Confidence – A Must Have for Your Riding Success

Rider Confidence – Do you have it or do you lack it?

I think it’s kind of like being pregnant. You either have it or you don’t.

Have you seen that rider in the ring who maybe doesn’t have the ability or knowledge go into a competition and put down a great round?

And then be followed by someone who is a well taught, technical rider who flubs up?

What’s the difference?
CONFIDENCE

That first rider is confident in their skill/ability and has a positive confident mindset.

Why would a well trained, knowledgeable rider fall apart at a horse show or clinic?

It’s your M I N D S E T.

Don’t underestimate how important your midset is.

What is a Mindset?

How does your mindset affect you. According to this article – The Mindset Advantage How Your Mental State Affects Your Behavior and Performance:

What you believe affects what you achieve. Your attitude and your perspectives are part conscious and part unconscious and can be learned, unlearned, programmed and reprogrammed in a variety of different ways. A simple change of mind can help you become your best self.

Thomas Oppong – Mission.org

To me this means if you would like to boost your confidence then you have to start by boosting your confidence, from within.

This hit home one day when I was reading a “self help” book. The book said how would, or, do you feel on the eve before heading out on vacation. Your mind is full of the wonderful things you will be doing and the fun activities you look forward to. You’re generally happy.

Contrast that to Sunday evening after your vacay and you are steeling yourself to head back to work.

Not so happy.

That is a mindset.

And guess what? You have the ability to create your mindset.

You have the ability to make a positive or a negative out of it.

When your emotions and thoughts are habitual, a neural network is formed that regulates your mindset. It literally keeps you in place. The habit becomes effortless over time.

thomas oppong Mission.org

Boosting Your Confidence

Building and boosting your horse riding confidence is the same sort of mindset.

Technical ability aside, because you do have to have some technical ability, your confidence is directly linked to your mindset.

“Whether you think you can or think you can’t — you’re right”.

~Henry Ford

So wouldn’t it be better to focus on “you can”. Remember the “Little Engine That Could”? That great American fairy tale that showed generations of children that optimism and hard work will get you up that hill.

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Focusing on what might go wrong has a negative impact on your horse.

Those synapses which trigger your movements will be fighting against those negative thoughts of what could go wrong.

So rather than focusing on the bad, keep your mind active with the good things that will happen.

If you block yourself with negative thoughts like, “I knew s/he was going to do that”, it’s difficult to actually feel and to ride what your horse is doing at this moment.

If you are being REACTIVE to your horse’s actions you are not setting the table to prepare yourself and your horse for what you would LIKE to have happen. That is, you have stopped riding and are just reacting to what has happened.

You are letting things happen rather than C O N T R O L I N G or guiding what is going to happen.

To prevent this from happening, be PRO-ACTIVE.

Try to anticipate and plan what will happen.

Look forward.

Ride forward.

Prepare yourself and your horse.

Pay attention to what is really happening and what you would like to have happen.

Would you like to ride evenly around the turn and maintain the rhythm to the jump?

H E L L Ya!

So focus on the good.

That will help you to feel less anxious about your riding.

Stress and negativity also releases hormones which can be a downer as well. They surround you with negative thoughts so it is doubley difficult to raise yourself above the negativity because you are swimming in it.

If you think of good thought, look for positive outcomes something else happens.

Your body reacts with different hormones which can shape a positive outlook and a better day.

Don’t Worry About the Outcome

Do you worry about your riding, points, ribbons and accolades when you are out hacking?

Concerning yourself with the outcome is another layer of stress you can do without.

Just as you enjoy yourself when you are riding out. So should you enjoy yourself when you are in the show ring.

When you are enjoying your horse, you are less stressed and have more fun and this boosts your confidence.

If you are worried about what next steps you should take and it stresses you out, enlist the services of a trainer or coach. One that will help you understand what you would like to accomplish (your goals) and helps you to enjoy the journey, rather than stressing out about the accomplishments.

Don’t Worry about What Others Think

Public-itis! That’s what I call it.

The overwhelming fear that can happen when you step in front of other people.

