After having gone at least 15 years without jumping much, I've gotten back into it with a super jumping pony. She would never run out and is a blast to ride. I can only afford lessons every other week (on the pony and other horses too) and I try to get the most out of them. I want to be able to jump 3' courses and probably higher, but I'm worried I've come to a plateau with my confidence. I'm scared to jump over 2'9" and am most comfortable at 2'6". But I want to keep progressing. The best strategy I have now is to keep working on my skills, but much of it is mental. I trust my trainer not to set up anything I can't handle, so when she raises the height or sets up a more challenging course I believe I should feel confident tackling it. What mental strategies do you use when moving up a skill level, especially with jumps? It's so much fun once I get over the fear and enjoy riding! And I'm not a chicken in all situations - I'm not afraid to gallop in open spaces or pop over little XC jumps. When I go to shows and watch events like Power & Speed I think, I want to do that! I can only ride 3-4 days a week, so I need that to be enough to keep my skills up. I know it limits how fast I can progress.
?2011-07-26T01:12:42Z
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Hi
You appear to have 2 BIG advantages here in trusting in both your horse and your trainer. That's a confidence giver to start with. Just take it slowly, let the horse do the work while you simply stay with her. It will take time if you are having only one lesson every other week but that doesn't matter. You will end up with a strong foundation and a sense of security if you take a step at a time.
Concentrating too much on the jump in front of you can cause hesitation and a lack of confidence .So on the approach to each jump you should try imagining that you are already over the other side. It's easier than it sounds!! That way you will be more relaxed and will flow with your horse rather than mentally backing off as she takes off. I advise my students to think of it as a dressage test with obstacles. Start with very small jumps until you get the hang of it. Thinking of riding a dressage test instead of a course of jumps helps you remain in a constant rhythm throughout in turn helping your horse find his correct stride for take off.
As your confidence and ability grows, the higher the jumps can become. But always remember it is merely a dressage test with obstacles and everything should fall into place.
I think the best thing you can do is just practice, the more you do it the more comfortable you will become. So even if that means you are on the same level for a while, at least you will be gaining confidence and should then be more willing to progress. You're not the only person to be nervous about going up skill levels, I know I was and still am after years of riding. I think its just natural and you need to overcome it in your own time. So from personal experience I would recommend plenty of practice and support from others as the best thing.
Before you do something,(jump, jump higher, or even canter), drill through your head "Im awesome. I can do this. My horse is awesome. He can do this with his eyes closed!". Im exactly like you, Im comfortable at 2'6'' and sometimes 2'9'' but that's my confidence limit. So when I show and I when I get nervous I relax and think everything is going to be okay and as long as I do my job, my horse will do his. And of course the lines I already stated above! :)
Have you inspiration approximately taking a few courses on an absolutly lifeless broke tuition horse? Even in case your horse is good informed, and ideal for you, you continue to have that historical past of falling off her. Maybe using an additional horse that's a complete tuition grasp and that you haven't any historical past with for a couple of instances will aid you get extra trust over fences, and while you return on your mare you can also suppose extra cozy. Make definite you're one hundred% comfy at the flat along with your mare earlier than you're taking her over a fence, and begin from the commencing over fences along with her. Start over little pass rails, and paintings your long ago as much as in which you have been. Just take matters slowly, and dont fear approximately 'losing' your horses proficiency. You are much more likely to harm her coaching through over dealing with yourself and leaping while you are not completly comfy. Before you move out to leap take a few deep breaths, calm down and simply believe approximately what is occurring at that second, no longer what occurred earlier than, or what would possibly occur. Remind yourself that you simply fell off one time, you could have certainly had far more positive leaping rounds then unhealthy rounds. Just keep optimistic and take matters slowly, dont be afraid to return to the fundamentals.
Consider this: Who is doing the jumping,(the horse!)if it can make the jump and isn't afraid than you shouldn't be afraid for you it should be as if jumping a stone let the horse do the worrying! Just remember thay do have there limits. and your trainer knows what they are. Son trust your mount