How are riders (especially over big jumps) not terrified!?

[cyrkus]

Are horse riders a bit mad!? I am so fascinated by this. I loved riding when younger and still do in a way. But do it rarely now. I’m a bit scared. I still love horses and love watching eventing in particular, but just cannot imagine where riders get the courage to do something so dangerous. And to face those massive obstacles. Are they not scared!? If not, why not!?! Thought people on this board could help explain.

they will naturally be more confident. In another life I used to be very in with the racing crowd and the jump jockeys in particular were fearless in every respect.
Someone was telling me about a study on ski racers and it transpired the bit of their brain that goes “danger don’t do this” didn’t work properly.
Practice and ability help too, if you’re secure and balanced over a fence you’ll find it much easier than if you’re wobbling on landjng

super scopy horses make it feel so easy too, I’ve ridden a friends grade A a few times and she makes meter fences feel like canter poles, incredible feeling.

What’s to be scared of?
If you don’t have trust in your horse and the horse doesn’t trust you, you don’t jump.

Faith in ability, both my own and my horses. And a arrogant hopeful belief in ‘it won’t happen to me!’ re falling 😂
Funnily enough, same as skiing, as per previous poster!

I think you have to be a little bit mad to get on the back of a half tonne flight animal with the brains of toddler. That’s what makes it such fun 😆

You don’t think about what could go wrong , it’s really no different to worrying about a car accident every time you drive , you just don’t worry about things going wrong . Our family have owned horses for over 40 yrs and the worst horse related injuries have all been non riding ones .

Horse riders all have a screw loose. Possibly more than a few. Not even just jumping, the whole concept of sitting on the back of a flight animal armed with two strips of leather as your only means of physical control.

Only last week I found myself standing there yelling at a horse who outweighs me by over 1300 pounds, whose butt is several inches higher than my head, to put his bloody foot down, don't you dare kick me!

We're fucking nutters.

I used to jump up to 110/20 tracks sometimes even bareback just for fun hated cross country though as the jumps are more solid .
I don't ride at all now as have buggered hips
I was braver back then in my late teens I am early 40s now and no way I would even if I could

With horse riding if you have confidence you have 100% confidence. My old pony I knew inside out. We were a proper team. I never had any doubt about her and she trusted me. It was a kind of magic

lol me and a few other also jumped with just a rope round there neck to steer had to be trained though the nutter bit yeap even the most normal of people turn mad when there's horses involved

I used to love riding so much. I wanted to be a famous show jumper! Had no horse and no money and also very little skill. 😀 so just a few problems in the way. Now I have a bit more money but a lot more fear so I just think I’m a bit jealous really and fascinated that people can dare to jump those massive jumps which must also feel so amazing!!

Aww I wish I could but it takes a lot of trust in a horse you no
You need a horse that no's its "job" and can help in tricky situations

As someone who used to show jump to a pretty high level (International Trials) a long time ago my tactic was to focus on the technicalities not the height of the fences eg approach, type of fence, quality of the canter etc. It did help that my main horse had huge self belief, despite being small he thought he was at least 17.2hh and everyone was there to see him!

I started riding horses age 2. Quite honestly I feel more comfortable and at home on one than I do in a car. There’s no fear there with a horse you know!

This. It's all about precision and technique. If you don't make mistakes with striding at lower heights, you will be able to jump the bigger fences.

But horse people are definitely mental 🤪

Yes, yes they are a bit mad!

I ride and I have done some jumping - most people build up to bigger fences over time, you learn skills and confidence over smaller fences and gradually increase the height. Once you’re confident at 70cm and are jumping that height regularly then 80cm starts to look doable, then 90cm, the a metre.

The horse makes a difference too if they are the helpful sort and comfortably within their abilities. A jump can feel massive on a chunky pony or a green horse but be an easy hop for a bigger more experienced horse.

Some people genuinely seem to have no fear, but others (like me!) get confidence from knowing the technical knowledge, skill, balance, trust in the horse etc is there and building up gradually.

The madness is a whole other issue 😁