So how DO you control comp nerves?

Gingerbird

Gingerbird

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Hi All,

I've recently (the last 3 weeks) started competing again after abreak of ten years. The gap was due to my last horse getting old and taking to semi retirement and until I bought Pete I had nothing to compete.

It's all new for Pete too as he's just turned 6 and the two comps we've done so far were his first.

Trouble is my nerves are appaulling! I spend most of the day before feeling sick with constant butterflies in my stomach and I'm the same while walking the course etc. The minute its over with, I'm bouncing and I've loved every minute of it.

We are only SJing at the moment, clear rounds and 80cms and he's proving to be an honest little thing but I'm terrified of conveying my nerves to him and ruining it all.

So how do you cope with nerves pre/at comp? Any ideas would be welcome!

This is the little chap just to prove that when we do get going we enjoy it! (picture purchased)
PPPPatchetts.jpg
 
I've only recently started jumping again after a 17 year break. As a child/teenager I was fearless and did a lot of sj, eventing, and hunting, but then horses got older, university, then jobs, then I had a string of horses which were either too unsound to jump, or had issues ... and after such a long break I had no inclination and had lost my jumping nerve completely.

I've got an amazing horse now, and the only way I can overcome my jumping nerves, is to imagine how I felt 20 years ago. I can clearly remember certain competitions, and certain training sessions of that period, and I have to almost meditate, thinking back to try and place myself at that time when jumping was fun and I had no nerves. It sounds like I'm raving mad, but it really works for me.
 
Two things...

* Courtesy of Sally Thurloway... OK, you know how people always say 'breathe' but when you do, you just end up holding your breath and turning purple? Sally says 'exhale' and if you do this slowly and deliberately your muscles will unclench and relax
* Courtesy of me... Go in with low expectations of yourself - I always jump my best when jet-lagged or mildly hungover!

Other people swear by Rescue Remedy, hipflask or a dab of lavender oil on the cuff of your showjacket - take a deep breath before you go into the ring.

Anyway - if you are already at the stage that after the round you are all :D, I think you have already half won the battle.
 
I dont put any pressure on my self or my horse. He is young like your boy and so I take it as a good way to asses our training and have a bit of fun. All I want is for him to try to do what I have asked then I am happy if we get a rosete then that is a bonus. AnY problems we encounter we go home and do some more training to try to solve it for next time.
 
I think it helps to get to the route of what your nervous of i.e falling off? people watching you? the horse refusing etc. I found once i actually asked myself what i was nervous about it was easier to remedy but i think everyone suffers from nerves of some form. I used to be nervous of the uncontrollabl=, nutters in the warm up or if it rained and the ground turns to mush i was creating problems before there even was one, now when i am in the warm up no one else exists (i do pay attention tho lol) but you get the idea, once you know what exactly your nervous of you can find ways to deal with it. Plus you are in a new partnership with Pete and once you know each other a bit more you will relax more at competitions as you learn how he will behave or what venues he doesnt go so well at etc.

ps Pete is gorgeous!
 
Misinterpreted said:
I've got an amazing horse now, and the only way I can overcome my jumping nerves, is to imagine how I felt 20 years ago. I can clearly remember certain competitions, and certain training sessions of that period, and I have to almost meditate, thinking back to try and place myself at that time when jumping was fun and I had no nerves. It sounds like I'm raving mad, but it really works for me.
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Actually thats a good point, years ago I was never nervous as the dangly legged ginger beast was always expected to rack up a cricket score so maybe I should just remember that LOL!!

Well done for coming back after an even longer break than me :-D
 
arizonahoney said:
Two things...

* Courtesy of Sally Thurloway... OK, you know how people always say 'breathe' but when you do, you just end up holding your breath and turning purple? Sally says 'exhale' and if you do this slowly and deliberately your muscles will unclench and relax
* Courtesy of me... Go in with low expectations of yourself - I always jump my best when jet-lagged or mildly hungover!
Click to expand...


Good point, I do hold my breath, I even do it in lessons at home.

Great advice.....I'm off to get plastered, bring on tomorrow's hang over!!!!
 
dafthoss said:
I dont put any pressure on my self or my horse. He is young like your boy and so I take it as a good way to asses our training and have a bit of fun. All I want is for him to try to do what I have asked then I am happy if we get a rosete then that is a bonus. AnY problems we encounter we go home and do some more training to try to solve it for next time.
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Thats how I look at it, just go pop round the course and come home......silly whatsit stops at home everytime the fence changes or looks different but in both of his outing he hasn't even thought of stopping......odd chap.
 
