Q: I ride well at home but fall apart at shows. Why does this happen and what can I do about it?

A: This is perhaps the most common competition challenge riders face. The phenomenon has clear physiological and psychological explanations. At home, you’re in a familiar, low-pressure environment. Your body is relaxed, your mind is calm, and you can focus purely on riding. At shows, everything changes. Your body’s stress response activates, meaning your heart rate increases, your breathing quickens and your muscles tense. Suddenly, the skills that felt automatic at home become difficult.

Understanding what’s happening helps you address it. When anxious, your body prepares for threat through the fight-or-flight response. This causes physical changes that directly impact riding: muscle tension affects your seat and following aids; rapid breathing reduces oxygen delivery to working muscles; narrowed focus (tunnel vision) makes it harder to plan ahead; and fine motor control deteriorates, making subtle aids less effective.

Strategies that help:

Practice pressure at home: Create show-like conditions during training. Set up mock tests. Invite friends to watch. Practice entering at A, halting at X, and saluting. The more you simulate show conditions at home, the less foreign they feel at actual competitions.

Develop pre-performance routines: Consistent warm-up routines help your brain recognise ‘this is familiar’ even in unfamiliar environments. Your routine becomes an anchor – something reliable when everything else feels uncertain. This might include a specific sequence of exercises you do with your horse, breathing patterns you practice, or mental cues you use every time before performing.

Start with low-stakes shows: Don’t make your first outing a major competition. Enter local, friendly shows where results matter less. Give yourself permission to treat these as learning experiences. Each show you attend builds confidence for the next one.

Focus on process, not outcome: Instead of thinking ‘I need to win’ or ‘I can’t make mistakes,’ focus on specific riding goals: ‘I’ll maintain steady contact,’ or ‘I’ll ride every corner.’ Process goals are within your control; outcomes often aren’t.