So, Why do you Compete?????

[irishdraught]

I get disappointed if I don't do well but I don't think I have ever sulked. My horse looks after me no end and any faults are ALWAYS mine, never hers, although she is normally a clean jumper. She isn't one for stopping and will always have a go.

I find it quite funny when grown ups strop cos things aren't going their way. I am a great people watcher at shows and some people really do need to give themselves a shake. The SJ warm up of BE is usually the best place to see the stress heads. Watch this season and see if you can spot the ones who are louder than anyone else, blames the horse etc.

Last year in an intro class there was a very large girl riding XC and the poor horse was doing everything in it's power to get over the jumps. She shouted " effing horse, this is really killing me" as if it was the horses' fault and all the poor beastie was doing was cantering along!

 

[Fiona]

Me too!!
I really want to compete, but tend not to enjoy it when I do because am so stressed if things don't go 100%.
Perhaps my solution is to drop down a level, until I can do it on autopilot.

Fiona

 

[beh]

Competing is my drugs

I do it because I love to win and see 1st next to my name
I do it because I keep hoping one day for a lucky break

I do it because I constantly want to improve and push myself & the horse further!
I do it because I'm silly and expensive to keep

Great post!

xxx

 

[dieseldog]

[ QUOTE ]
So, when you do not win or your scores are low, or you have many jumps down or get eliminated do you have a strop or sulk or put it down to your error or your horses and note not to do it again?? How long does your strop/sulk last for if you do??!! and if anyone asks how you got on what do you say??!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Of course I sulk!

I do think some people blame themselves too much. Sometimes it is the horses fault. The only time that Dolly stopped with me was when I turned her in tight to a fence with her bad leg on the inside. I always thought it was because I came round the corner and didn't kick enough. But with hindsight I now know it was because her leg was knackered, wasn't anything to do with my riding. I don't blame her for stopping either.

 

[NewHeights_SJ]

Because im crazy?! haha...

I dont know really, i supposed because it gives me something to aim for and the sense of achievement is wonderful sometimes.
I've always wanted to showjump to a decent level so i guess its like fulfilling a childhood dream too... the rush is probably what attracted me in the first place and keeps me going back for more.

I actually cried when i jumped round my first newcomers last year.

*wonders if thats sad*

 

[disco]

Ditto Freestyler!

I couldn't of described it any better myself!

 

[clipclop]

Great question.
A few years a go, if you had asked me this question I would have said that I don't have a clue as I actually don't like it. I had basically lost the reason "I" competed and seemed to be competing with another head on my shoulders. Very wierd and not good.

Now, I compete because I love to see how we are doing.
I love the rush of competing.
I love the social side.
I love a grand day out on my own. Just me and my big over grown gorgeous pony.