My hands tighten on the reins. My helmet feels heavier than it should. And just before the chukker starts, that familiar thought creeps in: Don’t be the weak link. That’s performance anxiety—on horseback, mallet in hand, heart racing—alive and well. As an amateur polo player, I feel it most in the moments right before competitive play. The crowd fades, the horses line up, and suddenly my mind gets loud. Am I sharp enough today? Will I miss the play? Will I let my teammates do