Handling Horse Competition Pressure

Q: What's the mistake of training at 75% effort?

Per Richard Winters: the horse never feels real pressure at home, so when the show pen demands 100%, he encounters that intensity for the first time in front of a judge. The horse becomes anxious, associates the show ring with stress, and starts resisting as soon as he sees the gate.

Q: How do I build pressure tolerance without being confrontational?

Per Richard Winters: gradual exposure to higher-energy work at home—real speed, real stops, real spins—so the horse experiences competition-level demands repeatedly before the show. The goal is not fighting; the goal is matching the show's intensity in the practice pen.

Q: Why does the show ring make horses anxious?

Per Richard Winters: empty arena, bright lights, judge presence, and a sudden jump from 75% to 100% effort. Horses recognize the pattern: "this is where bad things happen." Removing that pattern requires either making the show feel like home or making home feel like the show.

Q: How long does it take to seasoned a horse for showing?

Per Richard Winters: weeks to months, depending on temperament and how much pre-existing show anxiety is present. The investment pays off across the horse's career—a seasoned show horse stays mentally available even at large events, which is what separates winners from anxious also-rans.

Q: Should young horses go to shows before they're ready?

Per Richard Winters: not for competition, but exposure trips—hauling in, stabling overnight, riding in the warm-up pen—are valuable. Young horses need to see show grounds many times before they're asked to perform there. "Just hauling" trips are some of the best training investments a competitor can make.

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Handling Horse Competition Pressure

With Richard Winters Horsemanship

I’ve just returned from a Quarter Horse Show where over the course of one week I showed four horses a total of thirty-seven times. Those classes include Ranch Pleasure, Cutting and Reined Cow Horse competitions. All of these classes ask for speed and agility. Certainly the Reined Cow Horse class required the most speed, intensity and physicality. I enjoyed some modest success and also had my share of difficulties. However, as always, it was a great learning experience and I hope I’m smarter for it.

This is what I’ve learned: As I’ve have been preparing my horses for competition, I have attempted to be slow, methodical and correct in my training. I’m not one who is confrontational or eager for a fight, whether it is with horses or humans. In retrospect my training program has asked my horses for about 75% of their ability on any given day. They have been exposed to a certain amount of pressure but rarely testing their physical and mental limits.

Now here is the problem: When I entered the show pen, I began to ask them for 100% effort. This was a mental request that they were not emotionally prepared for or comfortable with performing. During the course of that week I could feel my horses get increasingly worried and anxious about entering the big empty arena, in front of a judge. They began to think that this was a place where bad things might start happening (i.e. running, stopping and turning with Richard clucking, kicking and pulling!) This is not the scenario I am trying to create. I want my horses to be confident, happy and secure with their jobs. However, I realize that I have not been adequately preparing them to go out and perform with maximum effort.

Charlie and Richard's fence work at the AQHA show.

I need to change my thinking and thus my practice. Rather than train at 75% and then show at 100%, I need to frequently ask for 100% effort at home and then step into the show pen at 75%. Now, I understand that this is an over simplification and not an absolute formula. Yet, I think the general idea is more realistic to the achieving of my goals. Coaches ask athletes to put out 100% effort during practice and create drills that build the muscle memory and mental toughness required on game day. Our son is a Rescue Swimmer in the U.S. Coast Guard. During training, his instructors put him in almost every pressurized water scenarios possible. There were times that Joe thought they were literally trying to drown him. Yet, that training has prepared him to handle the most intense and unexpected situations he encounters during real life rescues.

Mr. Chibbs and Richard circling the cow demonstrates the pressure, speed and intensity required.

About Richard Winters For over 30 years Richard has dedicated himself to honing his horsemanship skills and to passing this knowledge on to others. His vast experience includes starting literally hundreds of horses that have gone on to almost every equine discipline imaginable. Richard's credentials extend from the rodeo arena and high desert ranches of the west to being a highly sought after trainer, horsemanship clinician and expo presenter.

Richard Winters’ horsemanship journey has earned him Colt Starting and Horse Showing Championship titles. Obtaining his goal of a World Championship in the National Reined Cow Horse Association became a reality. He is an AA rated judge. Another of Richard’s horsemanship goals was realized with his Road to the Horse Colt Starting Championship win! There is no question to Winters’ qualifications as Horseman’s Host, returning to Road to the Horse as a commentator, for the 5th consecutive year,

International travels include Canada, Australia, Mexico, Sweden and Poland where he earned the European International Colt Starting Championship Title. Richard is a "Masterful Communicator" with horses and humans alike!

International travels include Canada, Australia, Mexico, Sweden and Poland where he earned the European International Colt Starting Championship Title. Richard is a "Masterful Communicator" with horses and humans alike!

I don’t like getting into trouble with my horses and I don’t like my horses being troubled. That’s a good thing. Yet, I think I’ve been guilty of protecting my horses too much and not building the mental toughness that is necessary in today’s competitions. My horses need to get comfortable dealing in that realm of mental and physical pressure so that show day just becomes “another day at the office.”

For me, practically, this means asking and expecting controlled high speed and intensity in my reining circles and run-downs on a regular basis. In the cow work it means going down the fence and circling a cow more than once or twice a month or just right before a show. We cannot expect our horses to hold together at the horse show if we have not adequately prepared them at home.

O.K. What might all of this mean to you? What areas have you been staying away from in your training? Are there times that you protect your horse (And possibly yourself!) and not allow them to make a mistake? Perhaps with one of the following:

1 Asking your horse to lope

You can fill in the blank for your particular situation. That’s what I’m doing and I’m going to make the appropriate adjustments in my training program. Horses can do extraordinary things for us, yet it is our responsibility to properly prepare them to handle the pressure.

Richard Winters Horsemanship WintersRanch.com

Key Article Takeaways

Per Richard Winters: training at 75% effort, then asking 100% in the show pen, manufactures show anxiety.
Horses get worried when the show ring becomes the only place they're pushed hard.
Build pressure gradually at home so the show is just another day, not a new experience.
Confrontational training isn't required—but real pressure exposure is.
Show seasoning is what bridges the gap between training and competition under judging eyes.

Questions readers commonly ask:

What's the mistake of training at 75% effort?

Per Richard Winters: the horse never feels real pressure at home, so when the show pen demands 100%, he encounters that intensity for the first time in front of a judge. The horse becomes anxious, associates the show ring with stress, and starts resisting as soon as he sees the gate.

How do I build pressure tolerance without being confrontational?

Per Richard Winters: gradual exposure to higher-energy work at home—real speed, real stops, real spins—so the horse experiences competition-level demands repeatedly before the show. The goal is not fighting; the goal is matching the show's intensity in the practice pen.

Why does the show ring make horses anxious?

Per Richard Winters: empty arena, bright lights, judge presence, and a sudden jump from 75% to 100% effort. Horses recognize the pattern: "this is where bad things happen." Removing that pattern requires either making the show feel like home or making home feel like the show.

How long does it take to seasoned a horse for showing?

Per Richard Winters: weeks to months, depending on temperament and how much pre-existing show anxiety is present. The investment pays off across the horse's career—a seasoned show horse stays mentally available even at large events, which is what separates winners from anxious also-rans.

Should young horses go to shows before they're ready?

Per Richard Winters: not for competition, but exposure trips—hauling in, stabling overnight, riding in the warm-up pen—are valuable. Young horses need to see show grounds many times before they're asked to perform there. "Just hauling" trips are some of the best training investments a competitor can make.