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| In fairness to me, he jumps everything like a big jump. |
Because when confidence is your problem, those little crossrails might actually be what pushing yourself looks like and when you're that vulnerable, it's easy to let that little bit of social pressure push you over the edge to changing what should have been a confidence building experience into something scary and unproductive.
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| Happy over little things |
Anyways. The lovely Alyssa came out to play yesterday. The jumps were all teeny and easy looking, and Courage and I jumped around like the biggest badasses at the baby show. I did the hard work in the corners and settled toward the jumps and gave big releases and rode happy and forward and (GET THIS) nailed every change. Yeah, we do those now. Well, he does them if I ride straight and forward, but it counts.
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| Begone, latent oxer phobia!! |
And I asked her to raise them.
And then I jumped them again with no fear and I rode well and my horse was awesome.
Are we "there"? We're getting closer. It is a HUGE step for me to ask for jumps to go up and even bigger to not wory when they do. It wasn't a complex course and the raised jumps still weren't what I'd call "big", but that's not the point.
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| All photos by Alyssa. |
The SprinklerBandit and Courage, having fun.
Hooray!!! So proud of you and C-rage! You can definitely see that you both have confidence in these pictures :)
ReplyDeleteWoot Woot! Looking great!
ReplyDeleteSocial pressure really can cause us to do things we aren't comfortable with and make riding a lot less fun. I'm glad that all of the work you've been doing, the work that too many people skip because they want to jump bigger, is helping and you are getting more confident as the size of the jumps increase instead of intimidated. Good job!
ReplyDeleteyou guys look terrific!
ReplyDeleteSo glad to hear you are getting the fun back! :) You two look great!
ReplyDeleteAwesome! I think the mental game is 90% of riding. Once you've conquered that then the rest is just a matter of doing. So glad you and C-rage found a happy spot.
ReplyDeleteROCK ON, AIMEE!! You should be absolutely THRILLED with how far you've come mentally and emotionally in the past few months!
ReplyDeleteAnd that's what it's all about! :)
ReplyDeleteThat's so amazing that youre doing you and not taking into account what others say in the background. its working and you guys look fabulous!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Glad you are having so much fun again!
ReplyDeleteLove this! You guys look awesome. I think what's key is what you said about doing it until you're blue in the face bored with the size you're at and know you're ready to do a little bigger or more technical, or in some cases, ready to be pushed a little out of the comfort zone (for me that was more about tackling a skinny or navigating a corner). Good for you for taking the road that's productive and putting what other people might think out of your head! I’ve found success up the levels for me when I’ve ridden the level I was comfortable at until I was blue in the face and mentally longing for more, then I’d move up to the next level. It’s not to say on any given course there weren’t a couple jumps that made my stomach flip flop, but the majority seemed very very doable.
ReplyDeleteThat was my biggest problem with B was hearing what everyone else had to say and trying to keep up with people at the barn. In the end, it didn't work for either of us and I had to start ALL OVER AGAIN! It's about you and C-rage. It's good to have those people there though that can support you and help give you the leg up (or move the pole up) when you need it. But don't make less of what you are doing. Keep it up! I'm loving this "Confidence Building" Blog theme. I'm in the same boat.
ReplyDeletesometimes we forget that riding should in the end be fun :)
ReplyDeleteyou guys look awesome! he's come so far with his form over fences - a testament to the correct foundation you're installing in him. and i am right there with you in the confidence game, and my pony isn't even green. it's tough, but not insurmountable :)
ReplyDeleteSo happy :)
ReplyDeleteLooking good is awesome, which you are, but feeling good is amazing!
ReplyDeleteYes I get you on the not listening to other people sometimes thing... People are always in a rush and measure success by objective measures when instead sometimes it's the subjective things you can't see that really matter! Good for you :)
ReplyDeleteAnd apparently equitation is a bonus - your position is fabulous! My confidence as it relates to jump size depends on so many things, especially having a trainer there or other rider to spot me. Heck, in my lesson this weekend we jumped a 3'3" jump, yet on my solo ride I thought 2'6" looked too big and stuck to the 2'3" and below jumps. It is what it is and I don't give myself a hard time about it. Also I'm lucky that I don't have anyone else encouraging me to go higher than I'm comfortable with.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful update. So glad you're both having fun. Love your blog :)
ReplyDeleteThe key is keep the rider comfortable and relaxed - you can push people but pushing them beyond comfort is just dumb and dangerous. You guys are on the right path!
ReplyDelete"So there." Love it!
ReplyDelete