So, I really enjoy jumping bigger jumps. However, sometimes i really psyche myself out on the way to a bigger jump and my mind plays tricks on me. Does anyone else experience this? What do you do to get over it? Maybe, I’m just thinking about it to much. haha
I experience this. I think it’s pretty normal for those of us that weren’t jumping GPs at 15.
As the jumps go up the safe margin of error gets infinitely smaller. As the margin of error gets smaller, the pressure to perform gets higher, and if I’m approaching a fence with “don’t make a mistake, you might die!” in the back of my mind, I will always make a mistake.
I’ve not gotten over this at all, and I fully expect it to take years of experience. That said, I just don’t jump that big unless I’m having a day on which I feel particularly confident, and if/when I show, I show a level or two below what I school at home. It’s not a race. I have plenty of time to jump big jumps in the future, but not if I kill myself trying before I’ve got the experience to do it right. It’s so not the american way to just wait for experience to give you the confidence to trust your skills, but I think that’s all you can do. Still, I’m interested to see what other responses you receive. If there is a magic formula I’ll buy it!
The other thing that helps is having a horse that will save your backside. I have a big gelding that could jump the moon if he thought it was the only way to save my life. I am 100% confident that he can get me out of any situation that I get us into…because he used to have to, and I have the videos to prove it! Poor guy…
A great athletic horse with stellar self-preservation can make ALL the difference. This is not to be confused with a super careful horse! It’s fantastic to learn to jump large jumps on a horse that isn’t afraid to have a couple of rails if it’s safer than the hail mary.
Side note: I do not condone inexperienced riders running a saint of a horse around a huge course just because they can. That’s how horses get ruined.
I think if a rider isn’t scared or afraid of big jumps, they are a nuts. I have a comfort level with jumps, but I think it comes from experience and time in the saddle. I think also have a horse who has a lot of scope would help confidence with this. I ride mostly green green horses so it is a little more intimidating when the jumps get bigger because the horse underneath me is still learning. Although some horses give me a better feel then others (as above poster said, have a horse you can really trust can really boost your confidence).
ETA, this is why I have NEVER had a desire to jump cross country or do 3-day eventing (however much I love show jumping and dressage). Those jumps are SCARY! And those riders are NUTS (I have barnmates and friend who do eventing, they know they are crazy).
I totally experience this, but getting a bit better at it. And the way I got better is I had my coach jump my horse bigger a couple of times a month. I watch her do this and she cranks them up. What that does is gives me confidence in one of us when I ride. I may stress and worry, but I have 110% confidence that 1) my horse never refuses a jump 2) the jump we are doing, no matter how big it is - I know he’s jumped bigger and still has more scope.
So although I get scared, I just look up into the rafters point him in the right direction and then stop micro managing him.
My biggest fear now is when he does jump big he loves to get a wee bit proud of himself on the other side if its a couple of related jumps, so I need to be prepared he may toss his head around and may even give a celebratory buck. So my job is going into those jumps making sure all my weight is in my heels and my core is locked (and usually I’ve grabbed a bit of mane or the martingale).
When I was an adult rider–before my current rerider status ( i.e. before a several year break) I got confidence over larger fences if I was first jumping them through some kind of gymnastic or grid that basically got me and the horse there. “Larger” being relative, I should qualify that perhaps, larger for me-- I think 4’6" was the biggest we ever did at home ( did a foot smaller than that at shows!) and that at the end of a grid or gymnastic, not on its own. That was all plenty high enough for me- I felt like I had sprouted wings and flown. But having the larger jump set up at the end of something that got the horse and I there exactly as needed was a huge confidence boost.
I had a really bad fall as a kid, and then had another bad fall as an adult breaking several ribs, so I got really scared of jumping higher fences as well (anything over 2’3" was huge to me).
What helped, as others have said, is having confidence in your horse. Once I realized my horse was brave and wouldn’t send me flying over, I felt better about approaching a jump as I knew he would try to take care of me. Once I also realized he is BIG and literally can step over anything 3’ and under, I felt better too.
What helped the most is doing gymnastics. Once you find your “in” you just stay out of the horse’s way and hang on. They are going to take you over it, and eventually the jumps can go up throughout the gymnastic without it feeling that much scarier. I got up to 3’6" without any anxiety that way – a goal I NEVER thought I’d reach. I just kept my eyes up and leg on, straight, and made sure I didn’t make a move other than releasing. It was easier. Then, when we jumped around and the jumps were 3’-3’3", I didn’t feel like it was that much scarier than the gymnastics we had just done.
The more you fear and you let the anxiety take over, the worse the jump is going to be. Exhaling and breathing through the approach, keeping the eye up, and visualizing your horse taking you over have helped me.
