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Veteran
Posts: 294
 
| I don't eat on race days. Just too nervous. I will keep saltines in my truck. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1631
 
Location: Somewhere around here | I had a horse a few years ago that could feel me tense up so well he wouldn't go into the gate. I started making myself having a loose set of reins a few minutes before I had to go into the arena and also kicking my feet out of the stirrups and let them hang low. It made my body relax more and grip him less. Possibly try loosening your body up a little and try to relieve those nerves through your loose body. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2276
Location: ohio-in my own little world with pretty ponies :) | I stay as far away from the arena as I can. I rarely go to a barrel race by myself so if I have to I will have someone let me know when I'm close to run. I have music on my phone so while I'm off riding I play the music on my phone. It keeps my mind off of it and helps keep us both calm. |
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Expert
Posts: 1218
Location: Too far from home | Everyone is different as I'm sure you know : ) I can only tell you that personally, I get too relaxed and need to kind of kick myself in the pants.
I read a couple of good books. Mind Gym and 10-Minute Toughness. I enjoyed reading Mind Gym, but 10-Minute Mental Toughness does a great job of laying out what you can do before a run to prepare yourself. I wish I was better at doing the daily exercises because I firmly believe that barrel racing is HUGELY a mental game.
Good luck and have fun! |
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 Winner winner chicken dinner
Posts: 2047
Location: California | KatieMac88 - 2013-11-28 7:01 AM 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!
I am taking riding lessons with a non-barrel trainer, just to get my young horse broke and my riding up to par. I love her take on the barrel racing world because it's an outside perspective. When I get nervous or need my horse to settle down, one thing she recommends is to hum to her. Not only is the sound soothing to my horse but humming forces you to take long deep breaths. It doesn't really help my nerves too much, but it seems to help from transfering them to my horse. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 101
Location: would like to be where it does not snow | I personally try to stay as calm as I can, easier said than done. I do read a lot of mental toughness books. Talk to someone to help from focusing too much on your nerves. I do know people I travel with that are opposite and do not like to talk to any one before they run, they totally prefer to get in their own zone. So everyone has a different way for them. Good luck. |
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Veteran
Posts: 231
Location: Nashvegas | I try to time it where I am not in the arena until 10 before and not on my horse more than 20 -30 before, too much time to think. Then I am in the back corner praying and singing. You can't hold your breath while singing and a happy tune will make you relax I found. Also, the day of, i will avoid ALL caffeine, this really seemed to help keep my nerves down. I am an AVID coffee drinker but not on those days. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 224
Location: Southern OK aka God's Country | Xanax |
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 Off the Wall Wacky
Posts: 2981
Location: Louisiana | I get really nervous the day of a rodeo. Like all day at work I'll notice little butterflies in my stomach. I'm good at the house ad loading up, but the closer we get, the worse I am. By the time I get to the rodeo, I unload my horse and leave him alone to go calm my own nerves, because he is perfectly fine LOL. After I chill out and can feel the adrenaline start to calm down, I'll go saddle up and if its time, get on. Once I climb in, I'm good through the warmup. If I end up have some time to kill, I'll find a spot out of the way to just stand and let my horse relax. I think about past good runs, or find something to focus on. Last weekend we stood and watched the bucking stock wander around the back pens. I try to lose focus, or zone out a bit. When I find myself starting to get anxious again(right before the barrels start), I get off and tighten my saddle and make sure everything is ready to go. I might find a fence to sit on, a friend to talk to, or just lead T-Bo around until a couple girls before me. Then I climb on and head towards the alley. T-Bo is not bad at all, but feeds off of my nerves. Once we are headed to the alley, the nerves vanish and I am ready to roll. It is a constant effort trying to keep my nerves in check to keep him calm. If I can do that, he had more energy and runs so much better. |
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Veteran
Posts: 107
| Read this on Facebook......"Stop being afraid about what could go wrong and start being positive about what could go right." Author unknown.
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 825
| Several friends sing before they run. I think its typically "Jesus Loves Me" lol
From what they say, it works. I haven't tried it yet!  |
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  Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | witt - 2013-11-27 7:54 PM Read this on Facebook......"Stop being afraid about what could go wrong and start being positive about what could go right." Author unknown.
I'm my own worst enemy. I make it 10 times worse in my head imagining all kinds of crazy bad things happening. I hadn't run in 5 months last show and it was nuts all the kinds of scenarios running through my head... |
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 Love Me Some Robert Redford
Posts: 2335
Location: WV | witt - 2013-11-27 8:54 PM
Read this on Facebook......"Stop being afraid about what could go wrong and start being positive about what could go right." Author unknown.
So true, I am so afraid after a fall but I never looked at it in a positive way. Thanks |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 989
| I convince myself that I only paid $5 for a time only lol! But, I focus because I want it to be smooth and improved upon my last 'perfect' run The $5 thing calms my nerves, and being better than my last run makes me focus and be 'with it' |
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Regular
Posts: 54
| I tell myself that I can handle anything for 15 or 16 seconds.
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 Sunflower Seed Addict
Posts: 1416
Location: Amarillo, Texas |  |
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 I hate cooking and cleaning
Posts: 3310
Location: Jersey Girl | I generally don't get that nervous anymore before I run, just some butterflies. What helped me was last year I was at a race with my trainer and I was very nervous. She said to me that it was no different then running the pattern at home. Sounds silly but ever since then nerves haven't been a huge problem for me. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1008
| I've been battling this the last year and a half when I realized what my horse was capable of. Then the pressure was on! I'm better at a barrel race because of the divisions rather then a rodeo where I have the opinion that I need to win if I want something....although sometimes that is a curse at the barrel races and I don't get going like I should! I discussed this with Ed Wright at his clinic this summer and he advised I find some meditation techniques. I haven't gotten to do this yet but plan to. In the mean time I sometimes will have something to drink to take the edge off as well. I don't want to have to rely on doing that though. I plan to read those books someone suggested earlier as well. |
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 Queen Boobie mascot
Posts: 706
Location: Mayerthorpe Alberta | coors light helps control my nerves :) |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 420
| I stay away from the crowd that always talks the negative talk; either about others, the condition of the ground, etc. A good friend of mine would actually FALL ASLEEP at the trailer and I'd have to wake him to ride! I asked him about his nerves one day and he said when I felt nervous, smile. Just smile. I've used that advice in more things than just barrel racing and it helps! I also say a prayer for my horse and myself to come out of the alley in one piece! I repeat this to myself too:
"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of sound mind."
2 Timothy 1:7
And if all that doesn't help, there is always Valium! |
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