Competing

10 tips to banish competition riding nerves

Do you suffer from competition riding nerves? Find out how to take control and use nerves to improve your performance

Competing with your horse alone? Take a look at our top tips for success

If you don't have helpful friends or family to go with you to shows, find out how other 'go it aloners' make it work

9 things you quickly discover while competing in muddy conditions

Here’s just a few problems we face while battling the elements on the competition circuit…

13 of the ultimate collecting ring bugbears

When it comes to the tense world of collecting ring politics, here’s what we would put in Room 101...

The perfect eventing warm-up: how to tackle all three phases

How you warm-up your horse can mean the difference between a good test and a double clear or a poor mark and jumping errors, at whatever level you are competing

6 ways competing has changed over the years

Competing these days may be expensive and complicated – but was it any better in the old days? Sara Walker takes a look at how things have moved on

12 super smart equestrian kit bags you’ll wonder how you ever lived without

If you’re looking for practical bags to keep your show gear clean and organisied, then don’t miss this eye-catching collection of equestrian kit bags

New championships adding splash of colour to dressage calendar

The coloured horse and pony championship runs from intro to medium level

7 ways to combat negative thoughts when it comes to your riding

While we can control how much money and time we spend on fitness, training and equipment, what do you do as a rider when your mindset starts to fail you and negative thinking sets in?

10 things that go through the mind of the middle-aged competition rider

With the competition season underway, most middle-aged riders will occasionally find themselves in a reflective mood, usually vacillating between ‘hell, yeah!’ And ‘what the HELL am I doing?’

8 things you forget when you take a break from eventing

From start times to studs and sweets, a returnee to the eventing fray finds all those familiar bugbears and joys coming back

20 horsebox essentials that you’ll wonder how you ever lived without

Whether you are competing for the day or staying away, we have all the life hacks and useful kit you may not have realised you needed in your horsebox until now

Why prioritising sleep could boost your results (and how to get more of it)

The well-being of our equine athletes might be our number one 
priority, but the power of a rider’s sleep for 
boosting performance in the saddle should not be underestimated. Here’s how to get some more time in the land of nod...

Red lights and standing on top hats: 11 competition day superstitions

From magpies, red lights and much more, check out this selection of superstitions that riders absolutely must do on competition day...

7 ways to optimise your competition performance on show day

Find out what small things can make a big difference to your show day success

Prize-giving etiquette: dos and don'ts

From rearing up to falling down, or exiting the arena at high speed, the resulting behaviour can cause carnage in a prize-giving. Andrea Oakes looks at ways to avoid a disaster

'Remember you're dealing with an unpredictable animal' — how top riders cope when things go wrong

However much we have prepared, things don't always go exactly to plan on competition day. Top riders tell us how they stay focused when their competition plans go adrift

Why does show day not always go to plan?

We all know how we’d LIKE show days to go — but let’s face it, reality has a tendency to get in the way. Unless you’re a pro with a yard full of grooms and a lorry full of expensive gear, you’ll probably be familiar with the following…

'If something's not meant to be, it’s not meant to be': top riders on coping with setbacks

With horse sport, inevitably along the way we may face setbacks. We speak to top riders to find out just how they cope…

5 ways to guarantee a smooth season competing this winter

There’s lot to like about the winter competition scene. Horses are clipped and keen, and while indoor venues can be baltic, there is often a cosy cafe to warm-up in. From bobble hats to sizzling bacon baps, various tricks and treats can soon brighten the prospect of getting out and about in the colder months ahead, says Andrea Oakes