competing nerves

[clairefeekerry1]

had really good show this weekend, got placed in both my jumping classes. however, seem to suffer badly with nerves. not about riding itself, have an awful fear i'll forget the course. spend ages memorising the course, over and over and over then panic that i'll for get it. i never have forgotton a course i dont think but my over riding nerves mean when i get in the ring all i think about is the course and it ends up all just a bit messy and untidy. watched a video of my rounds and looked awful, was missing strides, turns etc, obviously planned route went out the window and i was all over the place, cant have been a great experiance for my lovely horse. what made it worse this time was it was done under a5 rules so had to jump the jump off straight after my round so in thory i had to remember a course of 15 jumps. i always walk the course, but just seem to not be able to leave it after that, got to go over and over it again when i really should be warming up. any tips???

 

[Jonnyjumper]

Try making notes of the track as you walk it, not a map, something like:

1) Green and white oxer, dog leg to:
2) Blue and yellow vertical, four strides to:
3) Red and white oxer

etc.

Also you can't beat going to competitions as often as you can, if you only go once every 2/3 months for example it's difficult to get into the routine of going to a show and concentrating on the job in hand.

 

[cp1980]

Also you can't beat going to competitions as often as you can, if you only go once every 2/3 months for example it's difficult to get into the routine of going to a show and concentrating on the job in hand.

Quite agree. Learning a course must use a part of the brain that can't get much exercise because I usually find it almost impossible to learn courses until after the first two or three events of the season.

Give it a few more events and your brain will be used to the idea!