need advice on dealing with competitions

[moli]

I took my mare to the local equestrian centre on Sunday for unaffiliated jumping. This was our first outing since the summer. I always avoid the local place as I know too many people and I am not very confident jumping but it is something that I enjoy and want to progress with. She came off the lorry and was very excited warming up. My friend took her in to the clear round first and when she came out she warned me that she was very strong. I then went in on her and it was a disaster. In my opinion she was too fast and was dangerous. She wasn't listening to me and I ended up coming out after a few jumps as I lost my steering and I couldn't pull her up. She is ridden in a snaffle.

Does anyone have any advice? I am beginning my winter riding club lessons next week and would like to try taking her out again but will avoid the local place as everyone seemed to appear when I went in!! I don't think it helped that I was on edge and can feel the nervous nellie syndrome looming again!!

[NoviceNic]

Can I just say firstly, you are not on your own with this. Even the most confident rider can fall to pieces at competitions. I am battling with this problem after this Summers disaster. :o In exciting and anxious places like this the horse will look to you for confidence and direction. I personally am very excited yet anxious when I get to local Shows hence an excited horse that is strong, silly and completely ignores my attempts to make him listen to me. I personally put competitions on hold for a while. I am working on my groundwork as his herd leader and also concentrating on improving my flatwork. Then next Spring I will take my horse to shows and just walk around with him. No pressure, just let us both enjoy ourselves and settle into the exciting yet nerving environment. Then when I feel we are both ready I will just enter into a small clear round. Nothing too demanding on our nerves. Nice simple course. I wont even expect a clear round. Just the chance to enter and get my horse in the direction I want him to go will be a bonus. ;) Then as we improve. I will up the notch each Show with our challenge. I truly believe that if I rush us both then it will go pear shaped. So we will learn to walk before we run..:) Rescue Remedy helps wonders with my nerves before Shows. The fact that it makes me a little tipsey as well may help...:confused: :p Good Luck and dont put too much pressure on yourself. Enjoy what you are doing with your horse and smile. I know many people my age that dont even have the confidence to take their horse to a Show let alone compete. Even if I do manage to only keep 1 out of 9 jumps up and nearly break the club record. :o

[moli]

Thanks for your reply novicenic which makes sense. My mare is brilliant and safe but she does get wound up when out of her comfort zone. I am not asking for anything spectacular but would like to be able to go along to the local place and just pop round the clear round. I used to use rescue remedy so think I will get myself back on it. I am taken her on Wednesday night to a lesson at riding club. She has been to the place before but not for ages so I can imagine she will be high. She has never bucked, rearer or napped when out but she just sweats something badly and starts frothing at the mouth. You can just tell she is upset which upsets me. I will follow your advice and just start taken her along for the ride and maybe just warm her up to get her used to it. Nice to know I am not alone.

[Ross]

I'd also suggest taking her to shows where you have no intention of entering, and riding her round, ideally schooling as though you were going to enter. Then hopefully both of you can regain your normal calm...

The riding club sessions may well help too, as they involve riding with other people, presumably at somewhere away from home.

Good luck :)

Ross