EQUINE
Performance Anxiety
Kathie Gregory explains how she helped her horse, Star, overcome her anxiety over hoof
Y
trims by removing the pressure from the situation and using positive reinforcement
ou could be forgiven for thinking this article will focus on how horses cope with the demands of performance, how to reduce anxiety, and how to improve results. Performance anxiety in the arena is well documented, with many positive strategies available to help both rider and horse relax and give their best, whatever discipline they participate in. What is less often realized is that there are often many situations during everyday life when performance anxiety also comes into play. Essentially, it comes down to feeling pressured when asked to do something. This is often in conjunction with an expectation that a specific, and therefore correct, result should be achieved the first time. Having spent time practicing, we expect to perform to our best ability, for example, when taking a dressage test. However, most of us apply this criteria and standard to many of our interactions with our horse, regardless of whether we have trained for a specific response, or the circumstances in which we ask ourselves and our horse to perform. We feel we are being judged in so many situations and continually put pressure on ourselves to perform. It can be particularly apparent when we are teaching in a way that is considered different to standard, familiar methods. This makes us feel pressured and we become anxious: What will others think of our methods? What if our horse does not respond? What if getting a response takes too long? How do we deal with these issues? These are all valid questions to ask ourselves. People such as the vet and the farrier need to get the job done in a timely manner. They do not have a lot of time, and waiting for as long as it takes for a horse to respond is not always viable; something we are well aware of. But knowing this creates a problem because we think our horse must do what is needed immediately. We are now in a state of anxiety, and sometimes embarrassed at the thought of not being good enough to achieve what is asked. It also undermines our confidence as, if we do not get the result we need, we think it will reinforce the 54
BARKS from the Guild/November 2016
other person's perception that what we are doing is not effective. We have set ourselves up with performance anxiety before the vet or farrier even arrives! But if you ask, both vet and farrier are usually more than happy to give your horse time to settle. We are often the ones who feel we must not take up their time, and Star would become have everything ready anxious about having to raise her feet for in an instant. the farrier This state of mind affects how we interact with our horse, and the decisions we make at the time. The result of feeling this way changes our tone of voice and body language. Our horse will be aware of these changes. If we feel anxious it does not always cause the horse to worry, but he is more likely to do so when coupled with the other elements of the situation. We find ourselves asking the horse to do something different, use a new word for a familiar movement, or try to get him to respond immediately, asking again if he does not. This obviously has an impact on the horse, putting him in a situation he cannot handle, which causes him to feel anxious and unsure of what to do. He is now much less able to do what we ask, feels less confident, and also suffers from performance anxiety. That, in turn, makes us feel less confident. We then compound our feelings by thinking we have failed, and our abilities are lacking. Some people even think that perhaps forcefree is not possible, and they will have to go back to traditional methods as they lack the support they need to feel confident in what they are doing. This is not accurate, however. Support for working force-free may not come from those close to you, or those who work with your horse, but support is out there, you just need to find it. There is a huge force-free community of owners and professionals who can support and guide you on this journey.Your horse may not be good at standing for the farrier, but that is just one small part of his life. We put this type of activity on a pedestal, as if it is the most important. Obviously, if your horse needs veterinary or farrier attention then it is important, but you do not have to be perfect in that situation. Most of life is a journey of learning, and rarely do we to get it