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 Member
Posts: 33
| Helpppp, it seems like Ive tried everything to stop second guessing myself before I run and messing myself up before I even go in, and I cant seem to just get out of my head and do what I have done over and over in the practice pen. What do y'all do mentally before you run?? |
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 Expert
Posts: 3815
   
Location: The best kept secret in TX | barrelracer084 - 2017-06-22 4:42 PM Helpppp, it seems like Ive tried everything to stop second guessing myself before I run and messing myself up before I even go in, and I cant seem to just get out of my head and do what I have done over and over in the practice pen. What do y'all do mentally before you run??
I find it very helpful to talk with someone before a run. Whether it be via phone or in the back of the arena. Laughing a little with someone gets me less anxious for a run.
You can also look into calming herbal teas if you find conversation about anything other than barrel racing does not calm you.
I usually took the time to find someone sitting on the sidelines alone and introduced myself to them and see where the conversation went. People at races are generally very friendly and i found it easy to find things to talk about. It helped me a lot.  |
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Regular
Posts: 82
| Make a pre-run routine, that you do every single time (practice and during runs), sing a song to yourself, smile a lot amd make your self feel "confident"! :) |
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 Three in a Bikini
Posts: 2035
| Pray.
I pray before every run. And it helps me focus. :) |
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 Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | Kry5ta1 - 2017-06-22 7:16 PM Pray. I pray before every run. And it helps me focus. :)
This! Prayer helps me. I also talk to my horse, tell her she knows what she is doing and she is a good horse, let's go have some fun. But the more I go and run, the better I get each time too. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 534
Location: Ohio girl moved to PA | talk to a friend, dont focus on your run or over think it, smile before you go in. Just keep smiling like someone is going to take your picture. laugh at yourself. A good rodeo friend told me to think about toothpaste... i was like what? toothpaste? what about it, and i started thinking and before you knew it it was our turn to go in and we turned and ran and i was fine! youre there to have FUN dont forget that ever!! the day you stop doing it for fun is the day you need to stop riding. GOOD LUCK!!! |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | Mind Gym.
Its a book. Go buy it and thank me later. :)
You got this. |
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 Queen Bee Cat Owner
Posts: 3629
Location: Way up North | I remind myself they already cashed my check so whatever happens, happens 
It is so tough with barrel racing because it is so expensive and then you only get one shot, no do-overs or second chances, it is hard not putting tons of pressure on ourselves. I try to just focus on one positive thing, I have stopped thinking about 'I need to do this or not do that or I might tip, etc'. Just picking one thing you feel really positive about, like you are having a really good second barrel and try to hold on to that feeling like every barrel will feel like that. I also try to avoid the 'trash people' like the plague. They are the people always picking apart someone else's run or horse or riding or whatever especially when they get out run by them but they never seem to pick up their own garbage.  |
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 Expert
Posts: 2258
| I struggle so badly with this I do say a prayer, try to talk to people and cheer on friends but it seems I get out there and can't remember to just let my horse go. My husband made me have a little drink before the last few runs I made last fall and I relaxed enough to have fun (didn't take much of a drink either). My mare only has maybe 10 runs in competition so I was very much in training mode, well the other day we were at a youth gymkhana and they had time onlys so I just jumped on made a run and was so relaxed because no one there including myself cared how fast or slow I went. My little mare smoked a 17.1 standard set and we were 9th over the ground. I don't remember a thing, my feet didn't hit the ground for days I was so happy. Maybe you can find a place to run with a super relaxed atmosphere no pressure on yourself and just ride. I can't decide if I should retire now while I am ahead or try another official run! Good luck I have heard that Mind Gym is very good and several people suggested it to me as well just have not read it yet. |
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  Ms. Marine
Posts: 4641
Location: Texas | Kry5ta1 - 2017-06-22 6:16 PM
Pray.
