How to calm nerves

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TequilaMist

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other than getting drunk!!
Have entered intro dressage test at weekend.Now can get a relatively nice relaxed trot at home BUT as soon as you mention test to me I go to pieces.Practiced test last night in my lesson,horse tense, jogging and I knew it was me.God know what I'll be like on day if like that just practising at home!!!
My theory is this year is to go out to more shows and hopefully horse and myself will bore ourselves too much to worry!!
Also would I be better to just ignore getting horse in outline and just go more for a steady rythmn or keep her in outline which we can do on normal days but just not sure if we would manage to keep it without a fight on the day.Was also going to lunge at showground ,if allowed, prior to getting on to get rid of any excess nerves .
Thanks in advance for any suggestions
 
Put your horse in your trailer/lorry and just ride around the car park and if you can bear it, the warm up arena. When you feel better about it, actually enter a class.
 
Hi, the more you do the easier it will get, be prepared to be last to start of with, nothing to worry about someone has to be there:D
Don't worry about outline the more stressed you are the more tense your horse will be ant outline will be impossible.
If you think about a good rythem and nice shaped and get to your markers you will make up loads.
Make sure you paractice your centre line (you do it twice in a test) and your walk on a free rein as this is double marks.
Remember to breath and if you smile a lot of tention will go even if its a manic grin:D
Enjoy it thats what we do it for, it costs us far too much to make us misrable.:rolleyes:
 
dont worry too much about the outline, i always found I got better marks when I let Benson go in his own way and i concentrated on the accuracy.
 
Thank you for replies they are all very helpful.
I was just reading an article on smilingrelaxing you in one of the horse mags so if you see someone with a stupid smile on face don't worry its just me!!
lol at millreef!!
Will def forget about an outline!
 
I persume you will be doing a prelim or intro test?
At lower level and for your first outings just concentrate on being accurate. If your horse rounds for you, a bonus!! I find that I concentrate on getting them round so much I forget where I am going :o
Also if it helps you, get a reader! Knowing the test but knowing that if I go blank someone is reading it anyway really takes a weight off my shoulders!
Best of luck, if you can get a driver, bring a nice hipflask ;)
 
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