How to Make Horse Shows Fun Again

them. How are you lucky to be where you are? How many others cannot do what youre doing? Getting back to the basic love of your sport can help you feel grateful again. The joy is in the doing. 
And remember to thank your horse because horse and rider are a team and youre doing this together.
4  Develop a Focus Switch
When thinking about competing and riding never stops burnout can occur and thinking can turn to obsession. The trap is thinking that if you just keep turning it over in your head youll improve. You wont.
Just as a muscle needs to strain then relax in order to strengthen your mind needs a recovery period in order to function efficiently. Plan time to problem solve and think about riding and when not to. When that focus switch is turned off it doesnt necessarily mean your mind is empty just that there are no horsey thoughts being entertained. You could be listening to music or hanging out with friends. Even at a horse show you need times when the switch is off to clear your head. 
5  Embrace Butterflies as Friends
Performance anxiety can diminish the enjoyment of competition. 
Feeling apprehensive the knot in your stomach and your racing heart may have you wishing you had just stayed home. If you can accept the experience of butterflies as a normal part of competitive life their fluttering will not escalate. Some anxiety is normal because your body is changing in preparation for a challenge. The next time you sense those butterflies stirring change your mindset from Im feeling nervous I cant compete to My body is making me sharper helping me prepare and Im going to be okay. This one small change in your inner dialogue can improve your comfort level and performance.
 Play
the Same Game
If you like training and feel comfortable there learn to feel more at ease in the show ring by remembering just how much training and showing have in common. You have the same horse the same skills the same tack the same coach and the same challenge whether it is a jump course a reining pattern or a dressage test. Getting your thoughts on this track will remind you just how ready you are to go in there and shine. 
7  Understand the Value of Competition
Competing can encourage comparison with a rider in a higher division with a better horse with better skills. Before you know it walking into the show ring feels completely futile. But chances are you are not being fair when sizing up the competition. There are so many variables involved in horse sports that its impossible to do a straightup comparison. 
Instead compete against yourself. Do better than your last ride. If there are others riding better or on more talented horses and there will always be better horses and riders consider a different approach. Thank them for being so skilled for showing you the way for helping you grow. Thats the value of competition.
8  Correct Your Mistake Formula
Too many riders have this formula Mistakes Failure. Given that mistakes will always be part of riding and life this formula can cause you to retreat from risks ride tentatively and confuse your horse. Mistakes are actually quite valuable without them you would not move forward improve or take risks. You really need mistakes and should respect them.