Who else finds jumping scary???

[Nicki85]

Seriously, it drives me crazy!!!!!

I ride a lovely mare, she hardly ever stops and we have jumped courses of 3ft happily at the END of a lesson.

However.... when i first get on and know we are going to jump i'm scared of a 1ft x pole!! It's so so so stupid.

I wish i could just get on and be confident from the beginning, instead of now panicking cause i have a lesson with a different instructor.

My normal instructor just tells me to get on with it and i get the confidence from her that we can do it (and shes always right!). But i thought maybe its time to have a little test and try a group lesson with a different instructor.... and now i'm just scared.

And to top it all we did a x country clinic last Friday and we were flying over 2ft9 logs with out any worries!

Rescue remedy me thinks.....

Is anyone else as silly as me & is there anyway i can be more confident at the beginning of a lesson??

 

[MontyandZoom]

I am exactly the same! Zoomy has never stopped and we will happily fly the 3ft fences at sponsored rides.......but the next time I get on, I crap myself at the thought of a trotting pole!

I think it's because I didn't learn to jump as a child so was never fearless.

 

[Nicki85]

Oh i'm glad i'm not alone! I think mine all started after having a break to go to uni and college. Now i have got back into i have a fear of jumping like i never had before!

Its so annoying!

 

[tedster]

me too

at home I bought a nice course of jumps but I rarely jump them as just cant face it... yet out if went on a ride or xc I will jump even scary things?? I dont know why I think it must be because out your blood is up and ready for anything and want a nice photo for the collection lol but at home the is no reason why you have to jump!! I am really annoyed with myself as both my ponios are good and have given me no reason to be scared... it must be me now being old and fat

 

[Destiny95]

I'm exactly the same - and I am so glad you have written about it on here so I know I am not alone. My horse is super confident and never stops (despite his pilot) so I really don't know why I loose my confidence - it just comes from no where!

It actually makes me feel a bit pathetic - especially when you see other people appear to take it in their stride. Sometimes I want to push myself so enter a competition in advance - that way I have to do it and 99 per cent of the time I am over the moon when I have finished an SJ or XC course because I have enjoyed it so much. I had thought I was more worried about people watching me and saying I'm a rubbish rider than the jumps but now I don't know.

I read in Pippa Funnells biography (a bit different to me I know!) that she talked to a sports psychiatrist for confidence issues and that really helped. Problem is I'm not, and never will be, in a lottery funded team so I guess that isn't an option : )

Does Rescue Remedy actually do anything then?

 

[rara007]

I am similar, but my start height has moved up to 2'3 (Not full up

spread with filler though! ) I guess its just human, I can't imagine not being nervous first time over anything BIG and when I push myself, I literally cry, I suppose the more experience you get, the better you are. Some people are natually mad though

 

[trundle]

I'm scared of 1 foot x-poles, so you are doing infinitely better than me. i think its because i've never been taught to jump properly on a sane horse, so I really don't know what i should be doing. Every time I tried to jump with the Moose, she sweated up and worked herself into a frenzy, and i fell off. Thats a bit discouraging when you're by yourself, so I just gave up on jumping for a while.

 

[Hippona]

Depends what horse I'm riding....OH's mare will jump anything, either that or go straight through it.....so either way I know I'm safely going to get to the other side

...my horse, on the other hand will over- jump anything, sadly that means a small cross pole turns into a 3ft spread and I just get caught out......I probably look very Thelwell.....2ft out of the saddle with eyes/mouth wide open

 

[jumpthemoon]

Do you jump at home when you're not in a lesson? Or do you only jump in lessons?

I've been working on my jumping for the last 9 months (lost my nerve) and have come from being so scared at a trotting pole that the horse would actually stop (not joking!) to having jumped round an 85cm course with no help at a comp and now regulary jumping 1m at home

It is possible it just takes time and work

 

[Pinhead]

Oooh and I thought I was the only one with that problem!!

The funny thing is i'll jump anything XC, absolutely anything, I don't care how big or wide. However, when it comes to SJ im a complete wreck... anything above 3ft and I feel sick and don't even try and get me near a spread!

I think its because i have a problem with 'seeing the stride' with SJ. If i can't see it then I panic, whereas in XC I don't even bother looking and my boy just flies over!
I never had this problem when i was on ponies though - I used to jump anything. The I got my horse and I just went to pot! Its not like hes even naughty or anything, though whereas my pony mare used jump anything regardless of what angle/stride etc i was on when i got to the fence, my boy isn't quite so confident with his own ability if i don't line him up perfect!
I'm so pleased im not the only one...

 

[Piccy]

I hate jumping to be honest, i am trying but it frightens the life out of me but one day im sure ill get over it, would love to be able to jump 3ft and maybe one day we will

 

[Angua2]

ME!!

I have a wonderful horse that loves to jump ( not that my last one didn't or wasn't wonderful it was just with his feet the farrier banned us). We are now managing about 2 foot in lessons but the sight of a course of jumps makes my mouth go dry and I feel quivery and sick. We did manage quite a few XC jumps including top steps and sunken roads but some simple ones she refused ( or was that me!)

I will say my jumping is a work in progress!

 

[Lolo]

I'm always terrified of jumping, and when I first got my current horse I was planning not to jump at all because I'd had my confdence seriously knocked. Now, I jump round 2'9 happily, but it still terrifies me, but it scares me just as much to do 1'9, so I just grit my teeth because when I turn to the first fence it ll goes and I can't imagine never jumpign again!

 

[miss_c]

Yup me too!

 

[siant2]

Yes im scared jumping. Im also work in progress! I normally feel confident with my instructor on the ground until something goes wrong which makes me get jittery! Im doing things in baby steps - and today i managed two very small logs on my own! So im very pleased with that!

Im hoping that with time and practise I will learn by positive rewards and get more confident!

Try to focus on the positives that you have achieved I know that helps alot!

 

[hellybelly6]

I cant even do trotting poles!
I have had many accidents jumping, including fracturing every rib down my right side. As I got older, I got less keen.

Its the only thing that makes me come out in a sweat, I am not bothered about my horse running off, bucking etc, but just dont put a pole down on the ground near me.

 

[Nicki85]

Its so good to hear all your posts! I think its something to do with me panicking she is going to get the wrong stride etc. even for a pole! So i interfer and yes we mess it up!

But once i am half way into the lesson everything clicks and i stop focusing on the jump and actually riding the canter.

Poor horse must think i'm crazy but bless her she puts up with me!!

Its so fustrating i get so worked up before jumping but i'm so so happy once we have got round the course.