Competition nerves

Michen

Michen

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Wondering if some of you have some advice...

I suffer with horrendous nerves. From the moment we arrive at the show I feel sick, light headed, almost shakey (even if I have hours before my class). I don't usually feel like eating so then I end up feeling weak when on board (which adds to my nerves as then I ride rubbish!). I don't actually feel "ok" until the moment I am finished.

I have no reason to feel like this, the horse has never ever let me down bar one fall at a comp (where I didn't feel nervous and didn't ride as forward!). He is so honest, genuine and after whatever activity SJ/XC etc I always feel elated because he's always been so good.

I am sick of feeling so horrible though, I appreciate a bit of nerves are fine but it basically ruins what should be a really nice fun day and I wonder why I do it if it makes me feel like that. Usually by fence two or three I am grinning and totally fine. I don't ride nervously anymore thankfully but I would like to not feel like crying before every class!!!!!

Tried rescue remedy and it did ****** all. Has anyone found anything that can help? Mostly I just want to not feel totally sick all the time and have jelly legs when I get on to warm up..
 
Sadly I feel very similar to you and haven't found an answer yet! :-( would be very interested in hearing from people who have x
 
Honest answer - I desperately wanted to event. But I ended up feeling so sick/nervous that the bulk of the day was not enjoyable and I rode poorly as a result.
Ultimately I was just honest with myself, I gave up trying and instead now only do what I genuinely enjoy! I ride horses I want to ride, I love the dressage training and I compete dressage as and when I'm in the mood. I get my eventing fix via event horse ownership. It makes the whole experience far more fun!
 
You need to eat before you leave home to ensure you really are not struggling with low sugar or lack of energy, easy to say when you are rushing off to the yard but a cereal bar and a banana will help, I never used to eat when eventing, dressage or showing etc was no problem as I was not nervous but at events it was different, I lived on Lucozade and the odd banana until I had finished, not ideal but it kept the sugar levels up and was all I could stomach.

On a practical point make sure you are well prepared, both riding and with your stuff you need on the day, being well prepared should mean you can relax a little and have more confidence in what you are going to do in the competition, tell yourself you are ready, you know what you are doing and take some pressure off yourself, it should be fun, it is fun, you have been doing well despite the nerves just think how much more you will enjoy it if you allow yourself to relax and go with the flow.

Remember you are not the only person feeling sick, some cover it up better than others, some seem really gung ho but inside are a jibbering wreck, knowing that your competitors probably feel just as bad as you do can make you feel better, even the very top riders feel nervous, adrenaline can help improve the performance and anyone who says they never get nerves before a competition is probably just a good liar.
 
I found the only way to "get over" them was to keep on doing. I'm a bit better now. I am not good at eating either but have found that I can choke down a sticky, high sugar waffle thing, only that and only one and have found that helps. Rescue remedy did not work for me at all and all it is is brandy.
 
Few thoughts:

1) As said sometimes you just have to do something LOTS to get over the fear of the unknown when you're getting ready to do it. Some people panic more before they do something; fine when they are doing it but before the panic builds up. Just repeating the thing over and over again helps. It might not feel like it is, but in most normal situations and provided your experience is positive (that doesn't mean winning just having a good positive experience and day) the fears should become more manageable.

2) You might try some morning exercise/work to try and build up an appetite. Getting up a little earlier might also help. I find that even on normal days I don't really want much if anything for breakfast; but do something and then come back an hour or so later and then I want to eat. So if you can do something that isn't too back-breaking for a bit you might find it easier to then get some solid food down before you head off to the event.
I certainly second the views above that you need to make sure you eat otherwise you're building body stress ontop of fear and that's not a fun combo (as you are finding out).
Sometimes this means forcing yourself to eat something; doesn't matter really if its healthy or not just get something in that's going to give you energy.

3) Drink (alcohol) might lessen the nerves for some but we all react a little differently and its one thing that can have a debilitating effect if it becomes too much of a crutch for you. I would strongly suggest other options to help tackle the problem first.

4) Meditation. This isn't something I've tried but since a lot of the stress for the event seems to before it happens you might find that meditative exercises can help you to calm yourself down days/hours before the event itself. A shift in mind-set as well might help you to cope with your own uncertainty and fears.
 
I have actually considered a few cans of pimms as it doesn't really taste like alcohol and I certainly don't seem to have confidence issues hunting after a decent amount of port so.... Maybe the way forward lol!!
 
Positive exposure is always going to help but whilst you're doing that you need some tricks to help you get through it.
I struggle to eat before I compete so I make a smoothy - personal favourite is banana, peanut butter, oats and milk. I drink this slowly through the morning / on the way there and it gives me the energy to at least get through the first couple of phases.
Next try some positive thinking - I was always really skeptical of it but it does seem to help. So you're not nervous, you're excited, you're not apprehensive, you're anticipating, change your thinking words to positive ones, and over time it really does help - sounds cheesy I know but there is research out there to back it up :) The Chimp Paradox explains it brilliantly.
 
