AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ANXIETY AND

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between anxiety and performance amongst horse riders during a dressage competition via a qualitative approach. Method: Six recreational horse riders were interviewed alongside a dressage test score sheet provided by the participants. Semi-structured interviews were carried out to gather information about participant’s anxiety and performance of both the horse and rider at different sections of a dressage competition. Results and Conclusions: The findings of the study highlighted that when anxiety was high, performance was negatively affected and when anxiety was low, performance was at its greatest. It was identified the importance of the influence both the horse and rider had on one another as each one’s anxiety was easily translated through to one another, causing a negative effect to performance as a whole. It was therefore taken into consideration the challenging role a rider has to be able to control the horse’s anxiety as well as their own