Calming Competitive Anxiety

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262 – July, 2025

By William Given

Looks can be deceiving. Beneath the smile and veneer of control, even an experienced junior handler with a nice winning record may get a case of the jitters before going into the juniors’ ring. It is the same sort of competitive anxiety that plagues many of us adults who compete in the conformation ring. Some highly experienced owner-handlers and even professionals, I imagine, have learned to use those stomach-churning sensations to their advantage. Instead of allowing negative thoughts and feelings to overwhelm and negatively impact their handling in the ring, they productively channel the negative energy.

Almost anyone can experience some level of competitive anxiety and whether you are young or older, amateur or professional, it is normal. If you are the type of person who gets a bit nervous before a show, you are just one of many. I encourage you to accept it, even embrace it, learn to work through it, and use it as an asset.

Competitive anxiety may manifest in many different forms including shortness of breath, an upset stomach, headaches, general tension throughout the body, or even an uncharacteristic silence or chattiness. Some young people will feel the anxiety begin to build when they wake up the morning of a show, while others may not experience a case of nerves until entering the show venue or immediately prior to entering the juniors’ ring.

Click here to read the complete article
262 – July, 2025

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