[sullylvr]

Soo I need tips guys, here's my problem: I can never remember my show jumping course during shows. I walk it twice and can recite before I go, but when I'm cantering up to jumps, I blank out and at my past two shows I missed one jump and got eliminated, so it's getting to be a serious problem. Do y'all have any tips or games I could do to help sharpen my memory? PLEASE! We would have gotten first and champion if it weren't for my memory problem
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[TwisterRush]

Maybe at the barn, make alittle bit of a course for you'reself, or get someone to make it for you, and walk it over and over.
Have someone with you, who also will know the course so that they can tell you if you missed one, you start over.
Keep going over you're homemade course till you remember it, and every time make a new one.

This should help you be able to remember a course Repetition is key !

 

[horseluver2435]

I wouldn't know about show jumping courses, but when I have to memorize anything, I just keep doing it in my head, over and over. Sketch out the course on paper and do it in your head, then have people quiz you on it- label each jump A, B, C, etc., which might help you remember them. That's all I got. Good luck!

 

[ptvintage]

You could try to do some word association. Try to associate each jump with something, ex. the vertical with the flower boxes, rename it "Mom's garden" or something. Name all the jumps in there, and then try to make it into a story.

"I left my (1)house, tripped over the (2)wood pile, walked past (3)mom's garden, opened the (4)gate, but I had to climb the (5)brick wall cause it was stuck, dropped down and landed in a (6)puddle... etc. You have to use your imagination for what to call each jump.

Then recite it out loud as you walk it. And even if you don't do the silly word game, recite it out loud with an identifying detail to the jump.

 

[upnover]

How are you doing it now? Do you think, the blue, the red, the green, etc? or outside, combination, skinny, etc?

Personally when I'm doing a jumper course the simpler the easier. Doing it to a song, or word association or whatever methods people would just confuse the heck out of me. There are too many things to think about on course! I just put the number to the jump. That's jump one, there's jump two, jump three, etc etc. Usually when there's a jump off (or work off in an eq/medal round) all they tell you is: jumps 3, 4, 6, 1, 9. You have to know which jump jump 3 is, right? So it's a good idea to train your brain to match numbers to the jump.

I firmly believe memorizing a course is an exercise for your brain, just like riding without stirrups is an exercise for your legs. Some people have to work harder at it then others, but the more your practice the better you get at it. Practice memorizing courses at home. When you aren't jumping give yourself "tests" on the flat (cut across here, circle here, etc etc). In highschool I was a waitress and I used to try and memorize people's orders. By the end of the summer I could do a table 10 (salad and drink orders too!) without writing anything down! (the downside is you CAN'T make a mistake!!) You WILL get better, but it will take practice!