competition nerves..how do you control them?

[polyphonic]

im doing my prelims this sunday and starting to feel sick already! im not a DR person at all and am starting to wrry more of what people are going to think of my riding ability and of flints...obvioulsy we are doing prelims for a reason though! none of the remedies help, although when team chasing i found gin did but obvioulsy cant canter across the diagonal hanging off the side! how do you cope with your nerves and not let them get the better of you..after all whats in the brains goes down the reins!

 

[not_with_it]

I dont really get nervous so cant give you any tips there but I can guarantee that there will be someone there worse than you!

Good luck and you will be fine.

 

[Pasha]

I get incredibly nervous and I just don't know why as we usually do well so I have no reason too.... I find the best thing for me is to learn my test inside out and regardless of what i'm feeling like I can usually ride it on auto pilot

I've also found that my nerves manifest themselves in the first test and by the second we're fine - so I ride the first HC (usualy a low PRelim) to warm-up and go for it in the second

Having someone on the ground (I drag my trainer along, but when he can't make it a friend is just as good), running you through your warm up routine and praising you when it's due is also a great confidence booster and one more thing not to worry about!

 

[SillyMare]

I struggle with terrible nerves for dressage - not at all for jumping - silly isn't it!!

Usually have to give myself a good talking to in the collecting ring.

I am always better when I am out-classed by miles and have absolutely no chance or when I am on a tricky horse. Probably because I don't put myself under so much pressure to be perfect.

 

[*hic*]

I was shaking so much on Sunday that I couldn't plait! and then just before I should have been getting on I was shaking so violently I couldn't do the girth up. That's after my sleepless night on Saturday.

I go for the motivational talks to myself:

Someone has to be last and at least I can do that graciously!
Everyone has a bad day.
We're only doing this for fun.
We're only doing this as as step to something else.
Well, I wouldn't expect to do well until I've a lot more experience - too many things for us to take in besides the test.
Well, if I go in and learn as much as I can about how not to do it at least next time we can get those things right.

As you start your test and when you finish your test and salute give the judge a big smile, be pleased with Flint, he's had to do it with the added problem of your nerves!

Go on - enjoy it!

 

[Nadia]

I suffer from nerves, mostly because im competing a new horse and its unknown territory.

I posted about the same thing a few weeks back - there was some very helpful advice (maybe you can scroll back and find it, there was mention of some techniques that might help?)

Ive found that the more i get out and do it, the better i am becomming, i am trying to make competition normal....and it seems to be working. Other than that, you can pass me the gin.

 

[MagicMelon]

Are you sure its definately nerves rather than you being anxious?

I always thought I got a bit nervous before events but worked out actually I get anxious! I want to get going with it, I hate getting ready the day before and in the morning, I just want to get on and do it!

The only time I think I get nervous is if my horse isn't behaving as planned and Im due into the dressage ring - that's probably just pure panic though! I hate dressage so I guess I always fear the worst during it.

 

[catembi]

I'm completely the opposite - I barely get nerves for dr but get them really, really bad for jumping. I think it's the hanging around, & not knowing anyone.

I'd recommend rescue remedy, & for dr nerves I'd rem that all you've got to do is ride a pattern. Even if you make a total pig's ear of it, at least you're extremely unlikely to have a refusal / fall off / miss a stride as per sj.

Think of dr as hacking, but instead of deciding to have a trot between (eg) the big tree & the part of the bridleway where it gets a bit rutted, you've got to trot between two letters.

Hope this helps...