Tips for nervous 9yo did jumping

[Springiscoming20]

Should start by saying we’re talking about jumping tiny cross poles or branches out hacking. She’s a cracking rider on her second loan pony. Pony is a 20yr + school master who doesn’t put a foot wrong but likes to jump so wants to go go a little quicker than she asks - but nothing fizzy. He is very safe and we’re not talking galloping here! He also always pulls up with her (he’s worth his weight in gold!). She just seems to overthink it and ends up in tears. I’ve said many times she doesn’t have to jump or she can only jump small poles or she can ride her sisters slightly bigger but lazier pony. Any tips? Do we keep trying or stop jumping completely for a while. Any videos or books good for nervous children?

Most people I know are not jumping just now so maybe you could just pause jumping just now if it's worrying her. Can she reliably control the speed as that may be what's worrying her more? Can she do a super slow trot, then a bit faster, then back to normal. Same in canter. This would be a great time to work on that as it sounds like maybe in her mind jumping equals going a bit too fast for her liking. Does the pony always try to jump a pole on the ground, could you work on trotting poles to get it a bit bored and stop rushing. It's lovely when a horse takes you into a jump, much better than the feeling it's going to put a dirty stop in but maybe you could help her keep a good rhythm and control the speed coming through a line of poles in trot and canter. Depending on how experienced she is, she is maybe not influencing the pony that much yet and just accepting the speed she is given, but she can learn to steady that more so she feels better in control. This can be with little 'feels' on the outside rein and saying 'steady' as well as using the speed of her rising. Don't neglect using the legs too to create activity, even though you want the overall speed to be slower. It can be harder for a pony to be active but slightly slower. Work on rhythm will always pay off. I'm sure more experienced folk will add to this with other ideas. I personally wouldn't be focusing on jumping just now, more control of speed and rhythm.

Ps your pony sounds lovely!

Personally I'd let her try the bigger lazier pony. I was a very nervous jumper and it was the speed that often made me nervous as I couldn't get past thinking 'if they stop I'm 100% coming off' .. whereas when you're going slower it just feels more controlled and safer. Of course for bigger jumps etc you need the impulsion but whilst she's only jumping very small, id let her build her confidence on the slower horse for sure and let her do what she feels confident doing. Once she's done a few tiny jumps at her own pace she'll soon ask for higher etc

She needs lessons so that she learns to control the speed and so that the pony never goes faster than she feels comfortable with. Until she can do that there is no point in jumping, especially if it stresses her out.

I know you did not ask this but I would also question the wisdom of riding, especially hacking and jumping for a child who is nervous, in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic. Everyone I know has stopped riding to avoid an accident that would lead to adding to the burden of overstreched health care services. This includes everyone from happy hackers all the way to Olympic riders. Perhaps the pony should have a holiday until things calm down a bit.

Really good suggestions thank you. She’s really good at controlling his speed when not jumping but we will def practise this. Likewise with trotting poles though he plods over those. He’s a hunting pony (not with us) so suspect he just likes a jump.

Should add this isn’t a problem that’s just arisen through coronavirus, been a growing problem for 6 months or so. Appreciate people choosing not to ride, where we are rightly or wrongly everyone still is and we are choosing to let the kids ride a little in a field every day as their exercise. However I will not make this into a debate about riding through corona. Thank you all, will take on board the points!

I think for the time being I'd give her a break from jumping unless or until she actively asks to jump (not by making a big deal, just don't actively get the jumps out or pointing out logs out hacking etc). There's plenty of time for her to learn as she's quite little, and she's more likely to be motivated if she sees friends doing it or wants to jump at pony club or for competitions. And ultimately if she never likes jumping that's no big deal, it's not compulsory!

Also I would stick to jumping in the school rather than logs out hacking or in an open field to start with (some nervous dc do feel more confident when the jump just happens naturally as part of the ride rather than being set up so they don't have time to get worked up, but if your DD is mainly worried about pony running off its probably better to stick to a controlled environment until she's sure of her brakes!). I'd maybe try doing a line of trot poles 1 or 2 strides apart, get her practising doing transitions after each pole or an the end of the line, or circling away after each pole so she controls pace and direction. Then when she feels confident make the last one in the line a tiny cross. Pony should use the poles to keep his rhythm before jump and the turn after will help her regain it if he rushes or canters after it. Then when she's confident with that make the first one a jump, then the middle one(s) until she's doing a little grid. You can then start to play with the grid work, doing varying stride lengths, different types of jumps (straight, spread), poles on a circle, dog leg etc but always focussing on the rhythm and balance rather than making the jumps bigger. You can get books with loads of grid work ideas if you run out! She can do everything from trot if she prefers but don't sock the pony in the mouth or tell him off if he pops into canter for a few strides, just calmly come back to trot and try again. It will be really good for her steering and balance to do this work, and the more complicated the exercise gets the less time for panic!

I’d give her a break from jumping personally and be doing exercises over canter poles so she can learn to adjust him In canter

Again, great tips thank you. When we rode today she actually asked to jump and I said let’s just stick to flatwork. Really great ride in the sunshine. Thank you