How to Prioritize the Mental Game for Inexperienced Horses at Shows

When showing, especially with inexperienced horses, it’s critical to prioritize the mental over the physical game. The way you warm up can make or break your performance in the arena.

Focus on Thinking, Not Just Movement

If I'm at a show and only have 10 minutes to warm up, I am going to prioritize slower exercises that get the horse's mind flipped from the reactive to the thinking side of the mind.

I’m going to focus on moving their feet forward, backward, left, and right. Stretching out that ribcage and neck. Making it a game of how quickly can I get the horse to relax and focus.

Avoid Adding Stress

It is so easy for a horse to become overstimulated in a new environment, especially when other horses are rushing around in all different directions. Then add to that your panic of “I only have 10 minutes before my class, let’s go, go, go and make the most of this warm-up” — you’re sending that stressed energy to your horse and adding to their panic.

Find a Quieter Space

Instead, try to take the horse to a quieter place where you can work on less rushed exercises to help both the horse and you, as the rider, relax.

Calm Confidence Wins

Confidence and not rushing through patterns is what wins in the show arena, so why warm up opposite? Prioritizing the mental game first sets you both up for success.

Visualization: My Mental Warm-Up Trick

Before stepping into the arena, I visualize the ride in my head over and over. I feel my body in the process—where my hands will go, how I’ll use my legs, and the exact spots in the arena where I’ll ask for each movement. I picture the horse listening to me, moving confidently, and responding calmly to every cue.

That mental preparation helps me stay relaxed and clear, which the horse mirrors in their behavior.

What about you? What’s your favorite mental warm-up exercise to help your horse switch from reactive to thinking at a show? I’d love to hear your tips in the comments!