We're in a slump again

Well, Dakota and I are in a slump again, only this time it's worse. Today was absolutely awful. While I watched the other people in my lesson jump, I made mental notes of things to keep in mind for certain jumps. Then, when I went to jump the course, my mind went completely blank, and I screwed up everything. Dakota was a good sport about it, trying to jump for me, but I kept getting left behind or jumping ahead. Each time we completed a course, I pulled him up thinking, "What just happened???"

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try counting your strides up to the fence, so you know when to get into your jumping position.(1,2,3, JUMP!) that way you wont jump ahead and wont get left behind because you know when the jump is coming. i dont know how to help you about the mental notes though.....also try being in 2-point the whole course so you cant really get left behind or jump ahead...hope i helped =]

I wouldn't stay in the two-point the whole time, because if he were to stop, you'll go flying [not fun (:]. I do agree with counting your strides, though. Just take a deep breath and don't worry about it. The more you worry, the more things seem to go wrong. If you have a bad ride, it isn't the end of the world, just think about how you can make it better?

Was there anything specific in your getting left behind/jumping ahead that you may have noticed yourself doing?

Wait for him to jump, and move with him. That's the only way I know how to put it. (:

Mybe you are thinking of too many things at once. Im one of those over thinkers, who is always analyzing every little thing my horse does. Try just taking a deep breath, visualize what you want the course to be like while the other riders are going, and then just feel it.

We all have bad rides, and we all have great rides.

I am sorry that you are bummed out, but be proud of yourself for 1) Blaming yourself, not your horse and 2) Taking the responsibillity and recognizing your errors.

That, makes a great rider :)

I disagree with staying in 2 point - you need to learn functionallity now, at your young age. If you train yourself to be strong now, you will be even stronger in the future when you grow as a rider.

You need to learn to ride on 3 points, while allowing your upper body to remain just slightly ahead of the verticle. You don't want to sit up too tall, don't allow upper body to get too forward, or behind.

Legs remain wrapped around your pony's girth, legs solid at girth, heels deep, no pinching, no gripping.

I also disagree with counting your strides - reason being, is because that makes you focused on the fence ahead of you.

#1 cause of jumping ahead - is rider anticipating the fence. What does that mean? Staring at the fence, trying to get to the fence instead of allowing the fence to come to you, focusing on what is ahead instead of what is under you.

Learn to ride your horses rhythm. Learn to focus on where your heels should be, lower leg should be, and upper body should be. Learn to ride your horses rhythm - meaning control of his pace, strait line, nice rhythmic canter.

Allow the fence to come to you.

YOU know the fence is there. Your pony KNOWS that fence is there - so why focus on it??? There is no need to focus on it. Focus on your pony - your superhero, confidant and companion.

Focus on your pony. Allow him to lift you out of your tack - that is his job. HIS job is to get you over the fence..not yours. YOUR job is to get him to the base in a safe, controlled, rhytmic, fluid pace.

You cannot jump that fence for him, only he can. But he cannot get to that fence without you and your support. See :) Team work :)

Ride His Rhythm. Ba dum, ba dum, ba dum *legs and heels, check* ba dum, ba dum * find focal point - check* ba dum, ba dum *strait line - check* ba dum, ba dum - jump.

Don't race to the fence.

Be proud of yourself, you are growing and learning each day - you'll figure it out :)

Thanks everyone for the support and encouragement! I rode Dakota yesterday (first time using spurs) and he was super! I only got left behind a couple times in the icky 2-stride line which kept turning into a 3. lol! I'm riding him again on Saturday and then competing on Sunday! I found it helped to pick up an enthusiastic canter and then on the approached to the jump just give a quick half-halt, and then sit and wait and focus on keeping him between my legs and in my hands.

See :) Good for you :) YAY!