Posts Tagged ‘Cross Country’

Show season brings with it the excitement of getting our horses ready to compete.

Unfortunately for many of us, riding well in public is an elusive undertaking. At home, our equine buddy goes brilliantly, but at a show we become tense. The horse either acts up or loses suppleness and our performance is a far cry from what we could achieve. Instead of fun, the competition becomes a frustrating disappointment.

Show Anxiety

Nerves used to make me impossible to endure even a week before the event: I snapped at everyone! On show day, when I entered the ring I’d panic and tell myself “there’s no point, I’ll make a mess of it, let’s get this over with.” With the predictable result that I knocked down show-jumps, got multiple refusals cross-country or couldn’t get canter strike-offs in my dressage tests. I had no faith in myself — which was ridiculous, because physically my horse and I had prepared properly and should have done well.

Sound familiar?

Addressing the Mental Side

Until I sorted out the mental part of the sports equation, I would never compete to the best of my ability.

Desperate, I visited a hypnotist. He taught me the following simple, but effective, method of over-coming my self-destructive behavior. Once I used his techniques, my show performance improved hugely and as a result, so did my confidence. I started winning.

De-stress for Success

Sit yourself down in a comfortable, quiet place where you will not be disturbed for at least twenty minutes.

Close your eyes, and — very slowly — begin to count backwards from 10. After the word ‘ten’ breathe in deeply then exhale for as long as you can, concentrating on each breath. Then say ‘nine’ and breathe in and out deeply again. Keep your eyes closed throughout and relax your whole body — head, neck, shoulders, back, legs, ankles, toes …

You’ll find yourself sliding into that no-man’s land between wakefulness and sleep and once you complete the countdown, you’ll focus inwardly.

Record Your Perfect Movie

In this state of total relaxation imagine your show day. Go through every action in minute detail. Begin with waking up, getting dressed, preparing your horse for the trip, loading and transporting him. Visualize everything going smoothly — your horse is relaxed, he loads first time, there’s no traffic and your radio is playing calming music (I find classical tunes ideal). Upon arrival you find a great parking spot.

In your mind’s eye, you’re now saddling your horse, then mounting him and on your way to the warm-up arena. Are you getting nervous? Take another deep breath. Imagine you both looking fabulous out there: your horse performs brilliantly. Allow yourself to see the impressed looks on other riders’ faces as you glide past them. Yes, that’s you they’re staring at!

An Oscar-Worthy Production

Now you’re ‘on deck,’ calmly patting your horse as you look forward to wowing the judges and spectators.

Picture a grand entrance, after which you and your horse excel in each movement as you perform your dressage test, jumping round, or whatever applies to your particular discipline. It’s important to see and feel every part of your performance happening exactly as you want it to.

And here you are now, leaving the ring after a stunning show. You pat your horse enthusiastically, a big smile on your face.

You will ‘wake up’ more confident now.

Rewind and Play Again

Repeat this process many times before the show.

If you’re really anxious, enter a class below the level you ride at home until you get comfortable at shows. Combining that with this exercise will give you the best chance of succeeding.

Soon just visualizing your terrific performance, rather than the whole day, will be sufficient to reinforce the positive images in your brain and ensure a great competition experience.

Hilary Walker is English, living in Maryland with her three horses, four dogs, schizophrenic cat, perfectly normal American husband and teenage son. She loves teaching people to ride, taking them to shows and watching them win ribbons. She also enjoys training her young horse and is winning ribbons with him at First Level dressage. Her other love is writing, and she is about to release a humorous non-fiction book describing the times when things haven’t gone quite so smoothly in her horse life. Like every self-respecting horse-woman, she loathes and abhors housework.

Author: Hilary Walker
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Buy electrical pressure cooker

Often referred to as an “equestrian triathlon” eventing involves a horse and rider combination competing over three phases : dressage, cross country and showjumping. Originally designed as a military test for a charger, eventing now attracts interest from all ages, experiences and walks of life. The aim of eventing is to complete all three phases with the lowest penalty points.

Dressage : The dressage phase is the first test of the competition. Dressage consists of a set sequence of movements within an arena. The test is judged on rhythm, accuracy, balance and the obedience of the horse to it’s rider. It is often a challenge to entice a horse that is fit enough to gallop cross country to perform a precise and calm test – exactly what is required to be listed at the top of your competitors!

Cross Country : Eventing as a sport is most known for it’s cross country phase. Certainly the most popular with competitors and spectators alike, cross country is the ultimate test of endurance, boldness and trust. Horse and rider must gallop over a mapped course of obstacles (often between 20 and 30), arriving across the finish line within a specific time. These obstacles are immovable and solid, often replicating obstacles one would find in nature (logs, ditches, streams) as well as other man made obstacles (jumping cars is not uncommon in the upper levels!). Undoubtedly the most dangerous element in the sport, it can not be emphasised enough the importance of understanding and trust between horse and rider.

Showjumping : Showjumping is the final stage in the competition, the objective being to jump a set course clear and under time. Unlike cross country, showjumping fences are not solid, and are constructed from rails that a horse can knock down as they jump the fence. Often tired, weary and sore from a long gallop cross country, it is often the fittest horse, and not the flashiest or best jumping horse that will finish on top.

When competing in a large event, these elements are conducted over three days. Horses are required to pass a brief vet analysis or trot up which assesses a horse’s soundness and ultimately their ability to compete. Horses presented to vets are traditionally braided and beautifully presented, while the rider is dressed in formal attire. There are 2 trot ups over the course of a three day event – the first before the dressage and the second after cross country.

Eventing is ever increasing in popularity, in Australia and New Zealand as well as worldwide. Many top international riders have chosen to purchase a New Zealand or Australian Thoroughbred. They are arguably the best mount in the business!

To find out more information about eventing horses, go to http://www.nzhorses.com

Author: Ross A Smith
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Low-volume PCB Assembly