Why am i such a wuss?

L

Lill

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Even the thought of XC scares me!
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I've managed to jump about 3 XC type jumps EVER, they were little 2ft3 ones on a sponsored ride.
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I'm also getting the fear a little bit about going SJ properly again (was jumping up to .95m until a year ago) as i haven't been for such a long time and have done little jumping since then.
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Its not that Blue has a problem, he didn't even look at the little XC jumps i did on him and was just busy looking for the next one, and SJ he has stopped about 3 times in the 5yrs i've had him and competed up to .95m....

Whats wrong with me!!!
 
Maybe you were just born that way?!
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Try going jumping hungover, I find I'm much more relaxed the night after a heavy session
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Why are you worrying about this? If you don't want or enjoy jumping then don't - it's not compulsory!! Enjoy your horse doing what you want and don't worry about what other people may think or expect you to do.
 
Your just a bit out of practise - you'll be fine once you get back into it!
I'm the same, haven't jumped in a year or so and next time i do i'll be a bit of a wimp.

But if you dont really want to do it - dont! riding is meant to be fun - not terrifying!
 
I was the same, start back small, and the more you see jumps the more you get used to them! Every time I have a break from it or an issue it takes me a couple of months to get back my confidence and work back from 2ft to 3ft without going 'O god thats huge!'
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I have just started jumping again in the last few months and I am still at the 1ft 1ft 6 stage and they look big to me! I keep having a go and hopefully they will soon begin to look small!

I don't think you're a wuss at all, sometimes we just get scared, George is a lovely jumper and really looks after me but it doesn't stop me fretting.
 
Well then don't! Easy! Just do what you enjoy. Have fun hacking out and concentrate on flat work. Aim to be a dressage star!!
 
I need to get back up to 3ft+! But i've a feeling i'll end up staying in the 'safe' 2ft 9 classes for a little while!

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I'm more annoyed at myself i think, cos i know we both can do it i just seem to have lost confidence in it as am so out of practice
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Buy XC is a totally different thing, i've never done that and i do find that scary - XC jumps don't move if you fall on them whereas SJ jumps fall with you
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A good way of getting into xc if the thought of solid fences scares you is to try and do some indoor hunter trials. We have a few places near here that do them and build xc fences, mostly from knockdown fences. gets you into the idea of xc without so much fear!!
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ALso you don't 'need' to do any height. Do what makes you feel comfortable and then when you want to move up a step, do things gradually. Go up one hole at end of each session and set yourself little targets.
Do some gridwork and do bigger fences within that.....so if your jumping a course of 2'3, do a grid and get the last bit up to 2'9. Grids take away so much of the fear as there is little you can do once your in!!
Good luck, and remember it's meant to be fun
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I need to get back up to 3ft+!

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Need to? Why? The horse ain't gonna turn round and say screw you Mum that's too small for me!! Stick with what you're comfortable at.
 
Stick every jump in the school up to 4ft plus and get used to them at that height. After a few days put one down to a 1ft crosspole. It will look so small. Build up slowly but still leave the big ones up. Even 3 ft will look tiddly. Don't jump the big ones accidently (gasp).
 
Book a lesson (or a few) with a good jump instructor. Tell them how you feel and they should be able to come up with some good exercises to help you. Maybe have a lesson on a schoolmaster too, so you can focus on your riding and not the horse.
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Build jumping into your everyday routine too- have a small cross pole in the school and pop over it a few times. Or find a little log out hacking and pop over it, just so you get over the 'OMG I'm jumping!' fear. Once it gets boring, you can't be scared of it!
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Thanks everybody! I like the idea of putting some giant jumps up, might have to stick them in the field next to the arena though....

Will have a check around for indoor hunter trials too.

Its all in my head about the XC i know Blue is perfectly capable he's got no reason not to be apart from me!
 
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