ABE said:
I think it helps to get to the route of what your nervous of i.e falling off? people watching you? the horse refusing etc. I found once i actually asked myself what i was nervous about it was easier to remedy but i think everyone suffers from nerves of some form. I used to be nervous of the uncontrollabl=, nutters in the warm up or if it rained and the ground turns to mush i was creating problems before there even was one, now when i am in the warm up no one else exists (i do pay attention tho lol) but you get the idea, once you know what exactly your nervous of you can find ways to deal with it. Plus you are in a new partnership with Pete and once you know each other a bit more you will relax more at competitions as you learn how he will behave or what venues he doesnt go so well at etc.

ps Pete is gorgeous!
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its definitely people watching me and showing every one how bad my riding is. Don't know why but I hate it, even last time when my dearest friend of 20yrs was with us I had to shut out the fact she was watching and she is never anything but encouraging bless her.

I've had Pete a year but he didn't have a clue how to jump so we've put in all the work at home and seems to love shows, just my nerves put a downer on the day.

And thank you, I think he's a cutie - I've finally admitted that at my age I'm unlike to grow so have finally got a horse who actually can feel my legs and knows I'm on board LOL
 
Gingerbird said:
its definitely people watching me and showing every one how bad my riding is.
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I'll let you in to a little secret. Hardly anyone watches at lower level comps. They may be standing around the areana but truth is they will be gossiping or fretting about their own up comming round, not actually watching whats going on unless there's a loud crash in the ring. Armed with this information you have no need to be nervous.
 
Hey GB

I get really nervous too, and I know it is because I am scared I will cock up and people will laugh at me! However, I then give myself a good talking to, I am not there because of others, I am there because I want to have an outing and I shouldn't care what people think...at least I have the nerve to actually do it and not stand around critisising people from an armchair ;) If you go in with no expectations but to have fun, then you usually find yourself enjoying it.

And I too am one who competes better with a mild hangover...go figure!
 
JunoXV said:
I'll let you in to a little secret. Hardly anyone watches at lower level comps. They may be standing around the areana but truth is they will be gossiping or fretting about their own up comming round, not actually watching whats going on unless there's a loud crash in the ring. Armed with this information you have no need to be nervous.
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I like that thought - will definitely stash that one in the old grey matter for tommorrow, Thank you xx
 
Weezy said:
at least I have the nerve to actually do it and not stand around critisising people from an armchair ;) If you go in with no expectations but to have fun, then you usually find yourself enjoying it.

And I too am one who competes better with a mild hangover...go figure!
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Hey Weez! Good point, at least we're giving it a go! You know, I never had you down as the type to have nerves so I guess it shows your theory works :-D xx
 
Gingerbird said:
Thats how I look at it, just go pop round the course and come home......silly whatsit stops at home everytime the fence changes or looks different but in both of his outing he hasn't even thought of stopping......odd chap.
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Remember that bit and its supposed to be fun so as long as you enjoy your self who cares if you get faults.

Gingerbird said:
its definitely people watching me and showing every one how bad my riding is. Don't know why but I hate it, even last time when my dearest friend of 20yrs was with us I had to shut out the fact she was watching and she is never anything but encouraging bless her.

I've had Pete a year but he didn't have a clue how to jump so we've put in all the work at home and seems to love shows, just my nerves put a downer on the day.
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It cant be that bad if you have taught him to jump and he has gone out competing and not stopped you must have done a good job. As some one else has said people stand round the arena but only tend to watch people they know or to learn the course so they wont be watching you. As long as you get round you are being effective who cares if its a bit messy if the horse is happy you have time to improve the style.
 
Gingerbird said:
Hey Weez! Good point, at least we're giving it a go! You know, I never had you down as the type to have nerves so I guess it shows your theory works :-D xx
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Mate, I suffer from serious yawning, nausea, the whole shebang! I work myself up from the day before, I hate, hate, hate the drive there, so much so that I usually cannot drive myself LOL! Once on and warmed up I always feel better as I give myself a good talking to, but the anticipation is deffo the worst thing and I wish I could get over it! xxx
 
My friend and i always used to travel to competitions together and we both used to get bad nerves and feel sick so one day her mum brought a bottle of cherry brandy along (thats what we both used to take in our hip flasks out hunting) and this worked wonders, a couple of sips and we felt so much better.
 
