Have you ever walked into the show pen and felt like you were on a completely different horse from the one that you were riding in the warmup? And felt that within minutes you went from show-ring ready, to dancing around in the center of the arena before the start of your pattern?
Your horse doesn’t know the stakes are higher when he steps into the show pen, so why does he drastically change once all eyes are on you? If your mindset changes when it comes time to show, chances are, the energy you’re creating with your body changes, too. These changes will translate to your horse, and he’ll start to change his game plan to reflect what your body is telling him to do.
The easiest way to improve your score and avoid creating an anxious environment for your horse is by focusing on your thoughts and the actions you’re creating from them. By getting your head in the game and taking control of your thoughts and emotions, you’ll have a better chance at accurately communicating with your horse in, and
