Carla; Two things that have really helped me banish pre-ride jitters (except at Tevis and that's another nauseating story). #1. You are not nervous, you are excited! "Oh boy it's almost Christmas! Oh boy it's almost my ride! I am so happy and I am so excited because I get to go on a trail ride for a really long time with a lot of my friends on a really nice horse! Oh Boy lucky me". Repeat that in your brain many times. #2. You won't win, so don't worry about the competition. "Oh boy, I get to ride with really fast and excellent riders and later will see them win an award. Maybe I will learn some of their techniques! Maybe I will enjoy watching them go, and then I shall have a very fun long trail ride with my friends! I have nothing to worry about, because I am not a contender!" (Warning, number 2 sometimes cause's you to win inadvertantly.) Keep these calming happy thoughts in your head, and it should really help. Then have a bread sandwich and some Instant coffee (wasn't that made for endurance anyway? What's up with all this percolator stuff?) Beth Glover