At 07:06:15 on 26.02.11, EventingArab4Ever wrote:
I have a fear of oxers!! I don't know why... I have heard that they are easier for horse to jump... anyway, my horse doesn't have a problem with oxers really, but if he senses that I am the slightest bit nervous, he thinks that he should be afraid of the jump too! This has just started recently, I was jumping a course fine and suddenly my heart was in my throat as we were cantering the line to the oxer, and this feeling hasn't gone away since! I don't know if it is the width or the height ( I only jump about 2 ft 6 to 3 ft 9, so not big), but oxers scare me to peices! Any confidence builders and exercises would be great. :) :)

At 07:07:49 on 26.02.11, EventingArab4Ever wrote:
Sorry, I didn't mean to say 3 ft 9, I meant 2 ft 9 (becuase my horse is 14 hands, and going over a 3 ft 9 oxer just doesn't seem....possible. lol)

At 10:12:25 on 05.03.11, kibby wrote:
maybe you could make a game with a friend who rides too..just start jumping over a very small oxer and slowly make it wider and bigger (a little at a time) each time you jump it.. but don't go too much higher then what you have been jumping at.. you don't want to have something go wrong and it goes worse.. just go to you and your horse feels comfortable..

At 11:20:45 on 05.03.11, NMH wrote:
Ascending oxers are more friendly seeming- maybe set a couple up at home & gradually raise the top rail to become a true oxer? Agree with Kibby, keep it small & fun!

At 04:44:59 on 06.03.11, kibby wrote:
basically its not much point if your not having fun.. :)

At 23:36:12 on 06.03.11, ToriSilverson wrote:
i would start very small and build up as your confidence increases :) you could maybe have a grid of 3 or 4 jumps and have the last one as a low oxer, that way you are in a rhythm and dont have to think much about it :)

At 06:27:07 on 09.03.11, kibby wrote:
How's the progress coming along?

At 01:18:51 on 08.07.11, annieb410 wrote:
Be confident and tell yourself "we can do this" and u will, I am an evener and one of my horses is 14 hands and we jumped a preliminary jump at a clinic so your horse can jump high, but if you are just not ready than take your time

At 01:19:27 on 08.07.11, annieb410 wrote:
I meant eventer, sorry