t enjoy it anymore
 
Who says you need to jump?!? I don't very often at all. I have never been taught to jump as such - nothing beyond a 7yo at riding school being put in a position and told to hold on! So I can't see a stride to save myself! If the horse is spot on I can look quite stylish! But it really is 100% the horses doing!

I will quite happily go as fast as you like but I would prefer it if I never left the ground! As described in this post I did the other year! Nothing has changed in the jumping department 😂😂😂

https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/...-rider-who-lacks-bottle.753547/#post-13628703
 
Red-1 said:
I have got like this about jumping before, after a break from jumping due to rider injury (had a year of no jumping). I kind of lost my 'eye' for it and then started to try to make it right by inappropriate corrections. I was also feeling quite defensive of my injury and aware that I was not as strong as I could be. The more I tried to MAKE it right, the worse it was. I can see why you are trying to micromanage if your confidence in the horse was interfered with after a few stops followed by a break.

I found the best cure was to go watch some kids jump a a local show, to realise that horses and ponies don't die an awful death if you make a mistake when riding sensibly forward and in a rhythm. It was a revelation to see happy smiling horses and riders, with not a clue as to what a 'stride' was anyway.

The accidents happen when the rider is being random, as in a lot of kicking and pulling. So, I got the poles out and kept at poles until my horse would keep balanced and in a rhythm even while I was safely tucked into a neckstrap. Then I did jumps the same, I set the rhythm and balance then tucked my hands away and looked at the treetops.

The horse was fine and we progressed to canter grids where once I was in the grid I knew that we would meet the larger fences at the back well. After jumping some bigger grids I was confident to return to a normal contact, confident that even if the stride was wrong that I would not try to do wild corrections.

Why did I want to go through all this when I was not enjoying jumping? Because I knew I DID enjoy jumping when it all goes well. I had just become defensive and my riding was making it awful. I needed help to re-build the confidence that if the canter was rhythmic and balanced then the horse could help me out as long as I was out of his way.


Of course, if you decide not to jump then that is fine too! No need to at all.
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THANKYOU.

This is me. I used to be a really quite good jumper and did up to BE Novice, but after a long break I just cannot jump. Trip the horse up over 70cm. The more I’m trying the worse it gets. I can’t believe how crap I am. I don’t remember ever worrying about strides, but now I’m almost obsessed and just have no feel for it.
You have just totally explained to me what is going on and it makes so much sense!! Thank you!!
 
Patterdale said:
THANKYOU.

This is me. I used to be a really quite good jumper and did up to BE Novice, but after a long break I just cannot jump. Trip the horse up over 70cm. The more I’m trying the worse it gets. I can’t believe how crap I am. I don’t remember ever worrying about strides, but now I’m almost obsessed and just have no feel for it.
You have just totally explained to me what is going on and it makes so much sense!! Thank you!!
Click to expand...

Ah, I also found that when I was competing BE Novice it was with a horse who was powerful in the canter and the fences were big enough that she would adjust herself. So, I had no need to bother about strides, just the rhythm and straightness. She always had the "go" covered, I just had to make sure it was not too flat. If we were a bit close she could chip one in as she was sitting on her backside, so a chip in did not kill the canter.

When you are out of it and starting again the horse probably does not have such a great canter, the fences are low enough that the horse does not eat them up, if you try to make them chip one in the canter actually dies as they are not sitting on their backside and then the jump feels awful.
 
Ack, me too. Red, I’m at the stage of hanging on and eyeing up the horizon as the only way to top me interfering with his striding. If I see a long one I go all flappy and push it. He goes so much better if I can just leave him to it. I’m also still struggling to know when I have the right canter - fortunately another lesson coming up soon to check I’m on track!
 
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