Competition - need a confidence boost . . . .

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Notimetoride

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My entire riding life I have struggled with comp nerves. In an attempt to sort them out I seriously hammered if during the last 12 months and did over 30 dressage tests. Has it worked ? Not in the flipping slightest !! (Even tried wine once !)
So I'm dressaging in a couple of days time and have just got my times and now feel sick and shaky !! It's only prelim !!
Really need some advice as its getting silly now. Rescue Remedy doesn't work in the slightest. We are perfectly good enough, if we don't win we certainly hold our own. We always do a pretty respectable test and the pony is usually a little star. So what's up with me and is it fixable ??
 
Notimetoride said:
My entire riding life I have struggled with comp nerves. In an attempt to sort them out I seriously hammered if during the last 12 months and did over 30 dressage tests. Has it worked ? Not in the flipping slightest !! (Even tried wine once !)
So I'm dressaging in a couple of days time and have just got my times and now feel sick and shaky !! It's only prelim !!
Really need some advice as its getting silly now. Rescue Remedy doesn't work in the slightest. We are perfectly good enough, if we don't win we certainly hold our own. We always do a pretty respectable test and the pony is usually a little star. So what's up with me and is it fixable ??
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I get the same feelings but I do flat showing. Fine once I'm on board and the go around but get the jitters in the line up waiting to do my individual.
When it's been really bad, I've had a Kopparberg and a chill pill.
Got RW next week! Glad it's a judge riding, that's if we are kept in.

Plenty of deep breaths, you sound like you have a fab pony to help you out:)
 
Nerves are normal and heck most of the people going will have them before an event; however we are very very good at hiding our feelings from others (we can also be darn blind to the feelings in others too - esp if you're there doing your own thing and thus not really paying full attention to others).

So don't fear that you're the only one; many others will be nervous too.


However your level of nerves appears to be at a point where you're unable to cope in a way that you feel satisfied. As a result its impacting your life even though you've got proof that it won't stop you competing (you've done 30 already in just the last year). So you're nervous; but its not stopped you.


However I think that when you reach a wall and can't progress you need to ask for help and I would second the suggestion to talk to a psychologist or self help or other person/organisation with training in this. They might be able to provide understanding or methods that could help to calm you before an event without relying on drugs/tricks/drink which can sometimes just mask a problem rather than helping to improve it*



*In my view things like a little drink to calm the nerves etc.. are fine, but should always be a short term thing designed to allow you to have good experiences which can then bolster your self confidence etc.... to cure the nervousness to a point where you no longer need the "crutch" of the little drink.
 
I've competed up to a serious level yet I get major butterflies the moment I see the lorry/trailer park even at a local low level event!

I can get so nervous I can't eat nor barely even speak until it's over. I try to convert the nervous energy into 'focus' energy and use it to fuel my determination. It works for me anyway.

I wouldn't want to be without my nerves because they keep me alert and focused. Maybe changing the way you view your nerves might turn them into an advantage for you?
 
Confidence is a fickle thing.

Working out why you are nervous could help you get the key to it.

I go to pieces before a SJ round but dressage tests don't bother me as I literally gone thrown in the deep end with my first ever dressage test at a very large show. For me visualation helped with the SJ - me mentally viewing me doing a successful round.

The principles of SUMO can help you get handle on things and put things into perspective http://www.thesumoguy.com/ - I am worried about this dressage test on Saturday - How worried on a scale 0 - 10 then reask the same question this time saying 10 = certain death then re-ask again with the same criteria and the score usually comes down, then same again saying in six months how worried would you be about the dressage event in the past. It helps...

Book on the inner chimp also gives you insight why we react as we do when confidence is lacking, or there are people out there than can help you

People who are nervous about a certain thing tend to make excuses not to do the thing they are nervous about so repeat exposure does help so good on you for keep plugging at it.
 
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