Competition environments create significant stress for many horses, and recognizing and managing anxiety is a welfare responsibility for all competitive riders.
A horse that is chronically anxious in competition environments but continues to compete is experiencing repeated stress and welfare compromise. Recognizing the difference between normal excitement and problematic anxiety is a welfare skill that all competitive riders need. Systematic desensitization to competition stimuli, gradual introduction to show environments, and honest assessment of whether a particular horse is suited to a particular competitive discipline are welfare-positive approaches. Some horses are genuinely unsuited to the stimulation levels of certain competitive disciplines, and recognizing this is horsemanship.