I am ashamed to say....

B

bexandspooky

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... that I bottled out of going to the local show today. My old confidence issues reared their ugly head again and I made my excuses.

I went to watch and although there were some great horse and rider combinations there, the standard there was fairly low ( I was amazed at the lack of effort from some people!) - I think we probably could have realistically got placed in every class we would have entered.

I am now really angry at myself for letting this happen so many years after I lost my nerve.

I have decided that I need to find someone local to me that would let me hire their school or or give me lessons in their school to give me some flatwork confidence.
 
Im so sorry
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Big Hugs, and I hope you have more confidence next time.
 
It is really frustrating because I can ride across the middle of nowhere at full pelt on an endurance ride, but the thought of people watching me in a showring is petrifyting!!

I think that I am quite capable, and I want to do it, but somehow always find myself making excuses. I also watched the little showjumping (2ft i think), saying to myself that me and spooks could make a much tidier job of it then alot of people that were there, but I cannot bring myself to enter.

I dont think it helps that if i go to a show with someone that spooks knows, he glues himself to that other horse and has a total meltdown if they move more then about 6 inches apart, so it is hard to have someone else come into a class with me for moral support!!
 
How about just giving yourself a small goal and not putting pressure on yourself? Either decide to take your horse to a local arena and, IF you feel like it, get on and ride as if warming up for a show. If you don't want to get on, it doesn't matter because you have at least done stage one - getting horse out. Plan to lunge or long rein horse at the venue if riding is the issue. Next progress to either going to a low level clinic (maybe riding club?) just to take the horse to ride around. Then think about taking the horse to a show but don't plan to ride. This will take all the pressure off and I bet you will think 'I fancy getting on and riding around'. Don't book into any classes unless there is a fun class....prettiest eyes etc where you really don't care whether you place or not!

You are probably too critical of yourself or feel others are judging you. Who cares what people think!
 
I did a mini one day event last year (1 ft 6 jumps and a walk and trot test) and we did actually come 4th in our class. I have even done a 2ft6 xc course (see link for piccy - next in sequence is me as well)
http://www.jayphotos.co.uk/events/UK%20A...pic=291-330.JPG (Please excuse my horrendous position, as you can see I get so petrified that my shoulders come up to my ears and I hunch! and of course the look isn't helped by my back protector!!)

I think i need more confidence in my position - I know i have picked up some bad habits and have just been a happy hacker / endurance rider for so long, and I have always been a bit of a wallflower.
 
Hmm Not sure about the answer but my mum is/was the same as you, everytime I suggested she go somewhere she would make an excuse, then all of a sudden she could come and watch me, she would get there and realise that there was people whose jackets didn't, who had the wrong type of hat etc. In the end she admitted she didnt want to go to shows and ride in front of other people! Take it easy on yourself and do what is fun.
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