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How to Prepare for Your First Equestrian Competition
03/23/2009
If you are a beginning rider or a seasoned rider about to enter your first equestrian competition, you’re understandably nervous about what to expect. Here are a few simple ways to be well-prepared for your first equestrian competition.
Even if you’ve been riding for several years, equestrian competition is a scary prospect. The pressure and jitters of equestrian competition are almost as great as the excitement and reward. If you are a beginning rider or a seasoned rider about to enter your first equestrian competition, you’re understandably nervous about what to expect. Here are a few simple ways to be well-prepared for your first equestrian competition:
Practice What You Love
It should go without saying that in any athletic competition—even equestrian competition—practice is the key to success. Even before you have a firm idea of what branch of equestrian competition you’ll enter, you should be practicing different gaits, jumping at different heights. This will give you an advantage at the equestrian competition because you will be in better physical shape, and have a better sense of balance. It’s also imperative in equestrian competition that rider and horse can communicate with each other, and that trust is developed. The surest way to do this is with practice.
In the future, once you have entered in a few equestrian competitions, you will gravitate towards one event or another. Then, you may focus on exercises and routines that are solely based around your equestrian competition specialty. For your first equestrian competition, however, it is advised that you be slightly more diverse in your training in order to determine your strengths.
Do Your Research
With enough practice, you should get a sense of what branch of equestrian competition you’re best suited for. Are you better at sprinting or jumping, dressage or long-distance equestrian competition? Once you know this, determine what class of equestrian competition is appropriate for your horse. Ideally, you want to enter an equestrian competition which will make the best use of your talent and your horse’s class.
It’s also important to research the rules of the equestrian competition you’re entering. There are a shocking number of deductions and disqualifications in equestrian competition due to individuals misreading or misunderstanding the rules. Some equestrian competitions, for example, require a clipped tail, while others insist on a braided main. Many times in equestrian competition, a miniscule difference determines whether you place or go home empty-handed. Imagine the disappointment of training for weeks, only to arrive at the equestrian competition and be disqualified for not having the right vaccination!
It’s also recommended that you research several equestrian competitions before deciding which one to enter. An equestrian competition aimed at beginners might be good if your riding skills are shaky. However, if you’re thinking about becoming a competitive rider, entering a more sophisticated, prestigious equestrian competition might help you get a sense of the competition.
Health, Your Horse, and You
Just as with practice, athletic performance is heavily tied to diet. And with equestrian competition, it isn’t just your diet that matters—your horse’s diet matters too. Any rider entering an equestrian competition would be wise to first make sure his or her horse is in the best of health. Attention, balanced diet, and exercise are key to making sure your horse performs as well as possible in equestrian competition. The animal must be happy and alert, illness-free. Pay particular attention to the hooves and eyes—in equestrian competition, these must be perfectly healthy and safe from infection.
In an equestrian competition, you cannot be stressed or exhausted, so don’t overexert yourself. Get plenty of sleep, and stay hydrated. While you’re in training for an equestrian competition, it helps to be in shape, as it improves your endurance and clears your mind. Cut back on salty and processed foods, eat a diet high in vegetables and protein, and drink plenty of water in the weeks before an equestrian competition. Exercise to improve your stamina could give you the winning edge, so a consider doing a bit more jogging or yoga in the weeks prior to your first equestrian competition.
Relax and Breathe
When you’re confident, your horse is calm, and that increases your chances of success in an equestrian competition. A positive physical image can not only help your confidence during the equestrian competition, it can also impress the judges. Make sure your uniform is clean, pressed, and within the standards outlined in the equestrian competition rule book. Calm your nerves by avoiding caffeine the day of and the day before the equestrian competition. It may even help to practice your equestrian competition event in front of your family and friends, so you can be used to people watching you. But no matter what, be sure to remember that an equestrian competition is all about the love of horses, and having fun. Just relax, breathe, and enjoy yourself!
