Nerves

only_me

only_me

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Sorry for such a repeated thread!

Was wondering how everyone deals with nerves, especially if they haven't competed in a while. Friday (fingers crossed lol) will be my first comp since last July - and I'm getting really nervous. I don't normally get nervous, I was the get on and go type!
But because our prep hasn't been great & have hit a few problems I keep thinking we aren't ready, too many problems to go wrong & my riding is downright awful, not to mention a fat blob!!
We are only doing elem, but he keeps resisting though the neck and running into transitions as I'm riding so badly. It doesn't help that I'm so darn competitive that I want to do really well :p

Please reassure me it will be alright on the day! And how do you cope? Any techniques to relax?

Pic of the main man after work :p he's placid normally but is starting to get anxious because of me :(
image_zpsec4u1wup.jpeg
 
I'm no help, as only leaving the ground makes me nervous....

If you reckon B will stay relaxed if you are, perhaps you could hum a little song as you ride the test. Keep your neck and shoulders relaxed maybe?

Good luck

Fiona
 
I always get anxious before a competition, because I'm a perfectionist and want to do well too. It's silly as I don't do any serious competing, all unaffiliated and I know that this is a hobby etc etc, but I think I know where you're coming from.

Try to fool your perfectionist brain - you'll never feel as ready as you think you could be or do as well as you think you could because you are a perfectionist! Look at the competition as very much part of the process, not the end point - you can go out and try and beat your performance next time. Also, some pre show nerves are good, try and rebrand 'nerves' as 'focus', tell yourself it's good to feel a bit apprehensive - your senses will be sharpened, you'll ride better than you would otherwise.

Your horse looks lovely, I'm sure you will do great, the rest usjust a snapshot of your current training status to give you pointers on what to improve on. Good luck! Most importantly, try to have fun!!
 
ok i have another way of looking at this, the nerves or i am going to let him down the way i ride he will be tense etc etc.

this is meant to be fun, yes to win HOYs or badders would be grand, but at the end of the day this is meant to be fun, you are asking some one else to have a look and give comments on the movements in the dressage test. if it is not perfect, this only gives you something to concentrate on for the next test, practice at home, away at lessons. so pop on the chill out pants and have fun. yes concentrate on the test, kick yourself if you get a movement wrong, but its the first of the season, just use this as a schooling session with comments and have fun.
 
Imagine the test going perfectly and smoothly in your head and everything being calm and wonderful. Say lots of positive things to yourself. I am sure you will have a great time! I haven't competed in over 18 months since I got pregnant with my 2nd baby. I dread to think how nervous I'll be when I eventually have the time to spend the day at a show!
 
This past weekend, I took the Ballerina Mare to our first comps in nearly 2 years (injury and sarcoids interfering). The first day (N27) wasn't too bad: it was in a "Nervous Dressage" league, where you get to precede your test with a warmup in the competition arena. Result: 66.67%, w00T! Sunday went to a normal comp, again 2 N tests. I've had an issue with warmups (the mare is fine) since a road-lorry-related accident with my pony 3 years ago (which makes NO sense, but there you go). So the goal was to be there, to go in the warmup and actually go faster than walk, and to ride the bleddy tests. I accomplished all 3 goals, albeit with scores only barely into the 60s: the mare was busy craning around like a very curious giraffe, and I was too chicken to actually demand she pay attention to me. I felt pretty deflated at the end of the day, but then got a proper butt-kicking from some friends, who reminded me of the steps I was taking.

Lesson: set realistic goals, and take pride in achieving them.
Lesson: don't beat yourself up about not achieving your "potential", whatever that may be, but about achieving a positive step forward.
Lesson: maybe at this stage, it's not about the other competitors (actually, it never really is), but just about how serious an effort you are putting in. If you give it all you have, you can't ask for more.
 
Thanks all :)
Will hopefully try to not try as hard (that's when it tends to go wrong!!) and just let things be. Will use it to find the holes in our schooling :p
 
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