First SJ Comp

Well, in a couple of weeks, I have my first SJ competition. It will only be around 75cm for me (and that's as high as they will make it lol). I am going to be riding one of the school horses - her name is Cilla. I rode her in my first dressgae comp and we came 3rd, with a score of 93 out of a possible 100 (but the judge - my instructor - wasn't a hard marker at all hehe).

So, my question is. What can I do, to keep the horse and myself, cool, controlled and balanced throughout the course?

Remember to breathe!!!! Simple.... but the most common problem in all shows haha (especially for me!)...
Also during a jumping course (or a dressage test) have your trainer go over it with you. Have little words or reminders at certain points. I.e. When you pass C make sure you are breathing, your seat is correct and you horse is balanced or at the turn to fence 3 make sure you take it at a small angle to get to the next fence correctly (hah I know ranodm examples, but you get what I mean...)
This way, you will have specific things to focus on instead of just going around and focusing on simply doing the course instead of doing hte course WELL .. hope I helped!!

Thanks its just so nerve racking going into your first SJ comp! I'm lucky that (because we got to choose which school horse we wanted to ride) I got in at the front - so I could choose a horse that is not lazy, but one that wont go bolting off at the fences like my other choice (Gizmo) would have done lol.