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  More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
    
Location: Riding Crackhead. | Mike's Hard Lemonade |
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 Ms. Marine
Posts: 4627
Location: Texas | I do whatever I have to do to keep my mind off of the run I'm about to make. |
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 Arriving at the last minute!
Posts: 5148
Location: Kansas | I am pretty good at containing nerves but that wasn't tell recent years. I haven't read books or listened to tapes. Its more to do with years and my age. I tell myself nothing really matters tomorrow the sun will shine. Like someone said put a smile on your face, talk to people, and have a great time enjoying the moment. When I do have a lot of pressure on me and lots of money up for grabs then I take good deep breaths. Exhale slow. Keep legs loose and hands steady plus think about your run and everything you practice. Just focus down the alley and let it roll. And most of all ask Jesus to take control of the reins and guide my hands so the horse can work to the best of its ability. Keeping me and the horse safe is my biggest prayer nothing else matters! There is another race and we all makes mistakes.  |
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 Ms. Elvis
Posts: 9606
Location: Running barrels or watching nascar | I used to go through this too, still do from time to time but what has been working is to not even think about it until it's time to enter the holding pen. I cannot watch other people or else I go in n mess up. I can't even sit next to the 1st/2nd barrel in the stands. I stay isolated until it's time to warm up, usually I'm in the trailer watching whatever NASCAR race is on. When I'm riding, I also pretend there is a NASCAR crew chief with a calm voice in my ear. I'm still mastering the mental game but thinking differently about things has helped. |
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Tell It Like It Is
Posts: 22025
Location: Wyoming | I usually don't get as nervous as I used too. I found if I didn't focus on it, then I wouldn't get as nervous. The more I focused on how nervous I was getting the more nervous I would get.
I also try to breath and smile. Smiling helps. Talking helps too, but I also try to remember that some people don't like a bunch of chit chat before they run.
I try not to get on to soon or get to the holding area to soon. About 15 horses or so ahead of me is plenty. But it depends on the warm up situation.
Sometimes I will go warm up, go back to the trailer and put boots on then head to the holding area.
Just kinda depends on the set up.
However, if I am on a colt? It's hard to say how nervous I might be.  |
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 Purveyor of unconventional wisdom
Posts: 17112
Location: CA | I don't know if you have ever heard of grounding. Grounding is a visual exersize that can just take moments and will help clear your head. When people get nervous it is because they lose focus. So instead of focusing on all that is around you, you focus just on you, and later you horse. Visualise your nervous energy as a real thing. Like a cord, or rope, and in your mind send it down into the earth. Down down down through your feet to the planet core, and then back up again. Visualise it like a loop and that energy making a connection. It steadies you, puts your brain on right side so you are on the "feeling" side instead of the logical side. Your training is done at this point, there is no need to worry about what your horse will do. It is time to feel what he is doing and ride with him. Now the cool thing is you can do this with your horse too. (I know, crazy alert!) But as you sent your energy down through your feet, send his too, down his feet and tail! I swear you will see them calm down too. It works every time. I do this and pray before a run. And no matter how jacked up my horse is, they will stand still during this time. Many people visualize their run and I think that is a good thing too, but do it before you ground. |
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 A Lady with Fight
Posts: 2701
Location: NC | I JUST started running this year, but my nerves have improved A LOT over the past few months. I get on earlier than most people, but I walk a lot longer than other people. I just putter around a lot, then warm up, then putter around some more, maybe do some circles. Being ON the horse helps with my nerves. And breathing deep breaths right before I run & thinking about my run. I visualize what I want to happen, & practice moving my hands on the reins like I need to.
I switch out bits the drag before I run & then I just walk some circles, keeping him moving & I just breath deep & try to relax. I still get nervous, we all do, but I'm not sick to my stomach nervous before I run like I have been before.