I am exactly the same as you I wake up on the morning and I feel sick I can't stop going to the toilet and I am a wreck, the only thing that helped me was a few glasses of wine, I have tried rescue remedy and kalms neither do a thing, I know it's not the ideal solution and I am terrified the judge may smell alcohol on me but it's the only thing that has remotely helped, I am not doing any big shows at the moment I pay someone to ride my horse for me and I have a much better day but I always hop on and have a ride round the warm up it just makes me feel better that at least I actually rode lol!
 
I have by no means cracked it but have tried a few things, although I don't do this enough to really put it into practice, but here's some thoughts:

- positive thinking - trying to think of those feelings/sensations as being ones of excitement/anticipation, not nerves, and repeating that over and over to myself. Trying to stop the spiral of negative thoughts and turn them into positive ones, as we choose to do this, it's fun etc.
- breathing - long slow breathes out, counting and focussing on breathing. Or singing something silly.
- rescue remedy, didn't obviously work but I did try and combine it with positive thinking and breathing.
- confidence course that I went to year ago, which gave me some of the above ideas.
- repetition and sticking to levels that were well within my comfort zone, so the last thing I need to worry about is e.g. the height.
- taking a friend to keep me company, this has helped massively.
- agree with being on time and well prepared.
 
Nothing constructive to add, but I know exactly how you feel, to the point of putting off shows because I would always say "what if?".
Now I have an injured horse who's been off for 9 weeks, and I'm dreading getting on and bringing her back into work, let alone competitions.

I used to be exactly the same as you, I would feel sick from the minute I woke up, until I'd finished what I was doing, then I'd be fine. Starving hungry and thirsty mind, as I'd not had anything at all to eat all day.
Nerves are a horrible thing!
 
Meant to add, on the food front, try and find something you can eat. For me it's slices of apple and grapes, and if I'm not feeling too bad, then a flapjack type thing. They generally taste like ash in my mouth and I have to drink lots to swallow em, but you need the fuel! It does make you wonder why on earth we do this haha.

And it's also made me realise that I'm def better than I used to be, I've even managed to eat a sandwich lately (ash flavoured again ofc), but only once we've been on the road about 20 mins !
 
Thanks everyone. I shall put this in to practice this weekend!!!!! Glad to know I am not alone as well.
 
Exactly me though I forced down a burger because I felt so physically weak. It's so silly because after a few fences I am grinning, the horse looks after me every time and every time I don't give him the benefit of the doubt beforehand.


Deltic Blue said:
Nothing constructive to add, but I know exactly how you feel, to the point of putting off shows because I would always say "what if?".
Now I have an injured horse who's been off for 9 weeks, and I'm dreading getting on and bringing her back into work, let alone competitions.

I used to be exactly the same as you, I would feel sick from the minute I woke up, until I'd finished what I was doing, then I'd be fine. Starving hungry and thirsty mind, as I'd not had anything at all to eat all day.
Nerves are a horrible thing!
Click to expand...
 
I find I overthink things to the point of freaking myself out. :o
On show day, I'm fine until I'm actually in the lorry and driving out of the yard, and then the nerves hit. It's so silly because once I'm in the ring, I tend to relax and just get on with it.

Tips I've found helpful:

- Eat/drink in the lorry on the way. Even if it's something small like a cereal or protein bar.

- When walking the course, don't size up the fences. Get your distance and then just keep on walking. ;)

- Have a plan for your warm up. If something goes wrong, you can easily adapt it but I find that it helps me to have something to focus on, e.g.: making sure my horse is really bending properly on his bad rein.

- Don't feel rushed by the start bell (if there is one). Take your time setting yourself up before you come round to the first fence. Getting a good shot to the first always works wonders for my nerves. :)

I'm exactly the same as you - once I'm over the first few, I start to relax and put my trust back in my horse, and by the end of the round I'm grinning like an idiot. ;)

What about moving down a class to get a few really positive outings under your belt? Would that help at all? :)
 
Keep doing it, the more I get out and about (even local stuff or clear round) the easier it gets.
Or doll yourself up, scrub you and B as if you're going to a competition, then just go ride round the warm up until totally relaxed (or as relaxed as you can), then go home.
Or stick to clear round till it feels comfortable or enter hc to take off the 'competition' pressure.
Could you pay your instructor to attend and help you warm up?
Are you remembering to breathe? I don't and by talking (usually nonsense!) to my horse it helps me relax and breathe without it having to be a conscious thing.
I spoke to a sports psychologist who works with a lot of riders recently and she was really useful and I'm considering going down that route.
 
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