I'm hopeless, I get terribly nervous and put loads of pressure on myself. I agree that the anticipation of the competition is the worst bit and once on board I'm better. Your boy is gorgeous, v well done you for teaching him how to jump and getting out there and doing a great job. Best of luck with him.
 
Thank you all so much, it's nice to here that even though everyone else looks as cool as a cucumber they may well be feeling as dreadful as me LOL!!

I'll take on board all advice and let you know how it goes :-D

I'm off to scrub the filthy beast, honestly who'd have a grey!!!!!
 
If you find you hold your breath, commentate for yourself as you fly round. I suffer from the most horrendous nerves competing- shaking, worrying, crying, nausea, the whole shebang. I got myself a set warm up and stuck to it so I couldn't do my usual trick of keeping jumping and getting more and more hung up. I found if I knew I was only jumping the upright once, I was far more determined and tended to go for it a bit more which helped. Even if the fence didn't go to plan, unless it was bad to the point I'd fallen off I'd keep going with my set routine.

Secondly, if I'm feeling really bad I chant "sod them all" in time to the canter. It means I'm breathing, keeps me from interfering with the canter rhythm and makes me smile because it reminds me no one gives a damn. In fact, they only really care if you beat them so if they're gossiping it means you're good!

ETA- my techniques made me look amazingly collected, despite the fact I would finish my round and not be able to get off for a bit because my legs would be shaking too much!
 
Oh I'm with you on the 'who'd have a grey' - mine is supposedly blue and white but is in total denial and is usually half green from using his poo as a pillow and half orange from wallowing hippo-like in our lovely clay mud. It's all character-building...apparently!
 
Well I took one look at Pete tonight and it's a full bath in the morning!!!

Now what shade of L'Oreal.....

Love the 'sod them all' canter, really made me laugh!! B
 
I love that your horse is called Pete! :)

I eat a lot at competitions. I'm not sure it helps but it does take my mind off being nervous.
 
Mildred said:
I love that your horse is called Pete! :)

I eat a lot at competitions. I'm not sure it helps but it does take my mind off being nervous.
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you are lucky if you can do this! I'll never forget eating a doughnut once before my XC and almost chucking it up over the man who was starting me... Now, I can only eat a breakfast and then nothing else until I've finished, but do drink lots of water.

In terms of nerves, I guess you need to find a way to channel the nerves in to a good use - ie, to focus purely on going well and winning!! Don't even think about other people as that will lose your focus on the job that you need to do. Now that I compete abroad (and the mentality is very different), I've found that I can't get away with the whole pep talk to myself before of "oh well, if it goes wrong I'll just use it as a training round, all good experience etc etc..." Now, I usually always have my trainer with me at shows and he makes it very clear to me that I have no choice but to go in the ring and win. It makes such a big difference to performance, as I really have to channel everything in to doing well and being ultra competitive.

So although I still get nervous, its good to be like that as it puts me in a zone that ultimately helps!!
 
LOL yep Pete, or Perfect Pintsized Pete as hes known at home. I promise you he came with that name!!!!

I can't eat a thing until I've finished riding, I think I'd chuck too!!!

I never ever think about winning, I just ask for a clear if I can, with hopefully each round being slightly less 'green' than the last :-)

You've all been so helpful, it's really good to read xx
 
I have to echo what somebody else mentioned - get plastered the night before & ride with a hangover :o I have ridden some of the best rounds of my life with a hangover / still half wrecked!

I have tried rescue remedy / natural remedies & they just dont work, drink however does :o

Good luck :D
 
I am quite shocked that I seem to be one of the only ones who mentioned alcohol to calm nerves................. '':-/ I'm not an alcoholic honest'' it works best if I have naughtily been out the night before (fortunately had darker horses with minimal white) and then have a little tipple once at the competition and it usually tops me up from the night before haha however by lunch I feel dreadful and need my bed.......so definite pros and cons.
 
I like to think of my nerves as the way my body/mind is preparing for action/to perform & to view them as positive.

Nerves are a v similar feeling to excitement & I try to convince myself that is what I am feeling - does work to an extent.
 
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