Riding Should Be Fun! Part Nine: SmartPaker Danielle’s time and research into the whys and hows behind riding nerves I am an extremely competitive person and have been horse-showing for as long as I can remember, starting around the young age of…

Riding Should Be Fun! Part Eleven: SmartPaker Jess’ clever solutions for confident trail riding. With 30 years of experience in the saddle, I’ve had the honor of riding many wonderful horses.  From saintly lesson ponies who took care of me as I…

Coming from a lifetime of ridden dressage riding, training, and showing, I was able to “cut to the front of the line” when it came to dealing with show nerves around driving competitions. That is, I had already developed a set of skills for coping with the anxiety associated with a) being judged b) in front of people. Combined driving competitions though – with their dressage tests, cones courses, and marathon phase, including obstacles — required me to not only revisit that skill set but also add to it. In this article, I’ll share some of my personal coping mechanisms to “keep calm and drive on” at competitions.

Riding Should Be Fun! Part Nine: SmartPaker Alissa’s top tips and #1 product for successful Hunter Paces. Even though hunter paces are more low-key than horse shows, I still find myself experiencing some pre-pace jitters before heading out. However, I…

Riding Should Be Fun! Part Eight: SmartPaker Sophie owns the nerves (and the show ring!) Do you get nervous when you show? I’ll start off by saying that I have always been quickly flustered and easily nervous whenever I have…

Riding Should Be Fun! Part Seven: SmartPaker Jess’ healthy respect for the sport. As a middle-aged low-level mediocre “Eventer,” I feel a certain relatability to all those amateurs out there just trying to make it and (not) break it. I…

Riding Should Be Fun! Part Six: SmartPaker Gena checks “no worries” off her to-do list before shows. A competitive equestrian and show day nerves are like unicorns and glitter. Except it does not have to be that way for us,…

Riding Should Be Fun! Part Five: How SmartPaker Viviane finds success down centerline. When I showed in Germany in my teenage years, I remember I was always so nervous about show day. I can remember how I felt in the…

I was completely fearless! I got on anything and everything I was offered. Over time, my first human child arrived (then #2,3,4, and 5!) and I became a responsible adult. I had a job, a mortgage, and a fancy truck and trailer to tote my horses around in! One day, I can’t tell you what changed or exactly when it was. I found myself standing at the mounting block with my heart racing and my hands sweating.

Riding Should Be Fun! Part Three: How SmartPaker Ellen conquers overthinking in clinics. Riding is hands-down, my absolute favorite activity. I love how there is always more to learn, more to improve upon, and a consistent opportunity to have new…

Inevitably, no matter how much I enjoy the preparations, when the day of the show dawns, my doubts, jitters, and fear of failing are strong enough to (almost) make me change my mind about attending. Usually when this happens, the threat of losing my pre-paid entry fee is motivation enough to get me out of bed and to the barn.

Riding Should Be Fun! Part One: How SmartPaker Kelcie handled going from hunter ring nerves to jumper ring jitters. I’ve always had nerves before a horse show – sometimes those anxious feelings even kick in the night before. I always…