Getting Ready...

Okay so before y'all make your runs, what do you do to get prepared mentally? I have to calm myself down and focus on what I have to do... if I'm all hyped up, then I can't make a good, clean run because I'm not focused on my job (making my horse not focus too! Lol)

I do circles and listen to music and as I'm going I remember everything my trainer says, in the arena she is the only one I can hear haha

I don't 'run' as such, but - I do sometimes take my eventer out for some gaming and sporting. Not going to lie, he thinks he's pretty cool and can get somewhat hot headed. Lol. His a dorkface.

Anyway, I'll remember what my coach tells me for Show Jumping or Cross Country. To slow and steady him, with my seat and not my hands. There is no point riding a fast horse who you are not controlling which is just going to knock obsticals. I focus my mind, make sure my horse is focusing on me. Nothing else matters.
Posted via Mobile Device

Before roping in a rodeo...I'm terrible for cracking under pressure...1 loop. 1 steer. 1 chance. Everything has to work perfectly. I get sooo nervous. So I just talk to people and don't even think about roping when I back my horse into the box. It's all muscle memory. I just let it take over.

I tell myself "You can do it, you can do it" right before running in.
Other then that my nerves no longer go haywire, I was a train wreck when I first started running but now it has become a normal thing to me. My adrenalin is pumping, I just don't get as "nervous" anymore.

Just simply remind myself what I need to do on that horse to get a good run. Used to run 2 horses who ran differently, after getting off one and on the other I reminded myself how to ride that one. Now I still do that, even though I'm only on one horse.
Posted via Mobile Device

I just go through the entire run on my horse in my head over and over and remember what I have to do to pick out my weak spots.
That's for barrels.
For poles however, I just run in without thinking twice about it. Hey, I've done it many times and yet to touch a pole!

Pretty much a mix of what everyone else has said..except I pray before I run...Yes, I said pray..I pray for a safe clean run it would be very nice if it was fast enough to place but I just wanted a safe and pretty pattern...I also warm up really slow, I'm not a fan of just loping circles..I usually long trot for about twenty minutes, stretch my horse, lope maybe three circles each way, then keep her walking and moving until it's our turn. I agree with Sierra, we've been doing this so long now that I don't get really nervous anymore, I'm just pumped and ready to get in the arena and do work..I like to talk to my horses while warming up, it seems to help the relax and they focus on me and what we're doing instead of watching others and listening to the speakers and music..I did get a fortune cookie the other day, if any of you like those things, (Sierra and I love them) and it said "To achieve better times, you must imagine them"..I'm certainly going to be imagining awesome times now!

Sing my ABCs!

For real. It helps. It doesn't have to be the ABC song, just any song. This is really popular for the high school equestrian team during gaming day. I love listening to all the coaches on the sidelines yelling "SING YOUR ABCs!! SING YOUR ABCs!!"

One time I got really freaked out on my first run with an arab I had awhile ago. She was being a real witch, I sang my ABCs so loud the entire arena could hear me. It really helped though, my friends got a kick out of it.

Ha I did that on my old mare, she feeds off your nerves. I told the girl who has her now to do the same.
Posted via Mobile Device