How Riders Lose Focus Without Realizing - #220
Staying focused in competition sounds simple, until you’re actually in the warm-up, the arena, or the start box. Suddenly your attention is everywhere: Other riders. People watching. Results on the scoreboard. Thoughts about what might go wrong.
In this episode of the Equestrian Performance Mindset Podcast, we dive deep into what really steals riders’ focus in competition and, more importantly; how to get it back. Because focus isn’t about blocking everything out or trying harder. It’s about awareness, redirection, and having practical tools you can rely on in the moment.
In this episode, we cover:
- Why “trying to focus” often makes things worse
- The most common distractions riders face in competition
- How comparison quietly pulls you out of the present moment
- The difference between story thinking and action thinking
- Why your nervous system reacts before you consciously realize it
- Practical awareness points you can use mid-round or mid-test
- How breath, vision, sound, and feel can anchor you back into the moment
- Why your horse needs your presence, not your perfection
- How to shift focus without adding more pressure
You’ll hear real, relatable examples from competition environments, from warm-ups to show jumping tracks to dressage arenas, and simple strategies riders can experiment with immediately.
This episode is for you if:
- You get distracted by people watching or riding around you
- You compare yourself to other competitors
- You overthink distances, movements, or outcomes
- You feel “too tense” or “too in your head” in competition
- You want to stay focused on your ride, not everyone else’s
Focus isn’t something you either have or don’t have. It’s something you can train, redirect, and strengthen, just like any other skill.
Resources Mentioned:
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