Banish nerves
Q I’ve heard that herbal oils like lavender can be good for calming nerves. Do they work? What should I use? Bella Harvey, Manchester
AThere is evidence to show that lavender is helpful for relaxation and sleep. A qualified aromatherapist or a herbal medicine practitioner can help with this. In my experience, there are many methods for calming nerves and the effectiveness of each one depends on the rider, the reason and how intense their anxiety is. I usually recommend techniques that involve breathing, visualisation, mantras or hypnosis, depending on the rider and their situation. For example, if a rider gets worried the night before a competition, then I’ll give them a relaxation tool — usually a podcast — to listen to before they go to bed. If the nerves strike at the competition warm-up then I’ll give them a breathing technique that they can easily do in the saddle.
Ways to chill out
There are a variety of relaxation techniques that calm nerves; it’s simply about finding the right one for you. Timing is as important as the technique itself. Herbal oils like lavender can work if you use them as soon as you feel yourself becoming nervous — waiting until you’re greatly anxious will make them less effective. As a general rule, relaxation techniques work best when you first start to notice your stress level increasing. Timing is just as important for calming nerves as the technique or remedy. If you decide to use a herbal oil like lavender, I suggest you trial it first in nerve-racking, non-riding situations to see the effect before deciding whether it’s the right technique for you. If it’s not effective, try something different like a breathing technique.