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 1D Lawn Mower
Posts: 1417
 
Location: Southeast, Texas | I know that I cannot be the only one who battles with anxiety before a run. I can't remember ever being like this when competeing in earlier years, but lately it's become a big issue with me. I can train all day long, work fresh colts, make hellacious practice runs.. I'm great. Enter up in a real race, and my anxiety level goes through the roof. And, it isn't like I only run here or there.. I run almost every weekend! I try to "think" myself through it. I know it's irrational. I know my horses. My horses know their job. But, even knowing that.. I always get so dadgum anxious before a race that I think I need to live off of Tums!! This is insane! So, aside from hitting up LRQHS for some xanax to get me through my afternoon tomorrow... what do you guys do when you are bitten by the axiety bug! I'm shooting for big futurities next year.. I'd like to conquer this before I make myself a looney toon! |
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 Total Germophobe
Posts: 6437
 
Location: Montana | I know the feeling, but I still get out and compete any ways. This year I've finally started to get over it, but I'm still anxious. My mare knows her job if I put her in the right spot and help her here and there. But I have a way great success rate if I stay off my mare after I warm her up until my run...hand walking, talking, checking the draw...because I have those butterflies the whole time, but I wouldn't give up barrel racing for it. Then again I'm kind of a thrillseeker, so I kind of like the feeling, LOL. Sorry this doesn't help, but I can at least sympathize! LOL. |
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  Sock eating dog owner
Posts: 4553
 
Location: Where the pavement ends and the West begins Utah | When I get that way it is usually caused by my sidekick. Remove the sidekick and all is good. Do you have a sidekick you need to remove till after your run??? One bottle of beer helps some riders. is this your go to?
BREATH |
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1D Lawn Mower
Posts: 1417
Location: Southeast, Texas | Sidekick? As in hauling buddy? We haul to a race almost every weekend, but it's just the husband and myself.. Sometimes the kiddos if the weather is nice. I run regardless, but lord.. It would be so much more enjoyable if I wasn't stressed! I rarely drink anything, but maybe I need to pick up a bottle of rum before each run! [= |
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Location: Midwest | Just take a shot or two of whiskey and you'll be fine! Liquid courage can be very helpful!
Just don't over think. I use to have bad anxiety in general... But honestly don't let anything get to you. Make it fun. Instead of thinking of being nervous get excited like you can't wait to show off! Not gonna lie.... The liquid courage is always there to give me a little boost when needed LOL |
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1D Lawn Mower
Posts: 1417
Location: Southeast, Texas | I can hear it now... "Clear the back forty ladies.. she's drinking and running!"
I've always been told that you mellow as you age. Obviously that is not the case with me! My dad has horrible anxiety, always has, and over EVERYTHING!! I don't think you could get my mom worked up if you were poking her with a cattle prod. Apparently I owe my dad a thank you for passing on the unstable mind gene!  |
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 Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | Eating turkey has helped keep me level headed more than anything. Sounds crazy I know but it has tryptophan in it and it's a source of protein which helps keep blood levels steady. I still get butterflies a little but nothing like I used to.. |
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Total Germophobe
Posts: 6437
Location: Montana | What I do is ride or walk around and pick my spots. That way when I go into that arena I KNOW exactly where I'm going. :) It really has helped a lot...before I did that I just went in there and went around the barrels, not really looking at anything, probably everything I shouldn't be looking at, LOL. |
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Expert
Posts: 1815
| Talk to yourself in a positive manner........some things that have helped me are to remind myself how very much I love my horse........it is not fair to him if I'm all wigged out and screw things up.......I am his leader and I have to do my part.......and leave it to him to do his part. I have to keep myself calm for him to be his best..... Taking a magnesium supplement also helps keep your adrenaline leveled out.......about 30 minutes before really has a calming effect |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 993
Location: Northern California | So much is mental!! Picture yourself at your favorite place to run and what you need to do; just focus on the task at hand. I sing to myself too!!  |
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 Ace Ventura Pet Detective
Posts: 2409
Location: Wisconsin | When the butterflies go away, the "party" is over. If they are really bad..a zanax works too! lol |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 974
Location: USA | I get like this. My new tactic will be to drink a beer or 2 before my run, it's easier to get than xanax and wears off a lot quicker. I want to do so good with this horse that I psyche myself out and get too tense and don't let her work. I know once I get a few good runs on her that my anxiety will go down. I just need to get there first . . . . |
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 Namesless in BHW
Posts: 10368
Location: At the race track with Ah Dee Ohs | Get out by yourself, drink a beer (or two) and just breath. Don't think about anything but relaxing and enjoying the ride. |
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 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| I've found that if I focus on what I'm going to do, rather than what could go wrong, it pulls my anxiety away and uses those nerves as excitement and focus.
