Got a case of the nervous nellies?

Our horses feel everything including when we are nervous

So far I have participated in two schooling shows this spring.  This is the first showing I have done in 4 years.  I wrangled all of my show clothes out of my closet.  I was actually amazed at everything I did have. Shopping in your closest without having to spend any green stuff is great! I did a quick review of the rule book in case anything has changed since last time I showed. I set-up some lessons with my trainer to get us on the right track.   Then…I went to a show.

Getting back into showing, I’ve been dealing with some show nerves.  I believe it is a personal battle all of us that show fight.   We run this internal dialogue that goes something like this.

“What if we make a scene in the ring?”

“I wonder how many people will be watching?”

“What if I forget my test?”

Any and all of the above we feel would be sooo embarrassing and decide to ourselves, “I’m not sure if I can do this.”  Then, what does that tell our horse? “I’m not sure if WE should do this.”  We have to remember horses are flight animals.  If you have built a good relationship with your horse, then your horse believes you are dominate between the two of you.  Horses look to the dominate horse or person, to see if they should be nervous, relaxed, run away, eat, etc.  If you are nervous, then your horse thinks he or she should be nervous too.  A nervous tense dressage test is not a good test.

So… I think to myself, why am I nervous?  I think the big thing with me is expectation.  I currently have the honor to ride a very talented horse. This horse was only shown by a professional rider and they were very successful. This mare and I have had some time away from showing and we are getting back in shape together.  I think my big fear was that many would see her name and expect these perfect tests.  I’m just me, an amateur without the perfect position, who makes mistakes, and gets…nervous.  So you say – why should I care what others think?  Your right… I shouldn’t! I’m trying to change my internal dialogue to think about the big picture.  I need to pick out improvements I can find in any test and how those improvements will help us in the long term and not worry so much about the scores we are putting up.

I think all of us need to remember…Hey at least we out here doing it and giving our best shot.  We didn’t choose the comfort of our own rings. We chose to step outside of our comfort zone to be tested, so we can understand how to improve and progress.   That is the ultimate point of shows right, for horses and riders to learn and build the skills to progress in their chosen sport?  We need to make sure to give ourselves some points just for arriving on show day!

All this thinking about nerves made me do a little researching on how riders help to control their show nerves.  Here are some tips I came across.

• Eat a good breakfast -  You probably won’t want to eat before your classes, so eat a good breakfast and give yourself time to digest
  

  Breakfast is good for you!

• Arrive with plenty of time – Rushing makes anyone nervous, so plan plenty of time to get to the show, set up your trailer, a few minutes for your horse to acclimate to surroundings, get yourself dressed, get your horse dressed, and get on!
• Have your things organized – Organize your show brushes, tack, clothes so you know where everything is and you don’t get that sick feeling in your stomach that you left something at home.  I have two of many of my things so just in case something gets left, I have another.
• Listen to music – Pick out your favorite tune and chill out with your ipod while you are getting ready.
• Know your test – Run your test through your head and know it inside and out.  I do this one a lot.  I have forgotten a test before and it is a terrible feeling. I make sure to visualize riding through the test to help me remember.
• Breathe slow – Take some deep breaths and also make sure you keep breathing.  I know some people (particularly jumpers) that when they get nervous they forget to breathe.  They come off of a course and can’t catch their breath. If you aren’t breathing you are tense!
• Laugh – Humor can be the cure for all ills right?  Think of a good joke or laugh of if your horse is being silly or spooky.  A light laugh or smile will relax you and that feeling will move down into your horse.

During the Test

• Think about you next movement -What is your next movement and how are you going to prepare for it?  Don’t completely lose the movement you are currently doing in the process though.
• Sing a song in your head –  I remember when I used to show my older mare and I was working on our tempo. I had this little song in my head I would sing to try to keep a beat.  It worked great and it also helped to keep me relaxed.  I think I may have to come up with a song for my new mare too!

I think the biggest cure for nerves is practice.  Why do professionals have nerves of steel, because showing is part of their job and they do it a lot.  I think the more we get out the more comfortable we will feel.

In closing, I throw the question back out to those of you that show.  How do you deal with show nerves?  What methods work the best for you? Maybe you have some ideas that could help the rest of us.  If you do, please feel free to share!