Q: My instructor says that because I am nervous about jumping, my pony is becoming nervous too. Is this true?

A: Ponies are very sensitive and pick up on our emotions, so they’re always aware of how we feel when we ride or handle them. If you are nervous about jumping, your pony will wonder if you really want to jump the fence, and he’ll be less likely to feel confident about it as a result.

Confidence is built over time, and can’t be faked, so don’t be too hard on yourself in this situation. We’ve all been nervous at some point! Plus, jumping should be fun, so if you’re finding it too nerve-wracking, why not take a break and have a go at some other disciplines or exercises for a while until you feel more confident again? Alternatively, you could have a few lessons on a schoolmaster jumping pony to really get your confidence up before going back to riding your own pony.