Psychology

Psychology for Equestrians: First, Focus on Yourself

Updated:

July 3, 2026

Annika McGivern, equestrian psychology, horse rider mindset, horse riding confidence, mental performance, horse training, horse behaviour, horse training psychology, emotional regulation, emotional triggers, rider confidence, rider mindset, horse rider emotions, positive self-talk, horse riding anxiety, mindfulness for riders, horse and rider partnership, equestrian mental skills, horse riding performance, rider self-awareness, rider confidence training, horse communication, horse training tips, Canadian Ho

Sometimes, the fastest way to change something in your horse is to focus on yourself. During a clinic I taught last year in Ireland, a rider entered the ring on an extremely tense horse. Head in the air, tight back, I’m sure you can picture it. As I watched this rider warm up, I could see she was doing her best to relax the horse with little success. I asked her to let go of thinking about her horse for a few minutes and focus on her breathing instead. Over the next three to five minutes, we watched the mare change. Her head lowered, her back softened, and her step got longer and more fluid.

Common Horse Show Mistakes and How to Turn Them into Progress

Updated:

May 28, 2026

equestrian training Canada, horse show mistakes, riding improvement tips, equestrian competition advice, horse behaviour training, dressage errors, hunter jumper tips, reining mistakes, Canadian riders, learning from riding mistakes

Stepping into the competition ring means accepting one simple truth: things won’t always go according to plan. In equestrian sport, unpredictability is part of the experience. Riders are working with a 1,000-pound animal that doesn’t think or react like a human, while also navigating judging preferences, changing footing, unpredictable weather, new venues, and constantly evolving patterns or courses.

Riding the Nervous System: The Horse and Rider Connection

Updated:

May 22, 2026

Annika McGivern, nervous system horse riding, horse rider connection, equine behaviour Canada, rider confidence horses, horse training Canada, equine psychology, horse tension riding, co regulation horses, horse performance Canada, rider mindset horses, Canadian horse industry

How Regulation Affects Confidence, Performance, and Feel - How Regulation Affects Confidence, Performance, and Feel

Riding Success With or Without a Trainer: Pros and Cons of DIY Horse Training

Updated:

February 3, 2026

horse training options, riding with a trainer, do it yourself horse training, equestrian coaching advice, amateur rider development, horse riding lessons, equestrian training models, choosing a horse trainer, independent riding, riding without a coach

Do it yourself, hire a pro… or something in between? Competitive and non-competitive, some horse owners choose to lean on a professional; others choose to do their own work. Those who opt for a trainer trust the leg-up afforded by a professional’s experience and oversight.

How to Build Supportive Cultures in Our Horse Barns

Updated:

January 14, 2026

running a horse barn, barn culture, working in the equestrian industry, how to fit in horse barn, annika mcgivern

You may think your barn community is too small to have something as fancy as its own culture, but it does. Whenever groups of people come together through common goals, interests, and patterns of behaviour, a culture is formed. A culture is a set of shared beliefs, attitudes, knowledge, practices, and behaviours. A strong culture can help all involved reach higher and further than they can alone. However, when a culture isn’t shaped intentionally, it may not serve its full potential. In some cases, a culture can even become harmful to those within it.

Overthinking in Horse Riding: When Analysis Helps and When It Hurts Performance

Updated:

January 10, 2026

horse riding psychology, overthinking in riding, equestrian mental skills, rider confidence, horse rider mindset, analysis paralysis, riding performance, equestrian training, horse riding tips, Canadian equestrians, rider focus, horseback riding skills, equestrian coaching, mental training for riders, horse sport psychology, improving riding performance, rider development, equestrian learning, horse rider confidence, riding instruction

Many riders take comfort in analysing every aspect of their riding. Breaking down a challenge, studying the details, and searching for solutions can create a reassuring sense of control.

Goal Setting for Equestrians: Become the Horse Rider You Aspire to Be

Updated:

January 8, 2026

goal setting for equestrians, how to succeed at horse riding, how to be an accomplished rider, equestrian sport psychology, horse riding psychology

“I’m not really a goal-setting type of person. I just want to ride and enjoy my horse. Goals make it stressful. There’s no point — so much is out of my control.” Sound familiar? Many equestrians quietly sidestep real goal setting, telling themselves that goal setting doesn’t work for them. This avoidance often comes from unconscious thinking errors such as fear of failure, perfectionism, or not believing that you have any real control over your results.

What Are You Good At? Horse Sport Psychology

Updated:

November 14, 2025

annika mcgivern equestrian psychologist, how to be a confident horse rider, equestrian psychology, equestrian athlete psychology

A strengths-based approach to improving performance in equestrian sport - After years of working with equestrian athletes, I’ve noticed something surprising. Most riders have a hard time answering the question: What are you good at? They can tell me exactly what they need to fix, or what went badly at the last show, but their strengths… that’s trickier.

Riding Your Horse in Winter - How to Stay Motivated

Updated:

October 16, 2025

riding a horse winter, enjoy a horse in winter, autumn horse riding, winter horse riding, horse psychology, equestrian psychologists

Winter riding—just the thought of it might make you shiver. Gone are the sunny days when you couldn’t wait to get outside. Now, the couch is calling, and motivation is nowhere to be found. Sound familiar? You’re not alone.

How to Fall Off a Horse

Updated:

September 23, 2025

how to fall off of a horse, protect your child from horse accidents, riding a horse safely, land safe equestrian

In January 2003, Penny Woodworth, who lives on Vancouver Island, BC, was taking a jumping lesson. “Smallish jumps, nothing exciting. My long-time error is looking down, which I did that day. My horse stopped, and I tumbled off. Not a bad fall at all, except that I landed with one butt-cheek on the ground pole. I got up and carried on, but I was crooked and stayed that way. After a week or so, still riding crooked and feeling shooting pains down my right leg, I went for physiotherapy. I had dislocated my sacroiliac (SI) joint. Regular physio treatments and exercises finally got it to stay in place and I continued riding.