This study aimed to understand if non-elite and elite dressage riders view pre-competition anxiety as facilitating or debilitating and the reasons behind this. Participants (27.4 ± 8.4) were spilt into non-elite (n=5) and elite (n=5) categories and took part in one semi-structured interview answering questions related to the topic. Following this, transcription took place with a thematic analysis to establish key themes. Three main themes were established: (1) self-confidence; (2) pressure; and (3) motivation. Self-confidence had a more debilitating effect on pre-competition anxiety in non-elite riders due to lower mastery levels. Pressure was deemed facilitating to pre-competition anxiety to a certain extent in both groups to reach the optimal arousal levels for performance. When being watched by others, the pressure caused higher pre-competition anxiety in non-elite riders and became debilitating. Both groups had intrinsic motivation levels which could result in increased anxiety when the basic needs of self-determination weren’t fulfilled. Elite riders had extrinsic motivation levels which was mainly because of their career, sponsors and owners’ which caused higher levels of pre-competition anxiety which at times could be debilitating. When pre-competition anxiety was debilitating this was likely because of somatic anxiety which negatively affect the horse-rider interaction. Findings provide an initial start to pre-competition anxiety in dressage, however further research is required.
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