Nrrrrrvous

[smurfalicious]

I should be eating lunch right now. Should. Should, but I didn't pack anything and don't want to buy anything from the cafeteria at work, but more so because I don't think I can keep anything down.

Sunday, it's supposed to rain, rain and be cold. I have my first race Sunday and I'm the biggest bundle of nerves I've ever been. You could tell me I had to have myself and my horse ready to enter amateur showmanship in the quarter horse world show Sunday and I'd feel better than this. I want to puke.

I doubt I'm ready, maybe I am, who knows. I haven't been training as long as I'd like, but it's been a weird year thus far and life drama took too much time and energy. I guess you'll never know unless you try, right?

I'm just terified, this is what I want to do, and I want to be good at it, but it's scary! Horse shows didn't phase me, I knew what to expect, I'd been around horses for ages. I've sat around the ring and watched countless western pleasure classes and tried to match my placings with the judge. I can handle pretty ponies and political crapola. I'm scared of bike races! I've been to them, but I took a nap through one.

I'm gonna get on Pony after work, haven't decided where I'm riding her yet. Thinking Grey Butte will be a good long climb to remind myself that I can, but the BLM roads in Terrebone are good endurance and confidence. Doesn't really matter, it's too late to improve on anything, but confidence is good.
Either way, I'm getting on her one last time, and Saturday I'm going to try and relax. Ride my baby horse (don't get bucked off), puke, play with my dogs, toss my cookies, finish my garden, up chuck.....

This is good though, I'm gonna have fun. It's in my home town, and if they're setting up for next year when I get done, maybe I won't have to pay next year's entry fee!

love and cookies
-HillBill
spazzed out a bit

[fixedgeargirl]

You can do it !

It's just a race, and there will be more !

Go out, ride hard, do your best and don't get too attached to outcome. Have fun, meet some new people !

You can do it !

[Grog]

You'll ge grrrrrrrrrrrrreat!

[spazzdog]

Saddle up Smurf! You'll be fine.

This race is no different than a show class.

It's got a rythym...

It has form...

It takes the same focus...

It requires your seat be fluid... be one with your pony.

Head up, eyes forward, light hands. Firm legs.

You've done it a hundred times. The only difference is these ponies don't poop on the road.

spazz

[CorsairMac]

how do you KNOW smurfs pony doesn't poop on the road?......there ya go Smurf-upchuck during the race and WINNNNNNNNNNNN!!!! Just keep telling yourself "it's just a ride, it's just a ride" and forget about what everyone else is doing! You'll be finished before you know it and won't be able to WAIT for your next one!.......but please eat, bonking your first race would be a bad idea!
and be sure and let us know how it was!!

{{{{smuf}}}}

[Trek420]

GOOOOOOOO SMURF!!

my grand-pappy used to say something like "if you're not nervous you're not prepared to do your best"

the competition is just as skeered of you, go out there and ride their legs off. A ride after work sounds like a good idea to take the shakes off.