I Feel such a Failure.

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SHAYTAY

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I'm feeling a bit down today.
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We had a dressage comp at our yard this morning and did 2 pre lim tests. I suffer badly with my nerves during a comp, so took plenty of Bach flower remedies. My RI was judging one of the tests.
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There was a 'good' bit, in that i warmed up in the sand school - an achievement for me as pony is very spooky in there and i have had to lunge him rather that ride him in previous dressage comps. I did the tests - but badly! didnt hold a straight line at all, circles were odd shaped and he was bent to the outside. Due to my nerves I held him too tight, resulting in him not going forward properly.
I feel really cr*p - i have weekly lessons with my Fantastic RI, and have done for 17 month now! You'd expect that i could at least ride a decent pre lim on home ground! Every thing she has taught me goes straight out the window in a test, she must feel SO frustrated! I feel like ive let both her and my lovely pony down.
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Does any one else feel like this - does it happen to others?
 
Thats the one and only reason I dont enter competitions, clear round jumping is my limit
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Seriously though, I suffer badly with anxiety/nerves and to put myself through the stress of actually entering something just wouldnt be worth it
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So I dont even enter, think how jealous I am of you!
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don't put yourself down! nerves are such a horrible thing to have to deal with and that is why you probably didn't ride as well as you know that you are capable of doing
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my advice would be to get yourself out and about and do as many tests as you possibly can...soon you will get more used to it and so will get less nervous and therefore will ride better
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it happens to everybody- you need to read pippa funnell's book - she used NLP to get over her debilitating nerves.....
 
It happens to everyone.

I don't know what to suggest really, but if it was me, I think I'd try and have a bit of fun in the school. Take it right back to basics, play some gymkana style games or something and try and chill?

What is it about a test in public that makes you panic so?

You say everything goes out of your head. How about either just going to watch some, not competing, or maybe try it at home. Clear your sofas out the way and practice it over and over, until you're confident you know it. Then try bit by bit with your horse.

You needn't feel the pressure, we all have to start somewhere and it takes different people different amounts of time to learn and deal with things.

Just remember, at any point, be it at home, or out at a show, it's just you and the horse and that's all that matters.

Oh, and smile, it always helps
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Edited because I can't spell. It appears my brain has the day off. x
 
Ditto don't give up, when I went to my first ever comp 18mths ago I was practically crying with nerves, and trust me I had some disasters including falling off in the warm up more than once! But the more times I go the easier it is getting, I will always be a nervous/anxious so and so, but finally I have realised the calmer I am the better George is! Didn't stop me cantering around the arena and a 20m circle in my test on the wrong leg without realising it the last time we went out mind you!!
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My 'cure' was to go out whenever I could (basically when I could get a lift as no transport) and have someone with me who gave me confidence and made me feel safe, and then off course plenty of rescue remedy!

Good luck and well done you for having a go, and don't put yourself down, you aren't letting anyone down as it is all experience.
 
You aren't a failure at all Dipssy. I used to suffer really badly with nerves (still do a bit sometimes) all i can say is get out as much as you can and your nerves will get better. Try setting yourselves small goals, even if it is to just go along to a competition and just warm up with all the other horses and not compete for the first few occassions.

And honestly don't worry what your RI said, i'm sure she is pleased that you gave it a go!

Keep going you'll get there and remember it's meant to be fun!
 
Ditto everybody else, you are not a failure! Competitions are meant to be fun! Why don't you try getting out to some local dresage comps, where you won't know anybody and just having a bit of fun, don't worry if you mess up pr finish last its not the end of the world, and when you get more relaxed you will do much better..honestly!!!
 
Oh hun, do not stress! Giddy aunt, if I can take Little Cob out (he's 13.2hh, I'm five foot eight) and bobble round a dressage test, then you can do this
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. As others have said, just keep on going out and doing it
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. Is great fun, which is what it should be. I admit to nerves (and in my case some grumpiness) before the test, but afterward I realized it was just nerves and decided that we'd just keep at it, either that or I should give up competing completely, which I didn't want to do.

As others have said, if you can travel with ned, go to places where you won't be known, it's much less stressful m'thinks
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I am NOT recommending this mind but the best dressage my son ever rode was when he had ''been out on the town'' the night before
Jockey was so relaxed the horse was horizontal instead of his usual llama impression.
 
Dont worry i feel like that the whole time when i do dressage i practise loads and losads and the n we muck it up
all that work for nothing!!!!!!
dont feel bad look on the bright side

maybe next time!
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xxx
 
[ QUOTE ]
I am NOT recommending this mind but the best dressage my son ever rode was when he had ''been out on the town'' the night before
Jockey was so relaxed the horse was horizontal instead of his usual llama impression.

[/ QUOTE ]

Best lesson I ever had was the day after my birthday..
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You are not a failure, you entered the competition which is a lot more than lots of people (inc myself) would do!
 
Thankyou to all who have taken the time to reply and cheer me up - its much appreciated!
This evening, much to pony's annoyance i rode again - on my own - He was fabulous, my riding was not bad either! Nice straight lines - no hanging on his mouth - forward going - nice shaped circles. Why oh why cant i do it in a test????
I feel a bit more up beat, and, am once again preparing to try harder.
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As everyone else has said - don't give yourself a hard time! The more you do, the easier it gets esp if you know that you've got another comp lined up the week after, so you can have another go. After a while, you'll feel as if it's too much bother to get worked up.

If you can't rem the test, why not try using a caller for your next few comps?
 
[ QUOTE ]
As everyone else has said - don't give yourself a hard time! The more you do, the easier it gets esp if you know that you've got another comp lined up the week after, so you can have another go. After a while, you'll feel as if it's too much bother to get worked up.

If you can't rem the test, why not try using a caller for your next few comps?

[/ QUOTE ]

Its not that i forget the test ( I had a caller today) I dont actually get that sick feeling any more - its just that once i start the test i seem to forget how to ride!!!!
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Tonight proved the point - there was no one around and i think i rode nicely but as soon as anyone is looking i go to pieces. It makes no sense as everyone on our yard is supportive and never critise or talk behind your back, I would class them as 'freinds' Its so frustrating!!!!!
 
I really can sympathise with you on this one - when i first bought my horse he was pretty successful so there was alot of pressure on me to do well on him too but when id enter a ring my nerves were so bad my back would lock up and i felt like i was gonna vomit into my own mouth - it was horrendous! i have had him 2 years now and im completely over it now - no nerves whatsoever its only by keeping on going that u give up caring in the end i just stroll in and think lets have some fun for a few minutes and leave and its a real transformation and really shows in our scores. Also i know at the stables there is always a bit of backbiting friends or not so it might be worth entering somewhere that nobody knows u and see if that helps x
 
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