I know that some people even hate riding in front of others in a riding lesson.

I also know people who like to show off and perform well in front of others.

Here’s a tip for you –

People are more concerned about themselves than they are about you.

So don’t worry about it!

Keep your blinders on. And don’t concern yourself with what others around you are doing.

You have to do what is meaningful to you. If you compare yourself to others it will lead to your own demise.

If someone does have nothing positive to say to you, move on. More than likely they will move on to find someone else to bash soon enough.

PRO-TIP – Ride for your own enjoyment.

And remember the people who care about you, the ones who know how much sweat and love you have put into this sport will support you even if you are having an off day.

Leave Your Stress Behind

Your horse is affected by your own personal stresses.

If you hold your breath.

The tension in your shoulders,

The where is the money going to come from stress.

Or,

the what am I going to tell my boss/husband/wife/boy/girlfriend/spouse?

PRO-TIP – Leave your stress at the barn door.

You can leave it there permanently or if it is something you need to keep, pick it up on your way back out of the stable. Just remember, your horse can feel your stress.

STOP – Take a breath or two and get yourself undercontrol. Because all the horse knows is that there is a ball of tension up there and the horse is trying to understand what to do with it.

Riding with Confidence

Confidence meet Riding. Riding I’d like to introduce you to Confidence.

Wouldn’t if be nice to have an introduction so you could meet face to face and call Confidence up when you need them?

Here are a few tips to help you summon Confidence.

1. Usually everyone needs a boost now and then.
   You are not alone.
   It would be rediculous to think that McLain Ward doesn’t, at least once in a while, need someone to say, “Hey that was great”.
   They have entire teams of people helping them cope with the stress of competition and their niggling own self doubt. Not that I am saying that he is having any doubt, but, he is human and most people, at least sometime in their lives, need a small boost sometime.
   
2. Take baby steps.
   How cliche is that. Baby steps.
   If you are used to riding in an enclosed area and would like to master galloping cross country, then taking the horse out for a gallop may not be the best confidence booster if you are a bit timid.
   Start with baby steps.
   Walk or cool your horse out in an open field.
   or
   take a lesson on a quiet seasoned horse and work your way up to a controled canter in an open space.
   There is no right way to do this but there is a safe way. Once you feel confident in step 1. Then move to step 2. But don’t go from step 1. to step 7. That is a recipe for lost confidence.
   
   
3. Breathe.
   Breathing is not an option.
   It is a necessity. Without oxygen you will perish.
   Start by releasing tension with long, slow breaths. As if you were blowing out candles on a cake.
   This is the best way to release tension and to re-establish your focus. If you are spiralling on stressful thoughts combat it by taking the tension away from the spiral and refocus on your breathing.
   The feel of the cool air through your nostrils.
   The way your lungs fill with air.
   Big sigh out.
   This just refocuses you on breathing and prevents your from holding your breath.
   
4. Invest in a trainer or coach that can help you.
   If you are unsure where you are going or what you can do then don’t be afraid to enlist the help of a trainer or coach that can design a program for you to systematically bring your to your next level of success.
   
5. Try not to be perfect.
   Perfection is an enemy of your riding confidence.
   Sometimes it is good to be “good enough”.
   Remember that there will be room for improvement. There may be opportunity to shave time off of a Jump-Off.
   Or
   Get that perfect take-off spot.
   But
   Sometimes being good enough and enjoying the ride is really what you (and the judge) are looking for.
   

PRO-TIP – Look for the good, not for the perfect.

Write in your journal or discuss with your trainer/coach 1 – 3 things you did really well. Maybe not perfect, just REALLY well.

And then,

Discuss 1 – 3 things your horse did REALLY well.

Focus on those things. And let the good things drive you forward rather than the poor things.

Focusing on the good things will help develop that positive mindset so you can progress faster and reach your goals.

CONSULTING

I work with equestrians of all types to help them improve their riding and training and win more ribbons and accomplish their goals.

You can learn more about that here.

or if you’d like to discuss in more detail how I can help you, please email me. I’d love to hear from you.

Thanks,

~Laura

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