Can You Eat Before You Compete?

Nice description flapjack!
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I don't have any problems eating - wish I did as it might just help the diet!
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i never used to, i would go all day without food or drink usually until i was finished.
daft. now i eat pretty normally, will grab something for b'fast, snack en route, and make myself drink tons of water all day (inspite of necessary trips to loo) after discovering that dehydration REALLY slows down reactions... not great at all when riding, esp xc!
so, to those who don't eat... please please at the very least stay really hydrated, and coke/pepsi etc do not count!
 
I used to not eat before I had finished but after attending a BE CDT day I have rapidly altered my habits. They made a great point that you as a rider are an athlete, and as eventing is so expensive and demanding you need to be at your best and do all you can before the event starts to make sure it goes well so being fed and hydrated is a must. I eat breakfast usually porridge and then snack on bananas which are a great source of slow release energy. I also make sure I am well hydrated as K says it does your reactions a power of good (it takes a person 3 months to recover from dehydration) Top tip from the day was not to eat chocolate unless it's very soon before your jumping eg 10mins before as it is just a short burst of energy so timing is all important, not so good if you are warmed up ready to go eaten your square of choccy only for another 10 horses to suddenly appear to go before you!!
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In the spirit of the whole 'riders are athletes' mentality, I regularly indulge in wholesale carb loading
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Seriously though, the thing that stops me eating properly in the morning is having to get up at stupid o'clock to plait. So I usually get a bag of wine gums from the petrol station as my breakfast..
 
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nope, i cant eat a thing before anything involving jumping. fine with dressage though.

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Lol, I'm the opposite! I can't eat before my dressage (unless it's breakfast hours before) otherwise I just feel ill if I do sitting trot
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Can't drink much either otherwise I'm convinced I'll slosh about!
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I always always have breakfast before a show though, even if it's at 4am, otherwise I just go to pieces. I prefer to just keep going then until I'm finished if the times allow, fuelled by red bull and maltesers
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Yep my daughter too, LOL. She once threw up pink milk shake at the XC tack checkers feet, needless to say she was never again allowed anything milky until she had finished.
 
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I tend to be nil by mouth (apart from coffee) until I complete XC that way if I need a GA I'm fine!!!!

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LOL - nothing like looking on the bright side
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Like many on here, old age has made nerves disappear somewhat. I only ever used to get nervous about eventing, not anything else. But last year, I was getting tacked up for xc and suddenly thought "christ I'm starving" and wolfed down a cereal bar. I don't think I've ever eaten before xc in all my (25
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) years before that!!!

I can't eat bread type things but loads of cereal bars and bananas, and lucozade sport or just water as well. And as soon as I'm finished it's a fried egg sandwich and coffee, but that's for tradition reasons rather than a well-researched nutritional uplift
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Try bananas! They're supposed to help with nerves anyway, and I find I can choke one down even if I'm really nervous. Also, they're high in sugar and will give you instant energy. Bananas rule!
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If you really can't eat, I second the liquid idea. Maybe a protein shake?

I used to not be able to eat before performances, but now I'm usually ok. Time helped.
 
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A bottle of wine perhaps, its made from fruit so thats got to be healthy
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interest thought process - one i quite like!
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shame about driving home ruining things!
 
I cannot eat anything before I finish for the day, I get up at 4am and don't eat till I finish often about half 6 having competed to horses at a ODE! I don't struggle at all though as I never have breakfast anyway so I'm not used to eating in the early morning!
 
no...if i was a horse id be worrying and posting in the vet section!!!
i make myself drink black tea absoloutlely loaded with sugar i couldnt stomach solid food. when i get home im usualy exhausted and very very hungry, i once fainted trying to much out after before discovering i could drink tea. i also keep a perminant supply of coke at the yard for those mornings when i stagger out of bed to muck out before im properly awake.

how would i like without coke!!!
 
I'm so glad I'm not the only one! I think it's probably because I don't ever have breakfast anyway. I do drink plenty of water though, and survive on coke for some sugar, but I just can't eat before I jump, even if like the other day I don't jump until the evening.

I do manage to get a large glass of port down me before team chasing though, no matter how early in the morning
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if I am at a show you cannot keep me away from a cup of tea and bacon sandwich - anytime, regardless of when I am due to jump !!!!!!
Its really strange as I have found with the horse I am jumping now I don't get anywhere near as nervous/anixous as I used to with my mare.
 
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