If you’ve ever shown a horse, you’re more than aware of what usually happens before entering the show-ring, nerves and jitters! Everything seems fine and the second you slide your boots into the irons and grab your reins, you seem to become someone else and second guess everything. Do I remember my pattern? What did my trainer say that I’m supposed to remember? More curb or more snaffle? What’s my back number again? We’ve all come to accept this is going to happen, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t come up with our own unique ways to tell them GOOD RIDDANCE. For me, nerves have always come with the territory of showing horses, the one thing that I personally do before entering the ring is to make sure I remind myself of how hard I’ve worked to get where I am and to have FUN, that is after-all why we all started this crazy habit in the first place right? 
Today we interviewed exhibitors who are showing here at Scottsdale and asked them to share their pre-show strategies and the unique ways they cope with their nerves. So the next time you find your nerves getting the best of you before you enter the ring, give one of these great tips a try
by: Eric Mendrysa
Chloe Holmes
“Before entering any class that I’m showing in, I think about all the competition and try to remember that they’re going through exactly what I am. I also make a list of everything that I need to remember to make my ride successful, and go over and over it in my head before getting on my horse”
Amanda Purdin
“I know this sounds weird, but when I show my cutting horses I always have to be wearing my lucky shirt. I remember that at a recent show, I wore that same shirt 4 times in one day, but hey it worked! Before entering the ring, I make sure I stretch, then get on my horse in the warm up pen and jog him around exactly 3 times without my stirrups to find my balance, finally I take a deep breath, and GO!”
Koy Moody
“Before entering the ring, I always make sure that I’m wearing my lucky lapel pin on my coat. I also make myself a list of things to do with each horse before I showing. I constantly remind myself that I’m here to do what I love and follow my passion. Last but not least, I make sure that I always always ALWAYS give it my ALL!”
Lillian Coury
“To calm my nerves before showing, I watch my trainer in the warm-up pen and visualize my ride on my horse and myself in the show arena. When I’m in the ring I envision my trainers voice and replay the tips that I received over and over. I like to think of myself and my horse in a bubble making sure we don’t bump into anything and that we have an uneventful very smooth ride. I also make sure to eat, sleep and stretch well before each and every show.”
Adam Rickart
“The only thing I can say I make sure of at every show before entering the ring is that I look great! GTL baby!” (Jersey Shore reference lol)
Olivia Stull
“Before entering the ring I always visualize my ride and remind myself that it will go well and that I need to stay out of my horses way, so that he can perform to his full potential. I make sure to take a few extra deep breaths, go into the ring with confidence and hope for the best!” (Olivia placed 1st in her Native Costume class today, congrats Olivia!)
Hillary Hoffman
“I like to go into the show arena before I show and watch how the classes are flowing, I picture myself in the ring having a great ride without any problems. I like to visualize all of my transitions and visualize exactly how I want my ride to go. I also make a list of things I need to remember in my head and replay them while I’m in the corners and have a chance to think. It might sound weird, but putting on my make-up before my class really relaxes me and having Chelsea Knoop do my hair always puts me at ease! Thank you Chelsea!”
Juliette Dell
“The second I sit in the saddle my pre-show jitters always seem to fade away. To be honest, there isn’t much that I do before entering the ring besides giving it my all and reminding myself how hard I worked to get where I am, I’m pretty boring! lol”
Molly Kressbauch
“Before entering the ring I make sure that I spend some one on one time with my horse in his stall just loving on him and really focusing on the class or pattern at hand. My nerves have really improved since my youth years, thankfully!”
Kasey Moffat
“I always distract myself from ever getting too nervous before showing my horse. I try to block out thinking about anything else other than doing well and having a fun, clean ride!”
So there you have it, TEN ways to calm your nerves before you show! Now you have no excuse to let your nerves get the best of you the next time you enter the ring Good luck!
which keeps her from getting too nervous!
