Tips for a human calmer....

dwi

dwi

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I've bitten the bullet and entered Lil for a dressage next weekend. Baring in mind that at our last show she didn't make it past the warm up arena because she found it all too exciting this is possibly a little ambitious!

I'm hoping that the more shows we go to the faster she will learn that it is nothing to be silly about. I'm not that fussed about dressage but I reckon its a much better way to show her that shows aren't exciting than taking her in the jumping or xc.

With D I liked to have a fair amount of adrenalin flowing through me as it got us both fired up and alot more peppy in the test. For Lil though I'd like to be as calm as possible so that she's not sensing any tension from me, not easy when you're on 16.2 of black muscle leaping about on two legs.

Any recommendations for a human calmer that actually works other than my hip flask? ;-)
 
Bach flower remedy seems to work when I'm a bit stressed out and don't want to pass it on to the horses, I bought some PAX but haven't really noticed a difference - the first county show my daughter did, she nicked some of my cider and came second! Thought the whole thing was a giggle.

ETA the Bach remedy was the Rescue Remedy
 
I use the herbal calmer Mimulus (think thats how you spell it!!). They sell it in Holland and Barretts. You are ment to put a few drops in a bottle of water and sip. I usually put half the bottle in and drink it little and often about a hour before the event. Seems to work for me!! :).
 
gelsimium (sp) is very good for horse and human. You can get it in Holland & BArrett or almost any chemist. You will need 30c for horses an just take one or two of these for yourself.
 
I was recommended Equimins as a calmer for my horse. Turns out they do human calmers too. I have bought some and took one once and felt more chilled. Not tried them yet for a competition tho...

Good luck think you have the right idea
 
Cobbysmum said:
Bach flower remedy seems to work when I'm a bit stressed out and don't want to pass it on to the horses, I bought some PAX but haven't really noticed a difference - the first county show my daughter did, she nicked some of my cider and came second! Thought the whole thing was a giggle.

ETA the Bach remedy was the Rescue Remedy
Click to expand...

Ditto this. Bach Flower Remedies are brilliant, and you can also use them on horses I believe, so it may come in handy later! :) xx
 
suze369 said:
Good luck think you have the right idea
Click to expand...

Thanks, tbh I can't quite believe I'm contemplating it. With the exception of the odd blip I've never been a nervous rider but I'm really determined to get Lil out and about and I'm willing to do almost anything to help her settle. Hoping that if I'm horizontal she'll think it can't be that bad.
 
Definately a vote for "Rescue Remedy"........ I get everyone to take it before their driving test (I'm a driving instructor) to get rid of the nerves but keep the focus. I have heard of people putting it in their horses water but recently when I sold my mare and was worried sick because my boy was extremely attached to her and she can be a complete cow to load , I put some straight on both their tongues. Transport dropping off new horse and picking up mare was only on the yard 15 mins everything was so smooth. So get some and if its not too unhygenic share it with your horse!!!!!!!!!!
 
i'd recommend camomile tea and totally cut out caffiene. this is what i did a few months ago and i cant believe the difference its made to me. i would be constantly anxious about things, even before i went riding, my heart would race and it was all down to too much caffiene. i wont touch the stuff again now i realise what it was doing to me!
 
Well everyone who is raving about rescue remedy... not tried it myself, but I once gave it to bean on the advice of a dentist/remedy man :p And well it certainly made her "less nervous" but from then on she was a **** to catch 90% of the time. Clearly made her so confident she couldn't possibly want to be caught. ;)
 
Another one here for 'rescue remedy' i basically live on it at this time of year because i have my highers ( scottish version of gcses i think) i just make a bottle of water then put the remedy into it so i can sip away at it :D
 
I'm one of the rescue remedy Sceptics, I'm afraid. Tried it and felt like I'd taken a rather expensive placebo!

I *do* however rave on about lemon balm tea. You can drink it cold, so take it to shows, or make it fresh from the leafy herb. It's a mild sedative and also calms gut cramping if you have nervous anxiety in this area. I'm ultimate proof that it works, as I suffer anxiety-related cramps, tension headaches, and this weekend I managed to poison myself with dodgy dairy! Lemon Balm is the only reason I came to work, yesterday and of course I spent the whole day rather chilled out (man!). :D
 
Fransurrey - where to you get lemon balm tea from? i would like to give that a go as when i get nerves its all the gut area, it sounds like it would work for me!

I have tried Kalms, the didnt do anything for me and rescue remedy is expensive if it doesnt work...
 
Another vote for Rescue Remedy here, and I have a bottle of lavendar oil in my grooming kit and on the lorry, a few drops on my gloves and horse rugs works well for horses and me!
 
Deep slow breaths, really.

I am a very anxious sort of person and get stressed easily (caffine free as well, can't touch the stuff) and breathing exercises are the only thing that has ever really helped me. Chamomile is nice, lavender smells good, Kalms didn't really effect me and rescue remedy did nothing. I just have to find a quiet spot and breath deeply, then make sure I don't let my breathing get shallow and fast once I am in a situation where I could get nervous, singing to myself and counting rythms (strides?) helps a lot. The moment my breathing goes I find myself getting tense.
 
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