At 07:21:13 on 20.03.11, KennaCaecity wrote:
I have a lot of trouble riding in front of both my parents, my older sister, and a few of my best friends. I ride well (well, my current best) when im riding alone, with an instructor, or even with other kids around the stable. But the second someone I know from outside my little horse world comes to watch, I freeze up, i get twice as nervous as i do even on stage (acting) and either i do badly because of that and/or the horse I'm riding gets nervous because i am. Any ideas for coping with nerves around only certain people? Its weird cause i can even ride alright in front of a crowd or at a show without getting too nervous, as long as those certain people aren't there.

At 20:26:40 on 20.03.11, JessAndGrenville123 wrote:
Its because you want to impress them, everyone does it, they want to show off and show how good they are to non horsey people but that is the worst thing you can do you should just relax and just do your best and not try to be better than normal. Its like you want to show your parents and friends you are as good as you say but to those strangers you have nothing to prove and your instructor/people at the yard already know how good you are so you don't have to prove nothing to them, so yeah i would just say relax and remember you don't have to impress friends and family because they will be supportive anyway

At 21:05:38 on 04.05.11, Lizzie May wrote:
I had the exact same problem (sometimes even now it effects me), I find that though you can never quite forget that they're watching, to ignore them and focus overly on feeling for your horse helps drastically, sometimes I even sing or hum to take my focus elsewhere. If they come into my line of vision, to look through them rather that at them. If you try that, it may help you too. I know these things helped me, don't let other people stop you enjoying youself. :)