The 30 Minutes Before Your Round: Mental Mistakes Every Rider Must Avoid

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23/04/2026

The mental coaching column by Horseshowjumping.tv was created with a clear objective: to help riders improve their sporting performance by working not only on technique, but also on mental preparation. Because in show jumping, the difference between a good round and a truly effective one is often decided in the mind.

In this article, we focus on a crucial moment: the 30 minutes before competing—a phase that is often underestimated, yet decisive for entering the arena with clarity, focus, and confidence.

MISTAKES TO AVOID BEFORE YOUR ROUND:

The other day, a rider called me just before getting on her horse and said:
“I’m panicking! I can’t think straight anymore!”

I replied calmly:
“Alright dear, what happened?”

“Nothing in particular… I watched all the riders before me compete, and now I don’t feel good enough. I’m afraid I’ll mess everything up.”

She then added:
“Now I keep watching the others, going over the course, thinking about not making mistakes… but the more I think about it, the more anxious I get.”

“Yes, I understand. It’s easy to fall into this mental and emotional state before a competition. Let’s work through it now…”

We worked together over the phone for about ten minutes, helping her regain calm, reconnect with herself, and restore her focus and confidence.

Has this ever happened to you?

If you’ve found yourself in a similar situation, keep in mind:

The problem is not the competition
The problem is not the course
The problem is the lack of mental preparation before competing

This rider, without even realizing it, had made several mental mistakes in the 30 minutes leading up to getting in the saddle, ultimately ending up in a state of complete mental chaos.

All that confusion was created in those very 30 minutes before the round.

These minutes are crucial: they can help you enter a state of peak concentration or, on the contrary, lead you toward anxiety and tension. It all depends on how you manage them.

You are the one who decides how to approach them, which is why it’s essential to learn how to handle them properly.

In the previous article, we explored some mental warm-up exercises to do before getting in the saddle.

Today, instead, we’ll look at the main mistakes to avoid before your round.

1. Spending too much time around the showgrounds

If you wander around the competition venue for too long, you’ll reach your turn already mentally drained, with a tired and less sharp mind.

2. Watching other riders too much

Constantly observing others makes you lose focus on yourself. You start comparing yourself, which often leads to feeling less capable and increases insecurity. As a result, tension and anxiety rise, compromising your concentration.

3. Focusing too much on the outcome

If you concentrate only on the result, you increase pressure and anxiety. Your mind shifts into the future, and you lose the mind-body connection. You end up neglecting the technical details of what you actually need to do.

4. Spending too much time on social media before competing

Endless scrolling drains mental energy, increases distraction and agitation. A fragmented attention span makes it harder to focus before and during your round.

5. Not having a clear pre-competition routine

Without a routine, you become reactive to everything happening around you, losing focus and being at the mercy of your emotions. The mind needs structure to feel secure.

6. Surrounding yourself with anxious people

Being around anxious individuals means absorbing tension and negativity, increasing stress and the risk of losing clarity.

7. Rehearsing the course obsessively

Repeating the course over and over doesn’t clarify your mind—it confuses it, increasing the likelihood of mistakes.

8. Repeating dysfunctional phrases to yourself

Phrases like “I mustn’t forget the course” trigger fear and insecurity, undermining confidence and focus.

9. Asking yourself unhelpful questions

Questions like “Why can’t I do it?” shift your focus onto problems and weaknesses, reducing confidence and performance.

10. Poor nutrition

An improper diet can negatively affect both physical and mental energy, making you feel sluggish or depleted.

11. Not drinking enough water

Dehydration reduces clarity and concentration, increasing mental fatigue and the likelihood of errors.