How competitive are you?

Emma24

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I was wondering if everyone else was as competitve as me?
When ever I compete I only have one thing on my mind and thats to win. Even when I know the chances are unlikely I still get v frustrated when I don't.
My friends get fed up with me because when ever i'm going somewhere all I say is' i'd better win!'
Doesn't help have v-competitive father who gets annoyed with me if I have one pole down at a B.E!
I dedicate this to my mother who is v good at listening to me 'sulky sam' on the way home from competitions when it hasn't gone right!
p.s I never blame my horses always the riders mistake
 
Me, I am VERY competitive, dunno where I got it from tho as parents are very 'it's the taking part that counts' - bull sh*t if you ask me, I'm there to do well! Lol! X
 
I'm competitive but not as much as that. My main aim when I go to a competition is to get a good, confident performance out of my horse. However, with people like in day to day life i am abnormally competitive!
 
I used to be very competitive, I think the worst example was when I was 15 (the last year you're allowed to do PC in Belgium) and it was the national championships. I'd won 3 of the 5 qualifiers and been 2nd in another and couldn't see how I could be beaten, the jump-off was made for my pony! She stopped at the 3rd in the 1st round and when I came out I threw my stick at a tree and I don't think my mum has ever shouted at me like that ever!

Nowdays I've given up trying to win, it just makes for series of letdowns. Horses are just rubbish compared to ponies!
 
I'm very competitive and definitely am in it to win it but while I'm actually riding I just focus on myself and doing it to the best of my ability or I finds it affects my performance. I worry about winning after the test!
 
Not that competitive as I tend to just focus on doing my best and hoping that my horse goes well!!
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Once all thats over with I guess I get a bit more in the competitive spirit - like if I've done my JO and am in the lead I'm thinking "please have one down!!" when everyone else goes around!!
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I never seem to manage a steady round in JO's either...
 
I am very competitive, so I want a good result, but I want the horse to jump well more, if that makes sense.

My main aim is to produce my horses well, so I want to give them a good ride round and course, and make the horse look as good as possible
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not very competitive any more, i love my horses to go well and i love having a good day where i'm not disgusted with my performance, since i'm a perfectionist, but i'm also a realist, and you only ever win because no-one else does! you can't control how everyone else gets on, only yourself, so sometimes you'll have a great day and come 20th, and another time you'll have a crappy day and somehow win! also, i'm old enough to see the bigger picture now, and be happy for the horses to get experience etc for the next level. rosettes are still lovely to get though!
 
TBH not as competitive as I should be!
Competing at a level I never expected in a million years, am always gobsmacked when I win a rosette!!!
Nothing compares to the feeling when you get round,then do a clear,then eventually a double clear,even finally a good placing or win!
It's all relative,I get choked up if I get round on an unridable,but dead talented 4 year old!
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I'm not that competitive. I have goals that I set myself such as getting a double clear, or a placing but I don't really set out to win, as my hopes would definitely be dashed if I did!
 
Im very competitive as well, but to a degree. I dont want to always win (although of course its in my mind that it is always the aim!), Im happy if my horse goes well especially if its a youngster. Although I do find on older horses who I know the potential of, I do want to win even though I also know its highly unlikely at BE level!
 
I don't think I am that competitive at all, probably my problem! I just want the horse to go as well as is possible and keep improving, I don't push my horses to win, I push them to improve. I am picky about the ground and will withdraw if I am not happy even if it means missing a run as I wont compete them unless it will do them good. I am thrilled of course if they do win but I am even more thrilled when they overcome an issue or go better than I expected even if we don't finish in the rosettes.

For example at Buckminster on Sunday we finished 23rd but I couldn't have been happier with J, he felt amazing and jumped twice as good as he did at Stratford Hills.
 
Im not competitive until I think I can win! I alway say Im going to go for a safe clear jump off, however once I start I usully end up cutting corners an going fast!
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Although I would much rather horse went well and didnt get placed than he went pants and came first. I have lots of 1st rosettes but there are only a few that Im really proud of.
 
I never used to be that competitive, but i have got more competitive now...i always say i'm going to go for a steady double clear, but somehow always end up cutting corners and taking tight turns in the jump off!
 
i tink thats underexaggerating just a little bit!ur such an obsessive freak! u really need to sort your life out!GET A LIFE!
 
I'm very competitive...but also realistic. I tend to go with the attitude of as long as the horse does her best I'm happy...but inside do get a little frustrated when the horses best isn't quite good enough on the day! I always try to look for the positive bits though
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I never win enough to think like you do Emma, I'd never go anywhere I'd be so depressed if I did!
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my horse is rubbish and i am a rubbish rider, but do enjoy going to competitions, usually trail in last in everything, but as long as the nag went better than last time, or i didnt make the same mistakes then go home happy!
 
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i tink thats underexaggerating just a little bit!ur such an obsessive freak! u really need to sort your life out!GET A LIFE!

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Pardon?
 
I set a target for an event and try and achieve that, anything else is a bonus. At the moment it is just improvement in the dressage, it was only a few weeks ago the target was to get in and stay in canter! Eventing would usually be for a 30's dressage and a double clear.

Winning is great but it means more say BE than at a local show. I would prefer a 10th place BE to winning an unaffliated dressage etc
 
I'm not at all competitive against the rest of the competitors- I'm competitive against myself and constantly aim to improve upon past performances.

I think this is because my first horse was a fantastic leveller and I learnt to enjoy the day for what it is. It means I will never make the top but I dont mind, I adore competing.
 
I agree - this is exactly what I did. I'm competitive with myself! I set myself a target for dressage, sj and xc and am cross if I don't hit them. I'm more competitive when we go out to dressage because we're better at it. As far as BE goes, I just want to enjoy it. I've only been placed twice, with 2 different horses and I was so excited! It was only a 10th at INtro and a 9th ON but it was enough to inspire to keep going. I compete because I enjoy the disciplines, winning a rosette is a bonus!
 
im a little too competative but when things dont go as planned i do accept it now whereas when i was on ponies i knew it would be time for a griling from mom!!!!
 
I get upset if me and the mare don't do our best, but I'm happy with a double clear, unless I get a sixth, even if its sixth out of twenty I feel peeed off :P
 
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