We have all been there — the morning of a competition that you and your horse have been working tirelessly towards, and the excitement soon shifts to nerves, anxiety and negative thoughts. Everybody handles these emotions differently, and over time you develop your own strategies to put these feelings on the backburner and crack on with the job in hand. Here at Wolf London, we have compiled some tips and tricks we have used to help combat those pre-competition jitters.
Plan Ahead
Allow yourself plenty of time on the day of the event by getting organised the day before. Make sure your tack is cleaned, organised and in your lorry or car ready to go. Have your route to the event established and leave in plenty of time to walk the course. If you are riding a dressage test, make sure you're happy with it and any questions are answered by your trainer — no question is a stupid question. If you can, plait up the night before, as this can be a huge inconvenience under pressure. These preparations will result in a massive reduction in stress and anxiety on the day, letting you focus on yourself and your horse's performance.
Know Your Gear
Trusting the equipment you use on the day has a significant impact on your outlook and is one less thing to worry about. Don't change your bit or make dramatic changes to your tack, clothes or boots on the day of the event — make sure you've ridden in your competition kit at least a couple of times beforehand. As Tom Rowland, one of our brand ambassadors, told us: 'I could never wear new breeches before an event, I need to know the product and how it feels before I wear them at an event.'
Be Optimistic
You and your horse have worked too hard in training to be let down by negative thoughts and the 'what ifs'. Replace them with 'we can do this', 'let's have fun', 'we are going to smash this'. The bond between horse and rider is a force to be reckoned with — you have a partnership facing the challenges with you, so embrace it.
Look After Yourself
Just as you make sure your horse has everything it needs the night before, make sure you do the same for yourself. Have a relaxed evening, eat well and get a good 8 hours of sleep so you feel refreshed and ready to seize the day. A lack of sleep leads to a poor attention span and reduced ability in learning and processing — integral when walking a course and staying sharp in the ring.
You're Nervous, That's Okay
Regardless of tips and strategies, it's inevitable that at any level you'll experience some nervous jitters. Whether you're competing at your local ODE or a 5* BE event, you won't be the only rider in the warm-up feeling these emotions. Recognise that you're nervous, think 'that is okay', and shift your focus to the job in hand.
Breathe
Shortness of breath is a common symptom of anxiety, part of the body's natural fight-or-flight response. When you're beginning your show jumping course, focus on your breathing and zone into the arena music — this will naturally regulate your breathing and help shift your focus from your nerves so you can concentrate on getting a clear round.
Overall, nerves can be your biggest challenge on the day of an event, but they're normal for athletes at all levels. You and your horse are talented — you wouldn't have entered the event if you and your trainer didn't think you were ready, so go out there and do it.
Wolf London aims to be the catalyst for positive change within the equestrian industry, promoting inclusivity and accessible clothing for men in the sport, including our Men's Signature Alpha Breeches and our Signature unisex hoodie available to both men and women.
Regards, Wolf London