E3laan Horse Blankets

Show Horse

Show season brings with it the excitement of getting our horses ready to compete.

Unfortunately for many of us, riding well in public is an elusive undertaking. At home, our equine buddy goes brilliantly, but at a show we become tense. The horse either acts up or loses suppleness and our performance is a far cry from what we could achieve. Instead of fun, the competition becomes a frustrating disappointment.

Show Anxiety

Nerves used to make me impossible to endure even a week before the event: I snapped at everyone! On show day, when I entered the ring I'd panic and tell myself "there's no point, I'll make a mess of it, let's get this over with." With the predictable result that I knocked down show-jumps, got multiple refusals cross-country or couldn't get canter strike-offs in my dressage tests. I had no faith in myself -- which was ridiculous, because physically my horse and I had prepared properly and should have done well.

Sound familiar?

Addressing the Mental Side

Until I sorted out the mental part of the sports equation, I would never compete to the best of my ability.

Desperate, I visited a hypnotist. He taught me the following simple, but effective, method of over-coming my self-destructive behavior. Once I used his techniques, my show performance improved hugely and as a result, so did my confidence. I started winning.

De-stress for Success

Sit yourself down in a comfortable, quiet place where you will not be disturbed for at least twenty minutes.

Close your eyes, and -- very slowly -- begin to count backwards from 10. After the word 'ten' breathe in deeply then exhale for as long as you can, concentrating on each breath. Then say 'nine' and breathe in and out deeply again. Keep your eyes closed throughout and relax your whole body -- head, neck, shoulders, back, legs, ankles, toes ...

You'll find yourself sliding into that no-man's land between wakefulness and sleep and once you complete the countdown, you'll focus inwardly.

Record Your Perfect Movie

In this state of total relaxation imagine your show day. Go through every action in minute detail. Begin with waking up, getting dressed, preparing your horse for the trip, loading and transporting him. Visualize everything going smoothly -- your horse is relaxed, he loads first time, there's no traffic and your radio is playing calming music (I find classical tunes ideal). Upon arrival you find a great parking spot.

In your mind's eye, you're now saddling your horse, then mounting him and on your way to the warm-up arena. Are you getting nervous? Take another deep breath. Imagine you both looking fabulous out there: your horse performs brilliantly. Allow yourself to see the impressed looks on other riders' faces as you glide past them. Yes, that's you they're staring at!

An Oscar-Worthy Production

Now you're 'on deck,' calmly patting your horse as you look forward to wowing the judges and spectators.

Picture a grand entrance, after which you and your horse excel in each movement as you perform your dressage test, jumping round, or whatever applies to your particular discipline. It's important to see and feel every part of your performance happening exactly as you want it to.

And here you are now, leaving the ring after a stunning show. You pat your horse enthusiastically, a big smile on your face.

You will 'wake up' more confident now.

Rewind and Play Again

Repeat this process many times before the show.

If you're really anxious, enter a class below the level you ride at home until you get comfortable at shows. Combining that with this exercise will give you the best chance of succeeding.

Soon just visualizing your terrific performance, rather than the whole day, will be sufficient to reinforce the positive images in your brain and ensure a great competition experience.

Hilary Walker is English, living in Maryland with her three horses, four dogs, schizophrenic cat, perfectly normal American husband and teenage son. She loves teaching people to ride, taking them to shows and watching them win ribbons. She also enjoys training her young horse and is winning ribbons with him at First Level dressage. Her other love is writing, and she is about to release a humorous non-fiction book describing the times when things haven't gone quite so smoothly in her horse life. Like every self-respecting horse-woman, she loathes and abhors housework.

Dublin Horse Show $19.99 Dublin Horse Show - Masterprint

Horse Jumper Show $64.99 Horse Jumper Show - Giclee Print

Horse Show Poster $39.99 Horse Show Poster - Giclee Print

International Horse Show Advert $39.99 International Horse Show Advert - Giclee Print

Horse Show, English Rider $14.99 Horse Show, English Rider - Premium Poster

Rider on Horse Jumping Hurdle at Warrenton Horse Show $79.99 Rider on Horse Jumping Hurdle at Warrenton Horse Show - Premium Photographic Print

Horse Show at the Hippodrome Stadium $79.99 Howard Sochurek Horse Show at the Hippodrome Stadium - Premium Photographic Print

Charm Company 82326, Brown Show Horse $152 Brown Show Horse

A Horse Show Jumper in Mid-Air $34.99 A Horse Show Jumper in Mid-Air - Giclee Print

The Summer Horse Show, Islington, 1892 $39.99 The Summer Horse Show, Islington, 1892 - Giclee Print

A View of a Horse Jumping an Obstical at the International Horse Show $79.99 Carl Mydans A View of a Horse Jumping an Obstical at the International Horse Show - Premium Photographic Print

Horse Nipping It's Neighbor in Paddock at Horse Show $79.99 Alfred Eisenstaedt Horse Nipping It's Neighbor in Paddock at Horse Show - Premium Photographic Print

Audience at the Annual Horse Show at the Hippodrome $79.99 Audience at the Annual Horse Show at the Hippodrome - Premium Photographic Print

The Countess of Paris Isabella at a Horse Show $79.99 The Countess of Paris Isabella at a Horse Show - Premium Photographic Print

Loula Long Combs at Horse Show $79.99 Loula Long Combs at Horse Show - Premium Photographic Print

Crazy Horse Cabaret Show $141.16 Experience a unique mix of aesthetics and glitz at the Crazy Horse cabaret in Paris with its new show, Taboo. Marvel at the perfectly synchronised choreography accompanied by music and light. The Crazy Horse is admirable for its aesthetic celebration of the female form as an expression of art. The interplay of light and graceful dance forms enthral you in this show.A visit to Paris visit would be incomplete without watching the spectacular Crazy Horse cabaret.

The Hungarian Plain and Horse Show $48.4 The rustic landscape around Budapest is delightfully different from the city. Called the pustza, it is an almost desert-like area which has many horse farms. On this unique tour, drive through the pustza to reach the town of Kecskemet. Explore this charming town before a visit to a horse farm. This is a popular attraction in the area and you can enjoy a ride in a horse-drawn carriage and watch man and beast perform together in a spectacular horse show. End the tour with a meal in a traditional csarda (restaurant) on the farm, where live gypsy music will add to the rustic but romantic atmosphere.

Keeker and the Horse Show Show-Off (Unabridged) $3.99 When a flyer arrives announcing an upcoming horse show, Keeker and Plum are determined to enter! They work hard to prepare, but it may not be enough....

Kelley Horse Show Sticker Book $4.95 Your horse crazy kid will have hours of fun with the Kelley Horse Show Sticker Book. This book features re-usable vinyl stickers.

Horse Show By Hayden, Kate $9.56 Three young riders prepare their horses for a horse show and participate in several different events. Author: Hayden, Kate Series Title: DK Readers. Level 2 Publication Date: 2001/01/01 Number of Pages: 32 Binding Type: Paperbound Grade Level: 12 Language: English Depth: 0.25 Width: 6.00 Height: 9.00

Kelley Horse Show Coloring Book $6.95 Your young rider can explore the competitive horse world with Kelley Horse Show Coloring Book. This read along color book offers hours of fun and entertainment.