What's going through your head when...

You are circling(and/or standing in) the start box while they are saying, five four three two one HAVE A NICE RIDE!

For me, I say a little prayer to keep Geof and I safe, start my watch at 10 seconds, get a last minute pep-talk from my trainer, and then it's all Geof and I, and the ground beneth us! I'm getting alot better controling my nerves! So from the BN rider to the training level, to the into level, what goes through YOUR mind?

Well, I go through everything the day before when I walk the course about 4 - 5 times. So by the time I am in the start box, everythings already set out in my mind. All queries and concerns have already been straitened out, so I have nothing to fret about when I am in the start box.

I'm very quiet. Nothing goes through my head. It's just another ride. No different from the day before when I was on his back, wont be different the day after I am on his back.

What goes thorugh my mind mostly, is telling myself to remember to start my watch. Or, telling myself I should of gone Pee before hand.

I put the horse's head to the rear of the box. I almost close my eyes, I slow my breathing and MAKE myself relax!! It's almost zen-like. That way, my horse will relax too. I hate to see horses going berserk in the start box. It is mostly because the rider is going berserk, mentally. At the lower levels, a horse should be able to stand quietly in the box. When you are given permission to proceed, the rider should trot the horse out and then pick up the canter. The times are easy, no reason AT ALL to blast out of the box. It teaches the horse to be tense.

At the higher levels, when time is tight, the horse should be able to gallop right out of the box without losing his mind beforehand.

A horse is trained to leave the box properly by practicing a lot at home.

Go over the course one last time in my head. Grab a drink if I have a "groom" with me. Get myself in order, think positive "this course is cake" thoughts and start my watch as they say "have a nice ride".

And breathe, don't forget to breathe.

I agree. Nelson and I just stand there.

It drives me bonkers when I see horse/rider teams acting like they are having a seizure, it's rediculous.

I remember when I was in Pony Club, we did alot of CC training. I remember a friend of mine was in the start box and she would turn her horse around facing the back, and then rile him up and spin him around and blast out of the start box.

She kept "practicing" this over and over - and I had to laugh, because at an actual HT, she had her horse so jazzed up, he backed out of the box before the clock permitted them, and they were disquallifed.

Served her right.

I was always taught to just stand there quietly.

How one starts out of the box, doesn't bother me what-so-ever. Meh, if one wants to trot out, or canter out - that's their choice. So long as they stand quietly and patiently in the box.

I also completely agree. My guy and I stand there, with him on a loose rein until they get to about 5-10 seconds. They I quietly pick up my reins, give him a squeeze, and we trot out and then pick up our canter. I'm not super competitive, I just want a nice, solid, quiet round. While I'm waiting for the countdown, I just go over each fence in my mind and review what my trainer and I have discussed.

i usually go in at 10 or 15 seconds & pet my horse & tell him or her how good they are =] i get really really excited, i dont really get nervous which is nice, i am a competitive person, but only really with myself.

I normally walk until the 10 second count then we enter, I pray for a safe run, remind myself that there is nothing that we are going to face that day that we are not prepared for. Replay any part of the course I need to really think about (muddy areas I want to avoid) Then when they say have a nice ride I am pathetic because I always say thank you then I start talking to my horse which helps me breath and focus I say things like first one little muddy stay to the left little log you can do. Then I enjoy the ride.

I go through the course in my head and quietly stand with a loose rein in the starting box. I start talking to my horse immediately, and leave with a nice trot and go into canter.

my trainer has us walk in and out of the start box, to keep our horses calm ans supple, Geof gets a little tense, because he just wants to jet out, but we are getting better at it. I don't think I could stand just standing in the box. When they say 3 i walk in and trot out when they say go!