showjumping issues..please read

[sugarpuff]

ok here goes....when i go showjumping i forget the course:( i watch people go round and walk the course). i would be dreadful being the first one to jump, i would probably chicken out.i get nervous at comps like most people but im going to be even nervous at this one at the end of june (if were ready) because it will be the first one me and my new horse are goingto (last time i competed was last year). we have jumped at home and done sponsored rides and gone to cross country courses practice. im worried because i think i will forget the course though, im worried because we havent done a big course of jumps and im also worried about the height to jump her. we have jump 3ft course at home. i think as im going to be extra nervous do i put her in a smaller class so i dont have to worry to much about getting round clear, should i pop her in a clear round to get the nerves out of the way (im always better doing a course before hand) i dont want to put her in to small a class as she is 17hh and more than capable to do bigger classes. im so worried about forgetting the course :( any one got any advice maybe something i could do at home, i was thinking of setting up a course and figure a way of remembering the course. sorry i have gone on a bit:o

[helenc]

There are several things you can do to help.

The way I do it is to focus on how many strides there are between fences & which way I need to turn after a particular fence to make sure I get to the next one correctly. I find that this helps to remember the course as you are not just focusing on the fence numbers but where they are & how to get to them, it can also help with nerves as you are thinking about something other than being nervous or scared.

It may also help to picture each fence in turn eg. fence 1 = blue & white upright, fence 2 = red & black spread, fence 3 = 1 stride double etc.

Take your time to walk the course & walk the actual route you are going to take whilst mounted, not just wander aimlessly around looking at the numbers.

Stop half way through walking the course & go through it again in your mind before carrying on & then stop again at the end & go through the whole course.

Watching other people go before you can also help but make sure you are actually learning the course rather than just watching someone go round, if you are a little nervous I would suggest not watching too many just in case a few people have knock downs or refusals at a particular fence as this can add to the nerves & you may end up over riding that fence & having problems of your own.

Hope this helps

[ponytude]

I would suggust writing th courses down and then just going over them in you mind until you can close your eyes and picture them. Also I like to run through the courses silently with just my eyes before and after I walked the course.

Mind you, for my first horse shows I was always picked to go first:)... Us eit to your advantage. Go out with your best intentions and set the bar high. ;) Good luck :D

[sugarpuff]

thanks for your replys.:) im sure i will be ok, just have to practice memorising things;) and clam my nerves

[Emz]

For your first show i'd enter a class slightly smaller than what your jumping at home. In a differnet environment both you and your horse will behave differently and you'll probably find it harder to concentrate.

For remembering the course be ready to go walk it as soon as its ready that way you can walk it twice. Then i stand in the middle and trace the course with my hand to check i know it. When you leave the ring run through the course in your mind as a series of pictures of each jumps. I then go and warm up but watch the 1 or 2 riders before to relax me and the horse and check i knwo the course again.

Remember to breathe and you'll do fine.

[yazandsoph]

*~*well i sometimes struggle too i hate that feeling i know it but i feel like when a go in i ll forget and i just walk it for a while 'jump it in my head' if you get me and some people even make like a colour thing where they remember the colours of the jumps in the right order. just try and stay confident and im sure youll go great!!1:)*~* yaz xxxx:)