Ex: I focus on how I'm going to approach all three barrels, I focus on my hole three feet to the side, and getting the hip all the way to back side of the barrel (between the barrel and the fence), about three foot off the barrel. That's all I focus on, those six spots, and getting to them as quickly as I can. I know where they are, they never change.
I work my fine points and muscle memory at a jog and a walk, a couple times each week, maybe once a month at lope. I rarely get to make a practice run for lack of ground, time, and horse need. I make a lot of runs in my head, driving down the road somewhere. When I'm working out, I approach the first barrel a hundred times. The more I do it, the easier it is in a real run. I am as prepped as I can be before I get there. In essence, I do all my worrying away from the race.
That leaves it up to me to mentally suck it up, focus, and have it squarely in my head what I'm going to do as I'm getting ready to run. By the time I'm done psyching myself up, I CANNOT wait to make a run. I also do myself the favor of, if I can't get my head right, if I'm lackluster or too anxious, of just going out and making a slow, correct run. I take the pressure off me, I don't want to transfer that to my horse and mess him up. This has worked in my benefit before, because if you can mentally forgive yourself for poor performance, then you can relax and go around three barrels. I've made some pretty good runs by simply telling myself, "All I want is one second off the pace. I'll be happy with that." And making it true. Then, my job is only to get to my never changing six spots, not battle with my own brain. I can physically relax, not hurry my hands, and just let the run happen.
Pinpointing what makes you feel anxious, then going out of your way to heal that fear, is going to set you on the right path. Sometimes, we're so busy trying to adjust every little thing, worry about every little misstep, that we send ourselves tons of mixed signals. Before you know it, we're freaked. Just focus on making yourself a clean cut routine at each race. Start by prepping at home, set yourself up to be organized and professional. There's nothing worse than realizing you're up in five minutes and can't find the "flippity flipping flip flip" rubberbands. It's the little things. Set yourself up for the easiest, calmest go throughs you can. Have a concrete warm up plan. Have a concrete saddling plan. Boot each leg in order. Have all tack adjusted before you get there. If you run two horses with the same bit, buy a second bit so you're not frantically adjusting. Do yourself a favor and streamline anything that might detract from your attention from the job you have picked out for yourself in the pen.
If you're not ready, don't run. If you're going to train when you get there, don't go. Stay home and train. If you're freaking out over little things, figure out why and fix it. Are you freaking out because your horse is inconsistent? Maybe time to relax the pressure on yourself and find out if that's the reason your horse is inconsistent.
In the op's case, maybe just streamline and concreting a pre race plan, and picking out a set "job" in the arena, is all that's needed. We're all just animals too, and our body responds to the feelings we get, and can magnify freakage to an acute stage with adrenaline and other fantastic natural drugs. Overload sucks! I hope you can figure it out and help clear the little things out so you don't overload this weekend! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 805
Location: Montana | I use my iPod and visualize my run (using my feet and visualizing my points and focusing on my breathing.) I figured out the other day during a practice run if I can tuck the ear pieces in good I can run with them in. I get to listening for someone yelling at me during a run I rely on it. But with th earbuds in and cranked to Radioactive by Imagine Dragons I make great runs. Now just have to go make a real run and try it out. :-) |
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 Expert
Posts: 4121
Location: SE Louisiana | Sounds like Budweiser needs to start kicking into these barrel races..    |
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 Own It and Move On
Location: The edge of no where | After taking a break for a while and waiting on my horse to turn 4 so I could enter.....I've fought nerves worse the last year than I ever have. What helps me... Everything must be organized a certain way. I check/clean my tack on a regular basis so I don't worry about something breaking during a run. I have a checklist and everything on it is in my trailer. DO NOT CHANGE anything up at the barrel race. I will go sit and study the runs for a while to pick my spots. I have a warm up routine I do not deviate from. Get there in plenty of time not to be rushed. 15-20 min before I run, I will get off and either walk or stand there and go thru my run mentally over and over. Don't worry about what 'could go wrong', focus on what you're going to do. BREATHE! I make myself concentrate on big deep breaths going up the alley, lock in on my spot and go. (I went to my first futurity this year, turned green and almost puked right before my run).....but I've been working on my mental game and the anxiety is much better now. |
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 Go For It!
