Dressage - How to keep it stress free?

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MagicMelon

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Right, Ive sent off my entry for a bloomin' stress-age comp. So, since I HATE dressage and get so stressed about the whole affair, anybody got any ideas on trying to keep it calm? I find I warm up ok, but as soon as I go in I freak out! I detest the fact that people are watching me and judging me on every move I make. You see, I enjoy SJ and XC were my position doesnt matter! I end up getting super nervous and extremely tense which of course translates to the horse.

Rescue remedy didnt work for me. Ive TRIED imaging nobody else is there and really concentrating on relaxing which I can for all of 2 seconds! I know my horse can go well but I cock it up every time!
 
Why make yourself do it?

I have found that I like doing dressage as I am only aim to compete against myself (and my son), aiming for a better score takes away the competitive element and any nerves I might have. It also helps that Bomber behaved dreadfully the first (and at present only) time we went - he ran out of the arena and after I made him go back in, bucked all the way round in both sets of canter
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- Its very humbling when a horse does this to you and definatly takes away any worry that people are judging you - they are too busy laughing! I am doing my next competition next weekend and thanks to his behaviour I only have to beat 50 odd percent
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Could you try not to take is so seriously (or is that the point - it is serious)?
 
Well, I get more nervous sj cos if something goes wrong, it tends to go wrong with more of a crash... For dr, I think to myself that all I've got to do is walk / trot / canter in a pattern & haven't got to worry about seeing strides or scarey fillers etc. Even if I have a total disaster, I'll still be in one piece.

To the judge(s), you're one of thousands that they've judged & they've seen it all. One writer was telling me about a girl who went wrong twice then just sat there at X bawling her eyes out until the judge took pity on her & sent the writer to read out the test for her! So as long as you don't do that...

Honestly, judging involves such concentration to judge so many movements one after the others that the judges really wouldn't have time to think anything -ve about you even if they wanted to.

As for the other competitors, they will be too busy worrying about their own tests to be watching you critically. If it looks like I'm watching someone else's test, I'm usually really sitting there thinking my own private thoughts & just happen to be looking in their direction.

And the more you go out competing, the more relaxed you'll get because you'll figure out that in the general scheme of things, it's no big deal.
 
dont worry about your position, it only accounts for one mark!

The judge is far more interested in the horse than in the rider,

Obviously if your position is perfect then horses go better, but you will get much better marks if you try to make your horse go happily forward into an even contact etc and ride an accurate test.

Work on your position once you have built up your confidence!

(Some GP riders I have seen have appauling positions)
 
Im lucky in that I dont get nervous but if my horse has a paddy it helps to have someone stood at the side smiling at me, it always makes me laugh.
If your horse doesnt perform the best test then who cares, so what. Its not the end of the world. Like someone has already said, the judge will have seen worse.
 
I agree with bbmat, as long as the horse is working forwards into an even contact without obvious tension, then who cares if your standing on your head throughout the test! Ride an accurate test and remember to breathe and smile at the judge..... and keep breathing all the way through the test!
 
I do dressage so often that I don't care any more - I used to be INCREDIBLY stressed about it all and now... well lets say I have a competition tomorrow and am so not bothered that I forgot about it until I read this post! Oops! But hey, the outside of my bridle is clean, my horse is clean, my Mum can plait, and I'll learn the tests on the way.
Just ride the best test you can and forget all the other riders - I find I am placed more often when I don't feel like I'm competing against others, I forget about them and compete against myself.
And I always find I am 100% more stressed when I have schooled my horse the day before - so go hacking instead!
 
Firstly, stop telling yourself that you hate dressage! All it really is is the schooling that you do at home put into practice. I used to get nervous too I competed from elementary to advanced medium on Dutch.

One thing is to concentrate on keeping your horse going forward, in front of your leg, try to maintain the outline the best you can and ride accurate shapes.

As for your position one of the best things you can do is sit up straight. I am sure you have a good, secure seat. So, turn yourself and your horse out the best you can. Ride a soft, forward going, accurate test and you will be absolutely fine. Don't worry too much I am sure you will be fine
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