Harnessing the power of the mind can dramatically improve performance, hence the take-up of sports psychology among elite riders. Catherine Waterfall finds out how it can benefit grassroots competitors

Professor Moira Lafferty on helping riders be their best, holding up a flight at Heathrow and travelling the world

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Competition nerves take on a whole new character when it’s not you in the saddle, but your child. Eleanor Jones finds out how parents suffer for the sake of their offspring’s sport

Research has found that nosebands are not too tight but that horses’ signs of stress increase with competition level

The ideal warm-up will be perfectly executed to produce success in the ring – but horses aren’t machines. Ellie Hughes finds out how to cope when the warm-up throws you a curveball