A touch of anxiety before a horse show show is normal and healthy for riders. It’s what pumps you up for the challenge, keeps you focused, and gives you the competitive edge you need to strive for a win. Having performance nerves means you care; it means you are paying attention to what you are doing, it means it is important to you.

However, too much anxiety can be a performance killer, so knowing how to use your show nerves to your advantage is a key competitive skill every rider should strive to have. Here are five simple techniques to de-stress before you approach the in-gate:

Accept your nerves. The key to competitive anxiety is accepting it. It is a normal physiological change that means you are becoming alert to the challenge of doing your best. Once you accept it and learn how to manage it, it can then be used to your advantage to facilitate your performance. So embrace the change. This is a vital step in pointing your nerves in the right direction and getting them to work for you. Instead of saying “oh no” when they turn up, try reminding yourself of their value to your performance. Come up with a welcome or greeting like: “Transforming into super horse show me, awesome!” or “Thanks for reminding me – let’s go!”

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