Location: Texas | I give these out at my clinics... pretty much sums it up! :)
Picture is too big to load... but it is a t-shirt that says
TRUST GOD
And have 17 seconds
of courage!
Edited by grinandbareit 2015-01-17 11:53 AM
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Own It and Move On
Location: The edge of no where | Don't be so hard on yourself. This is the toughest for me. Put in your mind that you'll do the best you can, and let it go. Being a perfectionist puts so much more stress on you. Sit and watch the futurities, lots of the big names (that I really really look up too) have the ability to run one colt have a run that is a complete trainwreck, put it out of their mind and come back and take everyone's money on their next run. For me, it's toughest running one horse, I have one shot and it's got to count. |
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1D Lawn Mower
Posts: 1417
Location: Southeast, Texas | Here we go ladies.. and gentleman! [=
Cheers.
Malibu and entry forms.
If I knock all three.. I'm blaming y'all! |
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Namesless in BHW
Posts: 10368
Location: At the race track with Ah Dee Ohs | ABroussard - 2015-01-17 2:44 PM Here we go ladies.. and gentleman! [= Cheers. Malibu and entry forms. If I knock all three.. I'm blaming y'all!
You'll be fine. Have fun |
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1D Lawn Mower
Posts: 1417
Location: Southeast, Texas | Horse number one ran .1 too fast to pull a check, but it was clean. Horse two.... Well.... We tried to put the third out of the arena. Creamed it. [= The Malibu helped the nerves, but I've already got a heck of a headache! I think I'll take up yoga and turkey sandwiches all week.... We will do it all over again next weekend!! |
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Total Germophobe
Posts: 6437
Location: Montana | ABroussard - 2015-01-17 7:11 PM Horse number one ran .1 too fast to pull a check, but it was clean. Horse two.... Well.... We tried to put the third out of the arena. Creamed it. [= The Malibu helped the nerves, but I've already got a heck of a headache! I think I'll take up yoga and turkey sandwiches all week.... We will do it all over again next weekend!!
Hey, you made it through!  Sounds like it was fun too.  |
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 Ms. Marine
Posts: 4627
Location: Texas | Maybe I'm the weird one but I always try to not think about what I need to do in the arena.. I seem to do alright for myself by just letting muscle memory take over. I do however focus on keeping my breathing normal and relaxed and I also sing to myself. |
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Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | ABroussard - 2015-01-17 8:11 PM Horse number one ran .1 too fast to pull a check, but it was clean. Horse two.... Well.... We tried to put the third out of the arena. Creamed it. [= The Malibu helped the nerves, but I've already got a heck of a headache! I think I'll take up yoga and turkey sandwiches all week.... We will do it all over again next weekend!!
You made it through so that's good. At least you know the Malibu didn't work for you.
My first futurity I had shots of tequila chased with sweet tea because that's all we had in the cooler-- at 8am!! Whiskey settles my nerves a tiny bit but it's like drinking water for me. It still didn't help.
This past fall I ran my best run yet and I could actually THINK. It was a half second faster. I ate the turkey and some nuts and I refused to watch anyone run when I came in to wait for my run. I just sat and talked and when it was time to go we just went. |
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1D Lawn Mower
Posts: 1417
Location: Southeast, Texas | Loping circles in the warm up pen... After a rum drink. Sheesh. I know I'm a lightweight, but good lawd!!! (Yes I meant it like that!) My husband swears I need anxiety medication, that it isn't just barrel racing. Maybe he and the kids have finally overworked that last nerve I always tell them they are on. Good news, one rum drink does not leave a hangover and since I have six days until my next run.. My body has stopped stressing. I'll tell you guys how I feel on Thursday! [= |
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Veteran
Posts: 171
| I like to the barrel race in time for an exhibition or two.
1) my pony seems to wake up in a new world each day. Therefore the exhibition gets it on his mind.
2) it give me a chance to get a feel of the arena set up also. but keep in mind most of the time the exhibition barrel are not located in the same location. I usually watch a couple of run to get an idea where my spots are.
We never run our exhibitions just walk and trot maybe lope.
I have trouble with feeling like I am letting my husband and trainer down if we do not do well. |
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Keeping your cool..