[Linda]

Yes it is totally a confidence issue. She can canter around the ring (somewhat slowly) but totally pulls up when she sees the tiny x rail in front of her. We do “get after her” a bit to send the horse on and ride but she just isn’t able to do so. And at the same time, she gets so excited about riding and jumping…until the moment she gets on the horse, turns pale and totally shuts down. We have talked to the parents and they are thinking she should stop riding for a while…and the girl cries and pleads.

SO I’m thinking we will go back to dressage - even though she says NO that she will NEVER do it. Well, I thik those are our options. Hopefully she will be willing to be a bit more assertive in her riding. Hope so. Nice girl. Must be tough to be lagging behind her friends who are showing and she is still working on getting around the ring.

[Cat_Tap]

We all go through stages with horses. I have had confidence issues that I tried to face. Had a talk with myself to either quit or get over this. I know she is only a child but perhaps forgetting about the jumping for now, as it has become an issue, she will at some point get past this. Encourage her to watch the others, have her play a video in her mind as to how she should approach the jump. If she really wants to jump she will at some point find a way past this stage.