Does Knowing More Make Things Worse?

[MirandaSophie]

I mean..well, I dunno....When i first got jack, i knew very, very little indeed...looking back, scarily little.

BUT

Nothing scared me. I didn't really know about counting strides before a jump...I'd just get on, see it *cringes* point and go ! and that didn't matter if it was a little jump, or a 3'3" XC fence
Infact, i'd jump anything that got in my way with no regards to height what-so-ever.

Whereas now, I know about strides, and what the approach should look like... I know how best to approach a fence and how to ride the best way into it to keep it standing etc and although I'd not say I was a nervous jumper at all, I do think more about it and when it gets to about 1.30m I do start worrying that I get the strides right..

I've often thought to myself, the first thing i did with Jack, Wye Ride...he ran out at some of the jumps, I could ride him into them properly now ... but some of the bigger fences i've jumped with him, i wonder..."would I do that now?"

Basically, what I'm saying, is that once upon a time, I'd "just do it", but now I think a lot more about what I'm going to ask ym horse to do...

Just a thought ?

[julz]

Erm... I don't know....as some horses, if you try and ride "properly" into the fence, and get striding wrong, the horse will just get you out of the situation you made bad.... whereas other horses will stop... I once had a jumping lesson on the Oldie, and after jumping this jump a few times from a trot, I tried to do it from a canter, and it all went wrong, and he took over and jumped it (beautifully) and got us out of what could have been a nasty situation!

[wozzer]

The more experience you have of riding generally, the more you see others do (and get wrong), you start to realise how much is actually involved.

Mmmmmmm isn't this the "what ifs" again

They "what ifs" are the scariest thing about riding, for me. ;D You deal with them by setting yourself up to succeed (hopefully ).

[cesca]

Most definitely, I think. This thread reminded me of something I've been taught a few times on training courses, see www.trainer.org.uk/members/theory/process/stages_of_learning.htm.

But it is a good thing - part of me getting my confidence back, has been looking at the framed photo I have of my 17 year old self flying over a 3'3" high, very wide, and frighteningly square and substantial xc jump on a 15hh (my current horse is over 16hh, so the jumps look smaller too!). I used to look at that and think, where has she gone?? BUT now I have learned more from my instructor as she works with me to overcome my confidence issues, and at the same time bring my horse on, I look at it and think, your position is weak, and he's taking you over it because he knows what he's doing and you don't! (He was a highly experienced schoolmaster and I frequently used to shut my eyes and kick on.) Then I didn't know what I didn't know, if you know what I mean? But now I do! And when first confronted with a gap in your knowledge/ability, it's scary! (To varying degrees, there's really no need to get quite so paralysed with terror as I did!)

I now have a very green horse (jumping wise) because I've owned him from a baby and not done much jumping with him at all due to my shattered confidence. But because he's green he's also unforgiving (for want of a better word) so I'm having to learn to do it properly.

At the moment I am at the conscious incompetence stage - but definitely crawling my way into the conscious competence zone after a long while of despair and self-deprecation. But most definitely I agree with what you've put forward Miranda - and you should feel proud and confident at how much you've learned.

[cesca]

My link won't work! Anyone who did want to see the article, just google "four stages of learning" and there are loads.