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Confidence Help
Article by Cait.
Near the end of the show season of 1996 I went through some confidence
trouble with my old horse Promise.
At the time I had just moved up from 18" to 2'6". This is a big step
and I took it way too fast. My first advise is: Don't ever ever push
yourself to fast. (I did. I regretted it.)
What I did was called 'dropping' her. It's when you put your weight on
your horse's neck by placing your hands down in front of a fence. I was
afraid of the fence and I didn't believe that Promise could make it
over even though I knew she could. I dropped her. Our confidence and
trust in each other was shattered. She stopped at almost every single
fence I pointed her at. I finally realized that I had pushed myself too
hard and fast. I started jumping 18" fences again. We went back and
corrected the mistake. We had to do it by taking 2 steps backward in
order to take 1 step foward. My second piece of advise: Go back. Don't
continue doing something you are afraid of. Return to something
comfortable and work foward very slowly again.
The next year we were doing 2'9" at home and 2'6" at the shows with no
problems.
Hoped I could help,
Cait. Caitlin and Hoot 'n Holler
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