competition nerves

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elsielouise

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I've just been watching some videos of me riding my horse at home and at SJ and Dressage comps and my instructor riding at home and jumping. AND I am terrible out! My poor horse works brilliantly for my trainer home and away, OK for me at home but awful at comps and it's clearly all my fault!

It can take me a while to get her to relax at home when I'm working her by myself but it can be impossible at shows.


I know I tense up and since she's quite sharp this doesn;t help but my last dressage test she really looked resistant and not off the leg at all. Am amazed we were placed (6th out of about 25) but even so... she should be ready to affiliate really and does a fantastic test with my trainer, in the 70's usually,

What do you do to get the same performance at home and away/get rid of the nerves?
 
If it takes a while to get her to relax at home why don't you write down all of the things you do to help in your everyday schooling and mentally take that list out with you and use it in your warm up. You could even ask your instructor to give you a routine that you have to stick to so that you have something to focus on. Make sure you have plenty of time and aren't rushing around so that you don't get extra stressed for silly reasons. If things don't seem to be going right, take a breather and walk off for 5 mins so as to relax you as well as her and then start the conversation again with the pair of you in a more open mind.
Don't worry about what anyone else is doing and just try and have the attitude that you are making use of the facilities to further your training. When I go into the arena to do my test I always think to myself that i am taking my horse in there to show the judge what we are capable of at the moment and to find out what they think as their feedback can be very valuable.
 
Thanks

My problem mostly relates to the inconsistency of my mare - perhaps it's just her female side so a 'routine' might def help. I know I've tried to do this in the past but different trainers tend to get me doing different things and it all gets a bit confusing! Sooo have booked a BE accredited trainer tomorrow for a flatwork session and have my eye on a BD trainer next week. Hopefully we will crack this as she can go soooo well when it all comes together.

Alas this is usually in the menage in the rain with no one else watching.

Have also noticed am doing same test on Sat in same place as I did 8 weeks ago. Got 64% last time so am now worried we won't do as well!

Am clearly Bonkers!
 
In my opinion you should try and find a trainer that you get on with and who 'gets' you and your horse and then try and stick with the same one. If inconsistancy is a problem then if you and your trainer are consistant maybe that will help her?
It took me ages to find someone that works for both myself and the horse and once I did things have improved a lot!
Good luck!
 
I know what you mean. I have had the same trainer for the last six months but she is a trainer of horses rather than an instructor/teacher, hence the looking for a new one.

thanks for the helo though
 
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