Building confidence over fences

I dragged my four pitiful jumps around the outdoor arena this weekend and set up some fences that I thought would challenge Gina without freaking her out.

I set up a small vertical (around 2'3) for warm up using a couple of barrels, a larger vertical (around 2'9), and a Swedish oxer (which was probably only around 2'6 in the middle).

And then Gina and I proceeded to jump around these jumps like it was no big deal. 

Three years ago, I could not persuade Gina to walk over ground poles. Trotting over a crossrail without stopping several times was a huge accomplishment. My dreams of eventing her were in tatters.

I never totally lost faith in Gina, though. I am often foolishly sentimental when it comes to horses; I should have sold her as a dressage or flat horse when I discovered how many problems she had with jumping. But I persisted, because I am an idiot or something.

It's taken a long time, but I've spent the last three years (or so) building up Gina's confidence (and my own). Here are some things that have worked for us:

• Focusing on things Gina could do successfully (and easily). For us, this meant we've spent a lot of time doing dressage. Gina is good at most dressage-y things, so spending some quality time on leg yields and 20-meter circles and getting praised for it made her feel confident. (And of course, dressage is helpful for many other reasons, too.)
• Starting and staying small. Once we were able to get over ground poles, we went over ground poles for a loooooong time. We progressed to crossrails and tiny verticals. Only recently I have raised to jumps to respectable heights, because I know Gina is capable.
• Riding other horses. I make it a point to seek out new and/or different horses to ride. It helps that I have always managed to board at places where people are happy to let me ride their horses. In recent years, there have been warmbloods, Quarter Horses, Thoroughbreds, and gaited horses. Riding different horses forces me to ride more correctly; I can get away with certain tics and habits and tricks on Gina because I'm used to her, but other horses frequently expose my flaws. Additionally, riding my old partner Moe did wonders for my confidence over fences when Gina unsettled it. I trust Moe completely; he will inevitably zoom around at a gallop, leave freakishly long, and possibly knock fences down, but he will never, ever refuse. Riding a horse like that is fun and pretty easy, and makes me feel like I could bop around Rolex tomorrow.
• Not pushing the issue. I used to be a very firm rider; I would always insist a horse do what I was asking. If a horse refused a jump, I would reapproach until the horse got over it. I am still insistent that a horse do what I ask, but I am much more patient. If Gina (or any other horse) refuses, I evaluate what I could have done wrong. I will lower the fence all the way to a ground pole if I feel like the horse is afraid or overfaced. I focus on staying consistent with my position and my aids. Some days, Gina is absolutely hideous and refuses everything. On those days, I get her over the jump (sometimes lowered, sometimes not), praise her effusively, and dismount. I've learned that pushing and pushing and pushing does no one any favors.
• Exuberant praise, and unemotional discipline. When Gina jumps something, I always scratch her withers or rub her neck and loudly tell her what a good horse she is. (Ask my barn mates; they hear a constant stream of "Good mare, clever horse, good girl!") When Gina refuses, I give her a tap with the whip behind my leg and represent the fence without saying much and without taking it personally. It's taken me a long time to not take bad behavior personally. I anthropomorphize my horses (don't we all?), but the reality is that Gina isn't refusing because she hates me. She's refusing because I'm not riding well, she doesn't feel good (e.g. she's in heat or tired), or she's afraid or confused.
• Getting out of the ring. Show jumping has always been our problem. Gina has always eagerly jumped anything that wasn't a collection of poles. So, for a long that, that was how I got her to jump. The hunter paces are excellent for this- she happily gallops out over coops, logs, split rails, ditches, and more. I think that instilled confidence in her.

The hard work is paying off. Gina's jumping more consistently than ever, and I'm actually excited about the prospect of taking her to a horse trial. (You know, once we can find a ride.) Gina now approaches show jumps with the same enthusiasm she shows for cross country. I feel good in the irons, on her or any other horse. The two of us are finally gelling into a real team, which is a great reward for years of work!