Rider nerves.

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atot

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Tomorrow I am going SJing, just doing 75cm and 85cm at an eventers challenge thing. This will be our 2nd SJ comp. Our first one was a complete disaster, and totally lost my confidence. But over the past few months I have improved no end, and Chloe and I are much better. Yesterday, I did a short course (in PG) mostly of them over 75/85, and I was very happy about that. But I am really scared about tomorrow. I know Chloe will be fine with all the jumps, but it's the warm up that goes t*ts up, because she gets so excited. But she doesn't NEED to get excited and bouncy - it's just that I, subconsciously let her, because I get so nervous.

It is me that is the problem, and I know that if I pull myself together and take control, we will be fine. But my nerves really get to me, and I completely freeze and consequently, Chloe is getting no control or confidence from me.

I really do not want to back out of tomorrow - I have been looking forward to this for ages. But is there anyway I can combat this ridiculous stage fright? My non-horsey Dad is coming, and he is as worried as I am LOL, so he hasn't been much help!

Any ideas much appreciated....

Also, has anyone here ever done and eventer's challenge?

Thank you!
 
Do you have any rescue remedy? Brilliant stuff when you have a couple of drops
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Otherwise just think that you have nothing to prove to anyone and we do this as a hobbie and are supposed to enjoy it!
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Best of luck
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I think you have got this event out of proportion and maybe you need to just try and play it down a bit. I always find singing to myself helps when I get nervous as you are concentrating on something else and you have to breathe which relaxes you. I think that is the key to try and relax and enjoy it. Hope it goes really well good luck xx
 
Right, on your own stand in the fresh air and take a really big breath in through your nose, close your eyes, then slowly breath out through your mouth, imagine your breath is a colour and is all your negative feelings and you are slowly blowing them out as far away as possible, do this for a couple of minutes, then raise up lightly on your toes and shake your arms up and down vigorously and try and let every muscle in your body shake and relax, when you have stopped, gently lower heels back down till they just touch the floor, hey presto you will feel magic and ready to take on the world, have a good time tomoz and let us all know how you get on
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I have ridden for years and competed almost every weekend when I was younger.

Then i had a 2 year break before riding again and pretty much started April jumping from scratch. She was a loon to jump (ie bucking whilst going over them
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) and would caterpault me off which didn't help and I used to feel physically sick even when jumping little cross poles.

Now I am much, much better but all I did was stick at it and keep practicing. I am sure you will be fine and me and April are now going great guns. Even though I still feel nervous I can get over it for SJ. The only area I am still feeling wimpy at is horse trials and X-country but it's getting better all the time!

Group jumping lessons are also brilliant for getting moral support and you can practice jumping without competition nerves getting in the way.

Good luck, I know you will be fine xx
 
Do what pedantic says.
Try walking around on your own in the carpark on Chloe when you first get on, sort out your nerves there before going into the warmup, as it can be quite daunting.
I still get nervous now- I did some arena eventing at weston lawns, and for the first time ever I actually had no control over my horse, she just took me and i couldn't do anything about it, luckily we got around safely, but afterwards I felt so sick I had to get off and lean on the rails for 10 minutes!
The eventer challenge will be a mixture of show jumps and "x-country" jumps- usually just rustic fences, maybe a few arrow heads/skinny fences.

Good luck!
 
you sound very well prepared, be confident you and chole ARE capable. treat it as training, not a competition! which it is if its only your 2nd sj comp! instently takes pressure off?! if you have no rescue remedy have a few glugs of booze, rescue remedy is mix of brandy and herbs, so brandy in your coffee does the trick too!!

give yourself plenty of time to warm up, but dont do too much! if you and chloe are tensing up walk and relax for 5, do breathing as said, then start again.

have fun
smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Do you have any rescue remedy? Brilliant stuff when you have a couple of drops
tongue.gif
laugh.gif


Otherwise just think that you have nothing to prove to anyone and we do this as a hobbie and are supposed to enjoy it!
grin.gif


Best of luck
laugh.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

Yes I do - will have to squirt some of that repulsive stuff then
wink.gif
thanks!
 
[ QUOTE ]
I think you have got this event out of proportion and maybe you need to just try and play it down a bit. I always find singing to myself helps when I get nervous as you are concentrating on something else and you have to breathe which relaxes you. I think that is the key to try and relax and enjoy it. Hope it goes really well good luck xx

[/ QUOTE ]

I know, I know I have - I just can't help it! Singing deffo helps - tried that on Thursday! Thanks very much, will just have to smile and breathe.
smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Right, on your own stand in the fresh air and take a really big breath in through your nose, close your eyes, then slowly breath out through your mouth, imagine your breath is a colour and is all your negative feelings and you are slowly blowing them out as far away as possible, do this for a couple of minutes, then raise up lightly on your toes and shake your arms up and down vigorously and try and let every muscle in your body shake and relax, when you have stopped, gently lower heels back down till they just touch the floor, hey presto you will feel magic and ready to take on the world, have a good time tomoz and let us all know how you get on
wink.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks - will try that before I set off! will let you know - I will assign dad as camera man, or at least I will try..
 
[ QUOTE ]
I have ridden for years and competed almost every weekend when I was younger.

Then i had a 2 year break before riding again and pretty much started April jumping from scratch. She was a loon to jump (ie bucking whilst going over them
shocked.gif
) and would caterpault me off which didn't help and I used to feel physically sick even when jumping little cross poles.

