Have you ever been at a show or in a situation where you had to perform, and then suddenly, out of the blue, disaster strikes? Perhaps one of your friends got involved in an accident or maybe one of your horses just passed away? On a few occasions my clients have reached out to me asking for help as they had just got some very bad news, whilst at a show. How to stay focused under the most difficult of circumstances? Here are a few ways for you to let go of all the thoughts racing through your mind and to focus on the task at hand.

Unfortunately we don’t always wake up or get to a show feeling ready, excited and unbeatable. In other words we are not constantly in the right mindset, ready to rock and roll. Instead of depending on circumstances, make sure you prepare your mind before every class with a routine that works well for you. Here are 5 options I recommend you use.

With hundreds of riders and thousands of horses competing together for over 3 months, the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida is an amazing opportunity to compete against the best riders in the country and the world. However, it can be quite daunting to be surrounded by the best of the best, and to constantly be reminded of how many other great riders and horses are out there. Here are a few reminders to stay in control of your mental game and to enjoy your time at this beautiful event:

Our mindset, beliefs and past experiences have a big impact on how we feel about competing. Sometimes just thinking about going to a horseshow can already cause us to freeze and feel anxious. This physically unpleasant feeling is our survival mechanism at work. This mechanism has developed over thousands of years and helped us survive. However, when we are on a horse, this “fight or flight” response is not very helpful. Although this survival mechanism is pretty powerful and it takes some practice to overrule, the following exercises will help you create a more manageable amount of pressure.

Ever got the show jitters just when riding into the arena? Or do you ever exit the arena only to realise you were not focused at all on what you had to do in the ring, but instead noticed the sounds around you, people watching you or your mind racing 100 miles per hour? You are not alone! Luckily there is a lot we can do to be more in control of how we feel. So here are 7 ways you can take charge and become the best version of yourself every time you go into the ring, instead of the circumstances ruling your mood, focus and state.