Excited and Nervous (IRL riding)

Hey everyone!

Phhhew, how do I begin? I guess I'll start with a little background about myself. I'm an adult, mid twenties, just now beginning my official-horse-show-career. I've ridden a few disciplines from the time I was 9: hunters, jumpers, barrels, trail, western, and dressage (looking toward eventing).

In that time, I've never gone to a sanctioned show. This includes participating in schooling shows. The only show that my first barn had was a small, barn-only show that gave either blue or red ribbons. (Not really placings or anything)

But this year...everything just bloomed as far as my riding career goes. I started working with an excellent trainer who is helping me redefine what it means to be a rider. She challenges me, introduces me to people in the industry around my area...just everything! My trainer is a saint. She's also helping me find a lease / lease to own situation as well as introducing me to showing. (Dressage)

So, two shows are coming up: one is a sanctioned schooling show while the other is up-in-the-air as to if it's sanctioned or not. I have the opportunity to go to both. For one of the shows, I have the opportunity to either ride my lease horse or ride a local horse. (My trainer is also thinking of allowing me to get some points to enter the year end awards.)

For both shows, I will enter to perform either Dressage Intro A or both Intro A/B tests. (USDF tests)
The school horse I lesson on I'm working on the canter and the lease horse is being trained in canter work as well, hence being conservative.

I am super nervous. I open the floor to you:

Do you have show experience or know of a friend who does?

Any tips for first time shows?

Congratulations for taking that big and exciting step for entering the show ring! It's an experience like no other!

As an adult rider who has competed for years, I can tell you that your first show will be all about getting rid of first-time show anxiety and a huge learning experience. My biggest advice for you is to take it all in. Watch the other riders, take plenty of pictures, and remember to BREATH! My biggest issue for shows is that I forget to breath the entire time I'm in the ring so by the time I'm done I'm near ready to faint.

Going into your second show, you'll feel much more confident and ready. Having not ever seen you ride and knowing very little about you, I still predict you'll place better in your second show. Don't get discouraged from your first show either, if the results don't turn out to be what you were hoping for.

In summary:
First show= learning experience/taking it all in/getting those first show jitters out of the way.
Second show= fixing any mistakes you made during your first show/kicking some horse show butt!

Best of luck! I'm sure you'll do fantastic!

How exciting!

I show very frequently , at least twice a month in dressage, and I have to say, my nerves have never gotten better.  Ever. I've been showing for about 10 years now.
I tend to go through life quite anxious but I use grounding exercises to keep me a bit more centred. I practice these at home otherwise they don't work as well when I really need them. Mind over matter is a legit thing.
On saying that, I have managed to get my anxiety under control more and more. I qualified and competed at nationals last year; a huge milestone for me. It's hard, but nerves have to be used positively which takes practice.

Don't be discouraged with any untoward or variance in scores - each judge has a different opinion and scores will vary depending on whether the class is affiliated or not. You just need to leave the arena feeling good about your test but also accepting the things that might need tweaking at home. Chances are you'll know during your test that something was a little off and needs a bit more refining. Generally speaking, out and about, you will get about 80% of what you get at home. I try to be training a level or two above what I'm competing so that when I go out, I'm asking for things the horse is confident with.

Horses are horses and one giant variable. If it all goes wrong, there's always next time. It's only a comp after all. Do it for fun and enjoy your horses :) You will post updates about your outings, yeah? :)

@Gaia -
Thanks so much for the tips! For the horses, I'm pretty familiar with both of them, although I'm not sure how the QH will act off premises. I was told the mare I may lease, an OTTB, is very comfortable both on farm and off. Although, I may stick with the wiggly-always-bending QH for the first one. 

I think my biggest fear is stage fright, or forgetting the test even with a reader. I really prefer to do my test without one, but I'm sure the nerves may take over more than I would like to admit : ) 

@Tas -
Thank you for the insight and congratulations! I love hearing success stories from riders of all backgrounds! Although, it does help to be in the same discipline : ) I'll have to keep in touch!

The unfortunate thing is, I was breaking the training barrier into training level, and then I lost my equine partner. : (
I've pretty much had to start from scratch with the QH, who is similar but a very very different ride to the good old Clydesdale/Morgan cross I'm used to. The QH is very bendy. He likes to do shoulder-4, shoulder in, and bends I barely need to move. Canter work is a bit difficult with him at the moment due to the bendy-thing I have to get used to.

The OTTB mare, that I may lease, is also a whole new world. If I ride her consistently, I should be able to make up the levels. She is a much more subtle ride for me, and we connected at first. Although, like the QH, still needs canter work, due to no fault of her own. It's a training schedule she's going through. For the most part, she went from being ridden 1 day a week to going back into full time work at 6 training rides a week. But, for the month where she received 1 ride or less, she refreshed "bad" habits.


Of course I will post updates : ) I love to share! I also have pictures of both horses, which I guess is better for reference.
Here are the babs so far:

Savannah - 7? Year old OTTB. Raced when she was younger but suffered a sesamoid fracture. She was about to be put down when a TB rescue saved her, rehabed her, and eventually rehomed her. 

Tuna - Is, I believe, around the same age as Savannah? He is a QH that was used for hunters for a while and still loves to jump.

So exciting that you get to start showing! My first show had me so anxious that I was on the verge of throwing up before entering the arena haha. 
I've only ever competed in jumpers so I'm not very well-versed in dressage, but from my experience, the best thing to do before entering the ring is to close your eyes, go through the entire course (in your case test) in your head and picture it going perfectly. 
Make sure to watch the other riders in your division, this will ease your nerves about forgetting your test!
I wish you the best of luck!!