I'm more nervous when I know it's almost time to run than I am right before I head down the alley. Being ON my horse helps me. Focusing on warming him up & just getting away from the arena & relaxing until it's right before my time to run. That helps me a lot. And talking to someone. If I have someone in the holding pen or outside the arena talking to me, I feel more at ease. Especially if we're laughing. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1035
Location: TN | You all have such wonderful suggestions! THANK YOU!!! :)
Breathing, praying, talking, staying away from the arena warming up, and focusing on my run all seemed to help yesterday. My horse acted up and went off pattern and as crappy as it was I realized the sun will come out tomorrow and there's always tomorrow to do better and make another run so I think that will help calm me too. I don't need to put so much pressure on myself and just go have fun. I'll run again tonight and I may try the grounding exercise. Thank you all again! This thread is full of great suggestions! |
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 Queen Boobie mascot
Posts: 706
Location: Mayerthorpe Alberta | KatieMac88 - 2013-11-30 3:13 PM You all have such wonderful suggestions! THANK YOU!!! :) Breathing, praying, talking, staying away from the arena warming up, and focusing on my run all seemed to help yesterday. My horse acted up and went off pattern and as crappy as it was I realized the sun will come out tomorrow and there's always tomorrow to do better and make another run so I think that will help calm me too. I don't need to put so much pressure on myself and just go have fun. I'll run again tonight and I may try the grounding exercise. Thank you all again! This thread is full of great suggestions!
in all honesty i forever joke about coors light but what has also helped me to have learned to just enjoy the ride. the good the bad and the ugly. You never know when circumstances could change so enjoy the here and now moments!! good luck tonight. relax |
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A Lady with Fight
Posts: 2701
Location: NC | KatieMac88 - 2013-11-30 4:13 PM You all have such wonderful suggestions! THANK YOU!!! :) Breathing, praying, talking, staying away from the arena warming up, and focusing on my run all seemed to help yesterday. My horse acted up and went off pattern and as crappy as it was I realized the sun will come out tomorrow and there's always tomorrow to do better and make another run so I think that will help calm me too. I don't need to put so much pressure on myself and just go have fun. I'll run again tonight and I may try the grounding exercise. Thank you all again! This thread is full of great suggestions!
You nailed it. That's what helps me the most. Stop thinking & just ride the horse & have a good time. |
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 Certified Snake Wrangler
Posts: 1672
Location: North MS | I say keep it simple- What will happen, will happen. Nothing you do immediately before the run can really help. JMI. Stay with your normal routine. Mine consists of humming something. Lately it is-what does the fox say. You can't be uptight and serious to that. BTW- I'm talking less than 5 minutes before your run. If your nervous before then- stay off. |
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I Eat Like a Normal Person
Posts: 3400
Location: Kansas | KatieMac88 - 2013-11-26 9:22 PM What do ya'll do to control your nerves before you make a run at a race or a rodeo?
My nerves  sometimes get my heart racing and I know that negatively affects my horse and myself so I'm looking for a way to stay calm and focused so I can make the best run possible.
1. Perfect practise.....when you do your homework, and do it well, you know you're prepared. Doing the drills and movements using good horsemanship prepare you for #2 and #3.
2.Trust yourself and your horse. If you've done #1, you can relax.
3. Worry about what you actually have control of....which amounts to about 10%. Go in and do what you've practised. Whatever happens, you will know how to take it as it comes.
Barrel racing is a series of movements using good horsemanship...period.
That's why good riders make 'saves' and recovering from mistakes look so easy.
Get the book "In Pursuit of Excellence" by Terry Orlick. It's worth every penny, and applies to anything you want to succeed at.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/90124.In_Pursuit_of_Excellence
  
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 999
Location: Sunny So Cal | Kind of weird but I eat a calming cookie level 30. Seems to help take the edge off. |
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 On the Countdown
Posts: 2934
Location: Texas | I don't get in a hurry, I will get on my horse, take my time warming him up. I will not go watch any other runners, when it is about a drag before me or so I will tighen my cinch. If I need to get closer to the area (such as holding pen), I will mosey that way. I do not stop, I will continue to walk circles. and BREATH, take deep breaths. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 113
Location: Tx | I picture making the perfect run in my head but no more than 3 times... If I over play it, then I overthink what I am doing and mistakes tend to be made during my run so after I picture that run in my head a couple times, I pray and then I sing... whatever song I am in the mood for... I have been Known to be heard singing Vanilla Ice, Cross Candian Ragweed, Wade Bowen, Miley Cyris, Katy Perry, and many more, also some Lil Wayne or Jay-z... the edited versions of course. |
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