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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1035
 
Location: TN | 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. |
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  Witty Enough
Posts: 2954
  
Location: CTX | Excellent question. Would love to know as well!
Edited by cranky B4 10am 2013-11-26 9:37 PM
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Expert
Posts: 4766
Location: Bandera, TX | Focus on the tasks that I must do so that my horse can work to his best. For me, this is the first year in a long time I had only a single horse to run. He was just a baby so I had to be prepared to hepl him when he needed it and know when to back him down so that he could run smooth. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 563
Location: Small Town Iowa | It's different for everyone. But what works for me is to mentally remind myself of the task at hand and how to do my best at accomplishing it, like look at your pocket and not the barrel or keep your hands in a forward motion and NO CHICKEN WINGS. LOL. . Also, I pray. I'm not a supper religous go to church every sunday type person, but this really helps me before a run, just a simple prayer no hail mary's or anything. I don't get into the warm up area super early to let myself become worked up about the "what if's" and that doesn't allow my to focus on the negative things that could go wrong. Like falling during a turn or knocking a barrel. These work for me, good luck finding what works for you. |
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 Big Gun
Posts: 2216
Location: Texas | get some music going, relax your legs and toes or try to talk to someone before you run to keep breath going into your body and so your mind will not be trying to think of a million things at once. I saw an older lady talking to the gate man as she ran in and when she rain out she was smiling and happy with her run, I decided right then and there I was going to have fun because this might be my last run. Its just a barrel race, there will be others every weekend, relax and dont put so much pressure on yourself because it affects you and your horse. God speed |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 473
| Listen to a "pump up song" to get me motivated. . . sometimes take a calming cookie? lol
Not sure what kind of music you like. . . These two are my favs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Thm0-S3wNt8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDvr08sCPOc (explicit)
They totally get me in a zone. |
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Member
Posts: 36
| The only thing I have found to hold my nerves is right before my run say a prayer and ask God to be with my horse and I, enter the alley take a deep breath and go! Always had a hard time but this has seemed to get my mind of overthinking my run! |
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I AM being nice
Posts: 4396
Location: MD | talk to folks. Not just how's the weather, but try and strike up a light hearted coversation. I have one kid that we make up the most ridiculous stuff to talk about while waiting her turn, but as long as I can keep her laughing until she's in the alley, we're all good! |
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 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| I get so nervous before I run, that I gag. I haven't barfed down the side of my horse yet, so I live with it. I can usually be found walking my horse before a run alone. I concentrate on what a perfect run looks like in my head and hit repeat. Depending on which horse I'm on, I concentrate on remembering what to do for which horse. I've found that if I don't gag, usually something goes wrong. Probably because my head isn't in the game. |
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Veteran
Posts: 294
| I get very nervous as well and I have been running for over 10 years. It almost gets worse as I get older. Its not a fear of getting hurt its a fear of not making that perfect run for me. Once they call my name I'm fine but if I'm waiting on deck or in the hole I could puke. Once I get thru the gate its all gone. I'm getting nervous just typing this. HA HA HA I do strike up alot of conversations and it does help. I just hate it when people talk to me right before I go in. I can't be having a conversation while I'm going into the gate. |
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Veteran
Posts: 294
| Oh and I try not to watch the other barrel racers runs. That really gets me going. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1079
| this is me too! I have said a prayer, gone over the image of a good run in my head, tried to remember this is supposed to be FUN, talked with people, walked my horse far away from the arena, sat next to the arena to get motivation...etc. etc etc.! Typically no matter what I try I end up trying not to faint as the horse before me makes his run. God help me if I am after a drag and have to wait that out too Typically the second my horse takes off my nerves are gone, but up to that point. GEEZ.
