A confirmational image of a chestnut quarter horse standing on a gravel road alert and fully tacked up in brown western tack

ASKHQ: CONSIDERING QUITTING COMPETING

Q: I'm considering giving up competing because the anxiety isn't worth it. How do I decide if I should push through or quit? A: This is a deeply personal decision that only you can make. Some important questions to consider: Is competing something you genuinely want to do, or are you doing it because you feel…

BylizzieMarch 11, 20260Comments

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ASKHQ: DOES SAYING I’M NERVOUS MAKE ME SEEM WEAK?

Q: Should I tell people I'm nervous, or will that make me look weak? A: Being nervous doesn't make you weak, it makes you human. In fact, vulnerability often connects people. When you admit 'I'm feeling really nervous,' you often discover others feel the same way but were also hiding it. Suddenly you're not alone;…

BylizzieMarch 8, 20260Comments

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ASKHQ: MANAGING WARM UP ARENA NERVES

Q: What should I do in the warm-up arena to manage my nerves? I feel like everyone is watching me. A: First, the reassuring reality: almost no one is watching you. They're focused on their own horses, their own nerves, and their own warm-up. Everyone in that warm-up arena is managing their own anxiety; they're…

BylizzieMarch 6, 20260Comments

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ASKHQ: MANAGING PHYSICAL ANXIETY AT A SHOW

Q: I get so nervous before my class that I feel sick. How do other riders manage this physical anxiety? A: Physical symptoms of anxiety - nausea, shaking, racing heart, sweating - are unpleasant but manageable. Understanding that these sensations are your body preparing for action, not signs of danger, helps you reframe them. Your…

BylizzieMarch 2, 20260Comments

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ASKHQ: MY NERVES MAKE ME HOLD MY BREATH WHEN I RIDE

Q: My nerves make me breathe shallowly and hold my breath. How do I remember to breathe properly while riding? A: Breath holding under stress is incredibly common and significantly impacts performance. When you hold your breath, you tense your core, stiffen your seat, and restrict your horse's movement. Your brain also receives less oxygen,…

BylizzieMarch 1, 20260Comments

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ASKHQ: CONSIDERING QUITTING COMPETING

ASKHQ: DOES SAYING I’M NERVOUS MAKE ME SEEM WEAK?

ASKHQ: MANAGING WARM UP ARENA NERVES

ASKHQ: MANAGING PHYSICAL ANXIETY AT A SHOW

ASKHQ: MY NERVES MAKE ME HOLD MY BREATH WHEN I RIDE

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