I pray before every run. And it helps me focus. :)
This, 110%. Pray and just make your goal to enjoy yourself. Don't worry about what happens in the arena. |
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 Morale Booster!!
Posts: 1459
| hammer_time - 2017-06-24 9:46 AM Mind Gym.
Its a book. Go buy it and thank me later. :)
You got this.
I have read and listened to this book so many times!! I love it. I listen to it while I ride. I also made some notes on my phone of some of the things it talks about and I read them EVERY TIME before I get on.. This is something else I have done and it may or may not sound crazy. I got a hypnosis app on my phone and custom made what I listen to.. I have struggled with this same thing for so long that I had about decided to just give up. But after one night that my husband asked me what I was going to do... "Quit, sell my mare or keep going?" I woke up knowing that I am doing what I love and I have a super nice Mare and a great Colt coming up and in no way was I ready to quit. So I had to make some changes and remember why I do what I do. |
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 Regular
Posts: 84
| I can definitely relate to this problem. I do okay at small shows but soon as i go to one were i know their is going to be some tough competition i get lost in a trance and fall behind until after the first barrel. You are not alone keep going and don't give up. I only run 1 a month probability doesn't help. |
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Go Get Em!
Posts: 13503
Location: OH. IO | This is total opposite of getting OUT of your mind but I'll write it anyway.Stay at your trailer until time to warm up.if you can warm up outside away from the arena by yourself do it.then.get off and walk your horse while mentally going through your run.go in close to your run.then RIDE LIKE THE WIND get out of arena and go walk your horse then BACK TO YOUR TRAILER. :) |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12841
| A clinic with a lot of repetition and and saddle time. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 602
| Tell yourself its a practice run. |
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 Go For It!
Location: Texas |
The best advice I can give you is to just be prepared. Do your homework and feel confident that your horse knows his job. After that... you just have to start going. The more you go, the less you'll feel that way.
I never really get nervous anymore... maybe a few butterflies every now and then, but nothing major and they go away as soon as I start down the alley.
One thing that really helped me in the past is to find people to say a prayer for. Just sit and look for someone that looks nervous or uncomfortable, and say a prayer for them. You'll be surprised what that will do for YOU.
Good luck!
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Miracle in the Making
Posts: 4013
| jake16 - 2017-06-25 10:37 PM This is total opposite of getting OUT of your mind but I'll write it anyway.Stay at your trailer until time to warm up.if you can warm up outside away from the arena by yourself do it.then.get off and walk your horse while mentally going through your run.go in close to your run.then RIDE LIKE THE WIND get out of arena and go walk your horse then BACK TO YOUR TRAILER. :)
and never tell yur self dont do this or that as you will and yell breathe as u go down the ally way breathing helps |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 489
| I try to do a couple of different things. I try to focus on what I can do. I can't change the ground - but I can focus on the speed my horse needs to be going to turn on it correctly. I can't make my horse turn perfectly - but I can focus on putting him in the proper spot to do so. I'm probably not going to set a new arena record - but I can focus on getting a good correct run. I will break it down into parts of a run. Today my "job" is to correctly approach the first barrel. If I do that - mission accomplished. I have something to be pleased with - even if something else in the run wasn't as good as I wanted. It can be overwhelming to try to do EVERYTHING at once when your confidence is down. I tend to ride better at big shows when the big dogs are there - no one watches the little dogs - so there's less pressure on me. I'm also willing to SLOW DOWN until a run can be made correctly. Speed amplifies problems. |
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 Chasin my Dream
Posts: 13651
Location: Alberta | I think this is something that comes with entering up as much as possible. I now focus on my horse...it's taken years to get confidence to say to myself "ok you are prepared, just make the run" I still have to focus but I'm less worried then I used to be. NO RUN WILL BE PERFECT...many people have trouble with that. Especially if you're seasoning colts, good golly thats humbling.
If you take a little of what everyone suggests and make it suit YOU then IMO that's perfect. Just keep entering is my soul piece of advice. |
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