Five-star showjumpers Trevor Breen and Jodie Hall McAteer share the tools that help them stay calm under pressure, while equestrian mental performance coach Poppy Blandford explains how to harness those pre-round jitters and turn them into a winning performance in this exclusive article for H&H subscribers
JTC0JR White horse and rider waiting for the dressage competition You know the feeling of showjumping competition nerves. The bell rings and suddenly your legs turn to jelly and your brain hits the panic button. Before you know it your horse, sensing your change in tune, has ground to a halt at the first fence.
Nerves are not necessarily a bad thing – unless your riding nerves are preventing your enjoyment – rather they’re a sign that you care and are ready to perform. The professionals always seem so calm under pressure – so how do top riders stop nerves negatively affecting their performance in competition?
“Everyone gets nervous, it’s how you turn those competition nerves around and use them to your advantage that matters,” says former Hickstead Derby winner Trevor Breen , whose cool clears under pressure have helped Ireland to wins on the world stage, including in the Nations Cup in Abu Dhabi in 2025.
Thanks to modern pressures, in particular social media , the mental aspect of elite level sport has skyrocketed over the past decade or so and rider mindset is something that today’s top riders take very seriously.
Grand prix winner Jodie Hall McAteer has worked hard on this aspect of her performance with equestrian mental performance coach, Poppy Blandford .
“Nowadays, everyone knows exactly how your round has gone even before you even leave the arena,” Jodie says. “I’ve had to learn how to deal with pressure and manage all the distractions by staying in my own little bubble. I have learnt what works for me and what gives me confidence on the day.”
How to stop competition nerves affecting performance
Trevor, Jodie and Poppy share their advice and top tips for beating showjumping competition nerves.
{"content":"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"}
Enjoyed reading this? For more expert training advice from top riders and coaches, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website
You may also like to read…
Credit: Alamy Stock Photo
Confidence and experience are essential for handling horses when they are fresh or spooky.
Credit: Philip Barker
Credit: Future
