[Merllonyx]

Hi! I've been show jumping for the past 3 years now, in classes up to 1m (3'3''). I haven't had any trouble with fear or regarding height, i could even jump single fences at trainings up to 1.20m (3'11'') until recently. It started a few months ago when i had a really bad competition. The horse kept refusing and we got eliminated two times. After that, some pressure from parents and trainer also came along and i slowly started developing fear for jumping. Since then i changed the horse (which i was only loaning) and the barn where i rode at. When i first started riding there in March, everything was going fine. I started with small jumps and mostly dressage to get back on track. But now, i have started jumping a bit more again, but i panic and cannot see the distance anymore. All jumps above 80cm (2'7") make me anxious and i lose all my confidence. I become tense and cranky and that also shows in the horse. I don't know what to do. Everytime i have to jump i just pray that the distance will be right and that the horse won't refuse. I am afraid of the horse hurting himself because of my lack of confidence and consequently, me falling off.

Have any of you overcome fear of jumping? Also, how did you learn to see the distance? Please help (sorry for long text) :gallop:

 

[Yogiwick]

If 2'7" is good then jump there. Just slowly go higher even if you have to take baby steps, that is fine!

Also, talk to the people who put pressure on you. Try to make everything positive.

Is the horse you are riding now experienced? Riding a school master type may help you....just go back to the beginning (in a sense) there is no shame in that.

 

[Merllonyx]

Thank you! I'll try to talk to my trainer and see what i can do. The horse has jumped before but had a little pause over this winter. I have no option of riding another horse so i'll have to make it work

 

[Yogiwick]

Yeah unfortunately I've never jumped regularly so am no real help there but all I can say is to do what YOU need to do and while you want to push yourself and not give in to fear you need to do so in a productive confident way or you will just make things work so don't be afraid to pamper yourself a little bit, it's NOT being a wimp it's being smart! A good support team will make a huge difference.

 

[Foxhunter]

Stop worrying about seeing a stride. Until the fences get big there is absolutely no need to have to place a horse. Instead concentrate on keeping the horse between your hand and leg and coming in on an even stride.

Concentrate on that and not on whether your stride is right or not.

Saying that his stride is 8' and ideally you want to have the take off height of the fence away from the bottom of the jump, the most he can be 'wrong' is 7' which means he either stands off or, gets a foot to close. Either way is no big deal. Of the distance is wrong then next time keep him a bit more together so he is on a shorter stride or take a different line.

Practise lengthening and shortening his stride when working on the flat.

 

[Yogiwick]

@Foxhunter I'd love for you to teach me to jump! I've never jumped to the point of worrying about that yet your explanation was still crystal clear!

 

[Foxhunter]

Yogi, I would have a consignment of horses from Ireland and would jump them to show them to potential buyers. As most were what one would class as 'green' I would make myself think "Legs on, legs on, hands still," all the way round a course. I never rode for a stride.

I do have an eye for a stride but over fences less than 3'6" it is best to let a horse find its own way as long as it is together.

 

[Jan1975]

I have just barely started jumping, so I can't give specifically about that, but whenever there's something I have anxiety about, I only do that in my lessons until I feel more comfortable. Reassurance that I was doing things correctly made me feel SO much better (in a lesson). Or, critique if I was not, too, of course.