Now I am much, much better but all I did was stick at it and keep practicing. I am sure you will be fine and me and April are now going great guns. Even though I still feel nervous I can get over it for SJ. The only area I am still feeling wimpy at is horse trials and X-country but it's getting better all the time!

Group jumping lessons are also brilliant for getting moral support and you can practice jumping without competition nerves getting in the way.

Good luck, I know you will be fine xx

[/ QUOTE ]

Weird thing is - I am a bit better XC! there aren't bells, no v. tight turns - chloe's more chilled xc too LOL - she gets so excited sj....I will just try and use her ''go faster'' attitude to my advantage!!

thank you, again - It really helps having a nudge forwards lol
smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Do what pedantic says.
Try walking around on your own in the carpark on Chloe when you first get on, sort out your nerves there before going into the warmup, as it can be quite daunting.
I still get nervous now- I did some arena eventing at weston lawns, and for the first time ever I actually had no control over my horse, she just took me and i couldn't do anything about it, luckily we got around safely, but afterwards I felt so sick I had to get off and lean on the rails for 10 minutes!
The eventer challenge will be a mixture of show jumps and "x-country" jumps- usually just rustic fences, maybe a few arrow heads/skinny fences.

Good luck!

[/ QUOTE ]

Ahh - that sounds very scary! I'm feeling a bit more confident now. will just kick on and smile.
grin.gif
 
OK, this may sound odd, but when I was singing on stage I used to think to myself that actually nobody was making me do it. I alone had made the decision to get on stage and sing in front of people - no one was pushing me up there....then you have to channel your butterflies into excitement and think how great you'll feel when you do a round you're happy with.

I try and apply it to horsey based activities and it does help most of the time....just make sure you breath and most of all enjoy it! You're there cause you want to be! Good luck L xx
 
[ QUOTE ]
you sound very well prepared, be confident you and chole ARE capable. treat it as training, not a competition! which it is if its only your 2nd sj comp! instently takes pressure off?! if you have no rescue remedy have a few glugs of booze, rescue remedy is mix of brandy and herbs, so brandy in your coffee does the trick too!!

give yourself plenty of time to warm up, but dont do too much! if you and chloe are tensing up walk and relax for 5, do breathing as said, then start again.

have fun
smile.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

*breathe* I KNOW she's capable - I WILL do this, and I will enjoy it - I think I will be better in the 85, once we've got 75 out of the system! LOL not sure how dad would feel, me going through all his old brandies, but we'll see.
grin.gif


I will relax as much as possible in the warmup, and I WILL *breathe* I have a tendancy to forget that vital bit...

thanks
smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
OK, this may sound odd, but when I was singing on stage I used to think to myself that actually nobody was making me do it. I alone had made the decision to get on stage and sing in front of people - no one was pushing me up there....then you have to channel your butterflies into excitement and think how great you'll feel when you do a round you're happy with.

I try and apply it to horsey based activities and it does help most of the time....just make sure you breath and most of all enjoy it! You're there cause you want to be! Good luck L xx

[/ QUOTE ]

owh that made me smile, thanks, I'm sure I will enjoy it once I get started! I hope I'm not first up....I have no idea about all the bells that go on, and when I'm allowed to start lol!! thanks Vicki xx
 
I usually imagine I am there on my own and there is just me and the horse (and I think about whatever horse I am on as the best horse in the whole world). I am quite competitive so my nerves are usually connected with doing well so my strategy is to just detach myself and go into what is happening underneath me, just being with the horse and enjoying it.

You could also try some NLP - it helped some people I know enormously and you can easily do it yourself at home
smile.gif

You could start with this book: Simple Steps to Riding Success

Good luck
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Oh thank you - will try that too. I am not particularly competitive, so I will have to razz myself up - horse is always 2 steps ahead of me lol, I must catch up. She would be a very competitive person LOL - she pretends she doesn't know I'm riding her, and just goes over everything her own speed - must be more of a boss!

thank you - I think I will be needing it
smile.gif
 
Dont think of it as a course and just take one jump at a time.
If need be go in to the warm up and just practice on your transistions and get her listening to you lots of rein changes and pace changes so she doesn't know whats coming next and she has to listen to you.

Once you have her actively responding to your leg and seat then pop over 1 cross pole on each rein then walk for 10 mins and then pop over a bigger one once on each rein and then just walk her around until it is your time to go in.

IMO horses dont need to do lots of practice jumps as it can often buzz them up or tire them out you just want to do a couple to make her realise what her job is for the day

Good luck and let us know how you get on
 
[ QUOTE ]
Dont think of it as a course and just take one jump at a time.
If need be go in to the warm up and just practice on your transistions and get her listening to you lots of rein changes and pace changes so she doesn't know whats coming next and she has to listen to you.

Once you have her actively responding to your leg and seat then pop over 1 cross pole on each rein then walk for 10 mins and then pop over a bigger one once on each rein and then just walk her around until it is your time to go in.

IMO horses dont need to do lots of practice jumps as it can often buzz them up or tire them out you just want to do a couple to make her realise what her job is for the day

Good luck and let us know how you get on

[/ QUOTE ]

transitions and pace changes - must remember that. I need a short sharp warmup plan!! I agree with you! My horse then begins to realise what's going on, and starts to expect jumps, and thats when she begins to get excited.

thanks for your advice - will deffo take it! and I'll let you know how we get on!
 
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