In response to CourtneyANYC - FWIW, I was jumping in GPs at age 15, and I do it now too, and I’m still worried on my way to a big jump! I’m pretty good about going brain dead and focusing only on what’s in front of me at shows, but it’s still tough at home. Every time I jump my guy at/over 1.50m, a little voice in my head says (to my horse), “it’s okay if you stop, I’d understand, that’s WAY too big!” and I am taken by surprise every time he jumps like it’s no big deal :lol: I figure the real pros who jump several horses “up” every day probably don’t have those little voices, but I sure do!
Ironically, the biggest help to my fear is when we come in a little short or a little long to a giant fence and my horse still does it. That reminds me that he’s got enough scope to make it regardless of whether we’re perfect or not.
But yes, the answer is that you’re likely overthinking the ride on the approach to a fence. That effect is why it’s harder to canter a single oxer on a long approach than coming out of a short corner. I don’t have any good suggestions as I’m not sure how I tune out my voices (my husband might tell you that I’m awesome at being oblivious sometimes!), but perhaps establishing your pace and then singing a song in your head or something else to take your focus away from “the jump” would help. And as others have mentioned, gymnastics can be a great way to get used to bigger fences and then have the single fences you do look less intimidating.
I’ll also add that when I walk a GP course at a show I often walk with different friends (ammy and pro alike), and usually we’re all second guessing our decisions to ride whenever the course is set large or terrifyingly (or both!). So all of that to say that most people start second guessing things when the fences get “big” (big in quotation marks because it means something different to everyone). I think the difference between the people who do it and those who don’t (beyond the obvious part of having a horse that can and is ready to do it and being ready to do it yourself), is the ability to shut down those self doubts and stop second guessing once you have a fence in your sights.
^ I walk the GP course earlier in the day so I don’t have to look at the jumps from my wee height on the ground.
Last time, I walked the course while the .85m jumpers were walking. I’m a chicken.
I think it takes some mental training to be able to shut off that worry as you’re heading to the fence, but OP, it’s do-able… you just have to practice.
Any tips on how to shut off that worry, and just focus and be more positive?
[QUOTE=supershorty628;7928666]
^ I walk the GP course earlier in the day so I don’t have to look at the jumps from my wee height on the ground.
Last time, I walked the course while the .85m jumpers were walking. I’m a chicken.
I think it takes some mental training to be able to shut off that worry as you’re heading to the fence, but OP, it’s do-able… you just have to practice.[/QUOTE]
I remember doing exactly this when I was still riding. I would walk my courses when the fences were as low as possible to avoid having to see the height I would be doing in relation to my diminutive stature.
Walking the 1.60 courses with my boss as a learning thing was, frankly, terrifying, because the fences were taller than me.
OP, I will say that it’s something you just kind of get used to, or at least that’s how it was for me. I worried the least when I’d been riding and jumping the most (multiple horses a day, riding six days a week), so towards the end of my time in the tack I felt the most confident. I think it was just a matter of having the “history” with myself, if you will–I had done it enough times, on enough horses, that I was confident in my ability to somehow get over it in one piece, aboard the horse.
I think its very natural to fear ‘bigger’ jumps, in which ‘bigger’ has a different definition for everyone. I also find for myself its about having confidence in the horse I’m riding. If I’m in a situation where I will be jumping ‘bigger’ I like to watch the horse I’m on being jumped around at a similar or higher height. This gives me confidence the horse has the ability and is already thinking forward. It gives me a peace of mind knowing if my setup isn’t perfect that my horse can still help me out and make it okay. I think this takes the pressure off to be perfect the entire way around, and removing the worry can help keep me riding better.
If you’re experiencing a paralysing fear when jumping ‘bigger’ fences, I would suggest watching another rider jump your horse over the worrying height to give you confidence in his/her abilities and honesty. If not, maybe staying at a height slightly below and waiting until that height is no longer concerning to raise the jumps will allow the worry to fade away with practice and repetition.
Last tip that works for me is hacking around with the jumps about a foot higher then you will actually be schooling. This helps me when we lower the jumps to the actual height we are schooling they now look small comparatively.
[URL=“http://www.horsecollaborative.com/developing-the-riders-eye-and-overcoming-fear-of-fence-height/”]http://www.horsecollaborative.com/developing-the-riders-eye-and-overcoming-fear-of-fence-height/
^–read this!!!
[QUOTE=wendyfisher;7982530]
Any tips on how to shut off that worry, and just focus and be more positive?[/QUOTE]
Besides the other great suggestions, I count. Sometimes out loud. Not down but up…really to just put my focus on riding the canter more than the jump. I know someone else who sings…out loud. Really just doing something that causes them to focus a bit on something else but also helps keep the canter good. It is a skill and you will get better about it. But you just have to find what works for you.
