Psych Saturday: Show Prep

When we talk about show prep, most people picture a checklist. Pack the tack trunk, polish the boots, braid the mane, review the test. Maybe we also think about our pre-ride routine, how we like to warm up or the way we visualize the course. Those things matter, but they only scratch the surface of what true preparation really means.

Equestrian sport is unique in that we don’t just bring ourselves to the show ring—we bring our horses, their needs, their emotions, their readiness. And we also bring our lives. Every late night, every work stressor, every family responsibility rides along with us. The state of our nervous system can shape the show experience far more than whether we remembered to pack an extra pair of gloves.

This weekend, Justin and his horse, Kola, are heading into a licensed Working Equitation show. The goal: earn the qualifying score they need for the USA Working Equitation Regional Championships. The stakes feel high, and Justin has done all the obvious prep—tack cleaned, entries sent, Kola fit and ready. But the real preparation is happening on a deeper level.

When we step into competition, our nervous systems don’t function in isolation. They carry the imprint of the week, or even the month, leading up to the show. Maybe Justin had a long week at work. Maybe family pressures or unexpected stressors cropped up. 

When our nervous systems are revved up our perception changes. We often filter the world through a negative lens. For Justin, walking into the arena isn’t just about his aids or the shape of Kola’s circles. It’s about whether he can notice the good moments, the quiet tries, and the rhythm they share, or whether his nervous system keeps scanning for what might go wrong.

So what does real preparation look like? Of course, it includes the list, the clean tack, the packed snacks, the warm-up plan. But it also includes caring for the yourself. For Justin, that might mean five minutes of grounding before tacking up, or reframing the stakes: yes, the qualifying score matters, but what matters more is riding in a way that Kola can trust.

Preparation also means compassion. If the week was hectic, Justin can acknowledge that reality instead of fighting it. He can notice that his nervous system is more sensitive, and plan accordingly, simplifying his warm-up, focusing on connection rather than perfection. That kind of awareness is preparation in its own right.

As Justin and Kola step into the arena this weekend, their partnership will reflect not only hours of practice, but the totality of their shared life context. If Justin carries stress but softens his edges, Kola will feel it. If he braces against imagined mistakes, Kola will feel that too.

The truth is, show prep doesn’t start the night before. It starts weeks, even months, in advance. Every time we choose how to meet life’s stressors, care for ourselves, and honor the partnership we’re prepping. The bigger picture always comes with us, and learning to integrate that truth is part of the art of being an equestrian.

This weekend, Justin is riding for a qualifying score. But in another sense, he’s riding for something bigger: the ability to show up fully present with Kola, even in the midst of pressure, nerves, and life’s inevitable chaos. That’s a form of preparation that no checklist can capture, but it’s the kind that matters most. ~ Paul

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