Here is the second strategy to help you manage your competition nerves
Work out where your personal challenge lies
The perception of threat or challenge is an entirely individual thing. What stresses you may not stress someone else so working out exactly where your personal challenge lies can be helpful.
It might sound obvious but it’s surprising how many riders fail miserably on this score. So for example
• If you are the sort of person who performs best in an ordered environment (plenty of time to warm up etc.), it’s easy to predict that insufficient planning or lack of time will stress you out. The best thing you can do to improve your performance is to improve your organisation. Use your determination and your logical, rational abilities to help you manage your competition stress.
• If some of your competition stress comes from worrying about what other people might be thinking and whether you are going to let others/your horse down, you can help yourself by avoiding those 'what if' projections (such as 'What if he runs out/spooks’’, ‘What if I forget the course’ etc.) and keeping a tight rein on your imagination.
• If you are the sort of rider who actually loves being the in the limelight, the main threat inherent in a competition situation for you might be the potential for loss of face. However, you can use this to your advantage by acting the part - just behave 'as if' you can do it or pretend that you are William Fox Pitt or Mary King. It will also help if you can guard against your inclination to become rather frenetic when stressed. More likely than not, this will simply result in you upsetting your horse and making ever escalating mistakes!
Watch this space for the next strategy. In the meantime, A Mind to Ride is available worldwide - just click here for your copy! |