I never used to get so nervous, It sucks! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1035
Location: TN | Thank you all! These are all such great suggestions! I like the idea of praying, focusing on what I need to do, talking to someone, and listening to music.  I'm going to a barrel race Friday and Saturday so I'll definitely try these things out. I've only competed on my horse a few times and each time I seem more nervous - I guess because I'm putting more pressure on myself each time to do better. So you're right I just need to calm down, not put so much pressure on myself, and just go have fun and make a good run. Thank you all again, you're the best! |
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 Expert
Posts: 1432
Location: Never in one place long | I pray, pet my horse and tell them how much I love them, listen to music, sing to my horse, talk to people but not so much that I get distrcated. Just let my horse be and not school them which gets me and them nervous. I STILL get nervous but all of this has helped. ALso, try to establish a very consistent routine and don't get on your horse too early, this will cause you to have TIME to get more nervous. It just depends on the horse also but if you get REALLY nervous get off your horse and walk it, I used to have a horse that was CRAZY, he would rear and throw a HUGE fit and I would get even more nervous so I'd have someone walk him for me so my nerves didn't brush off on him and get on him just in time. I always try to remind myself that ALL my family and friends will STILL love me no matter how bad I do, that I will still have a home to go back to and that I have a better life than most people. Lol, all those things seem to help me out! Good LUCK!!!!!!!! :) have fun with it, if it's not fun then you shouldn't be doing it. |
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 Dog Resuce Agent
Posts: 3459
Location: southeast Texas | KatieMac88 - 2013-11-27 8:42 AM Thank you all! These are all such great suggestions! I like the idea of praying, focusing on what I need to do, talking to someone, and listening to music. I'm going to a barrel race Friday and Saturday so I'll definitely try these things out. I've only competed on my horse a few times and each time I seem more nervous - I guess because I'm putting more pressure on myself each time to do better. So you're right I just need to calm down, not put so much pressure on myself, and just go have fun and make a good run. Thank you all again, you're the best!
Don't forget to take a DEEP breath, hold, exhale slowly, repeat. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 204
| I say a quick prayer, a Bible verse, and then tell my horse that I love him no matter what happens! I don't care if people see me talking to myself and my horse...calms me down!!! |
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 Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | I have had a huge problem with this too. Heck, my hands shake when I show halter or trail at an open show and im just schooling! I've tried taking a drink before running to knock the edge off and that has helped a small bit but wasn't a solution really. I've tried all the mental imaging and relaxation techniques too and that hasn't helped either. The last two show runs I've made I've noticed an improvement in my nerves. I think its because I'm just now getting to the point where I can think during my run and I feel more in control and that makes me feel more confident. I think rriding more in 2 point and riding english a lot more has done that. I think if I can increase my confidence and feel in my head, "I've got this, lets go do this" my nerves automatically decrease. I think getting stronger and feeling more in control accomplishes that. Something else that Ive noticed makes a big difference is food. If I havent eaten or I have eaten junk my sugar levels drop and I get shaky easily. Best food for me before a run is peanuts and turkey. Turkey has natural tryptophane in it which calms you down. Plus its protein so it levels out the sugar too. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1035
Location: TN | roxieannie - 2013-11-27 8:57 AM KatieMac88 - 2013-11-27 8:42 AM Thank you all! These are all such great suggestions! I like the idea of praying, focusing on what I need to do, talking to someone, and listening to music. I'm going to a barrel race Friday and Saturday so I'll definitely try these things out. I've only competed on my horse a few times and each time I seem more nervous - I guess because I'm putting more pressure on myself each time to do better. So you're right I just need to calm down, not put so much pressure on myself, and just go have fun and make a good run. Thank you all again, you're the best!
Good reminder, thanks! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1035
Location: TN | Fairweather - 2013-11-27 8:58 AM I have had a huge problem with this too. Heck, my hands shake when I show halter or trail at an open show and im just schooling! I've tried taking a drink before running to knock the edge off and that has helped a small bit but wasn't a solution really. I've tried all the mental imaging and relaxation techniques too and that hasn't helped either. The last two show runs I've made I've noticed an improvement in my nerves. I think its because I'm just now getting to the point where I can think during my run and I feel more in control and that makes me feel more confident. I think rriding more in 2 point and riding english a lot more has done that. I think if I can increase my confidence and feel in my head, "I've got this, lets go do this" my nerves automatically decrease. I think getting stronger and feeling more in control accomplishes that. Something else that Ive noticed makes a big difference is food. If I havent eaten or I have eaten junk my sugar levels drop and I get shaky easily. Best food for me before a run is peanuts and turkey. Turkey has natural tryptophane in it which calms you down. Plus its protein so it levels out the sugar too.
I hadn't thought about eating affecting my nerves so that's a good point! When I'm nervous I don't like to eat a lot so maybe if I can force myself to eat something healthy and light before I warm up that will help. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 602
| If you get nervous right when you get on your horse, try to stay off him/her a little longer then do a shorter warm up. I personally like to warm up by myself and get in the zone and then about 5-10 riders before me I will talk to my husband or a friend to get the nerves out. I like to talk about things not related to barrel racing. Right before I enter the arena I say a little prayer for my horse and other competitors. Always think positive when you enter the arena! I think being a little nervous is a good thing but keeping it under control can be hard. |
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