[QUOTE=bornfreenowexpensive;7983255]
Besides the other great suggestions, I count. Sometimes out loud. Not down but up…really to just put my focus on riding the canter more than the jump. I know someone else who sings…out loud. Really just doing something that causes them to focus a bit on something else but also helps keep the canter good. It is a skill and you will get better about it. But you just have to find what works for you.[/QUOTE]
I agree with this too. I count up too, and not down. It gives me a much better indication of if I need to add or subtract when we go through the first time if I’m grabbing mane to get over while still saying “FOUR”! I like to start counting coming to a single jump about 4 strides out, and when I’m doing lines and I know the striding, I make sure I “LAND” “One” “Two” “Three” (this is where my name on here originates) etc… It helps to get you to adjust, and also helps you to think about the striding and getting there safely vs “OMG that fence is HUGE”… I was setting a course with the BO last week at 2’3-2’6 and she goes OMG those look HUGE. It’s a total psych out. Once I got on my (14.1) pony we rocked over them and I’m game to jack them up to 2’9 next. Just keep your mind on riding to it correctly, not focusing on the size.
Having confidence in your horse is key as others suggested, too. Mine is a pony and she’s green. It gives you the jitters over smaller stuff, and each time we raise the bar I feel like my stomach is going to blow up. Just focus on the ride that WILL get you there safe.
[QUOTE=wendyfisher;7982530]
Any tips on how to shut off that worry, and just focus and be more positive?[/QUOTE]
If you’re really struggling with this phenomenon, I would recommend trying out a sports psychologist who is familiar with equestrians, or working with one of the many books on the subject.
I had/have a crippling fear of anything that looks NEW and DIFFERENT, whether that’s a bigger fence or just a tough exercise (broken lines to in-and-outs are my worst nightmare). What helped me deal with the fear is some of the exercises I picked up from a couple books, and a clinic put on by my state’s H/J association with Tonya Johnston. Try her book, Inside Your Ride, or Janet Edgette’s work (I bought Heads Up!)
Sports psychology is really gaining momentum in the riding world, and I’ve found the techniques extremely helpful in allowing me to perform even when I’m scared.
I’ve made my body trick myself;)
I had a mare that was really bold & whenever I would get nervous I would consciously close my legs around her when I sucked in that “panic-y OMG that 2’3 fence is big” breath. That always sent her forward, which always made me feel like “Ok, she’s got this. Nothing to be scared of here”. Now it is an automatic response. I don’t even think about it anymore.
As others have said, having a short approach to a bigger fence is easier - less time to think. Setting the outs of a line higher helps me. Since I already jumped the in & am focused on the strides down to the out I have less time to think about the height of that fence. Also trainer is not allowed to say how high the fences actually are until AFTER the lesson is over!
As someone who is aiming to be jumping around some smaller GPs in about a year, this topic is something I battle with constantly. I find the warmup ring to be the hardest area. One thing I’ve found that fixes the problem is setting a one stride or step rail before the fence. Even if you mess up at the rail its still a step or stride to the jump. Another is once you are “locked and loaded” aka the horse has the eye on the jump, look over the rail or to the top of a standard. If you’re constantly staring at the top rail, it becomes very hard to clear that rail, shaking your confidence. Also if you have plans on moving up like I do, I walk the GP course every opportunity I get so when I’m entered in one it won’t be a huge surprise the jumps are actually that big.
I remember when I thought the 1.15s were HUGE and now cantering around a bigger 1.30 course is the same way. I adjusted in about 4 shows to where I thought the 15s were normal and it took about 8 to shows to think they were comfortable. I expect rather the same thing with the 30s/40s.
Lots of great ideas here, on a topic that affects many of us! This is another great article. http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/features/10-tips-for-banishing-competition-riding-nerves-411070 It’s specifically about competition nerves, however it seems that the OP’s nerves are not specific to competitions. I too suffer from nerves when jumping, and found this article really helpful as it gives some specific, physical exercises that help. I read it regularly! Also remember you are not the only nervous person. I don’t appear nervous, and often when I tell people they say “oh, but you seem really calm!”. Realising that nerves are normal is a comfort to me!
I accomplish this kind of backwards from other riders. My logic is the fear comes from the reduced margin of error involved in bigger fences. The error is the result of getting to the fence at a bad distance. A horse will almost never come to a fence at a bad distance with a good quality canter. The end sum = just concentrate on having the right canter. Ever since I stopped thinking about the fence I am jumping and instead focus on which canter I need for it, the fear has gone down exponentially. The good canter keeps us both rhythmic, focused, and makes the actual jump so much easier for him. Going over the fence has turned into “what canter do I need next?” instead of “oh crap he’s gonna buck on landing”. I can’t describe it other than saying focusing on getting the right canter makes the actual jumps an afterthought.
Lots of good suggestions here. If you’re at home, and you do that scary big jump successfully, then at the end of your lesson, get off your horse and go stand right next to it. Remember how easy it was for your horse to jump it. I did this for maybe about 4 months. Afterwards, walking a course at a show with big jumps didn’t seem so scary. I also count out loud, a rhythmical 1-2-1-2-1-2. It helps me focus on the quality of my canter, which for whatever reason keeps my mind busy enough so I don’t worry about the jump as much. I think as with all things, you do get used to it over time and you also get better with your coping skills.
