I was nervous.
Really nervous.
It was strange. I hadn’t been that worried about a stadium round in a long time.
Don’t get me wrong. My normal response to even thinking about stadium jumping is to try not to vomit.
But there is a direct correlation with the height of the fences and the level of nausea I experience.
These jumps were fairly small but I was on a new pony and ……………well…..I’m BAD at this!
As I picked up the canter I realized my heart was absolutely pounding out of my chest.
We cantered over the first 4 fences and as we rounded the turn to fence 5……. I had a familiar feeling.
It’s like my legs won’t work anymore and everything starts looking a little off color.
It’s a feeling I haven’t had in a long time…… but I instantly recognized it.
It’s called LACK OF OXYGEN.
Yep.
Bad Eventer forgot to breathe.
I hadn’t done that in years.
As I started sucking in wind I got the feeling back in my legs and finished the round.
My fearless leader was giving me the after action review and said “in short” that I should have made a better turn to the green jump.
And I guess from the look on my face…….. he continued saying that I should at least KNOW that I should have made a better turn.
And I’m thinking, green jump……. WHAT green jump?
As I looked out at the course I see it.
Oh jump 3, yeah about that……. during the first 4 jumps where I, you know, forgot to breathe I don’t really remember what happened.
It’s hard to work on details when you’re killing brain cells by the second……..
I guess I’ll go back to counting out loud. Moments like this is why I started doing that in the first place.
Breathe. Really. It helps.
HAH… i used to sing during my rounds. to 'keep pace'. allegedly. more because i had to breath.
oh and i had to sing LOUDLY.
Sing to yourself and your lovely ponehs, deff helps the breathing sitch
I too have experienced this. Even my mother, the non-horse person, calls me out on it. My pony does not appreciate my singing, so I stick to counting.
I got this comment on a dressage test: "It helps to breathe."