| Many of us spend a lot of time convincing | | | | dressage score? Do you feel like you deserve |
| ourselves that our dreams will never come | | | | whatever you get? Focusing on negative |
| true. That we will never master the | | | | thoughts causes loss of self-esteem |
| half-pass, or jump a clear round or canter | | | | depression. If you do not respect yourself, |
| fearlessly on a hack. | | | | how can you expect your horse to respect you |
| | | | and do as you ask? |
| You can easily turn these negative thoughts | | | | |
| into positive beliefs by being you own life | | | | If you are one of those people who at |
| coach. The next time you feel destructive | | | | interviews, when asked about your qualities, |
| thoughts coming on, take a deep breath and | | | | skills, etc, rambles on about your bad |
| say, I love myself, just the way I am. I can | | | | qualities, you need to stop now. Some of us |
| and will achieve my dreams. | | | | are lost at words when it comes to speaking |
| | | | highly of ourselves. For some people this |
| Banish negativity by setting realistic horse | | | | seems selfish, or boisterous, yet it is not. |
| riding goals | | | | |
| | | | Be your own life coach. Build your personal |
| Instead of thinking negatively, think about | | | | confidence by avoiding negative thinking. |
| what you want to achieve and how you are | | | | Your riding confidence will increase in |
| going to do it. Make plans, write down your | | | | tandem. Learn to become your own best friend |
| goals, and take action to reach those goals. | | | | and give yourself frequent compliments. Stop |
| Start with something simple. Learn how to | | | | criticizing your every move, and forget about |
| clean tack properly. Learn how to ask for | | | | past mistakes and focus on your future. Know |
| canter properly. Small victories will give | | | | your weaknesses, and know your strengths, |
| you the confidence to aim for larger ones. | | | | just as you know your horse's strengths and |
| | | | failings. |
| No matter what, just say no | | | | |
| | | | Or is it your horse / trainer / equipment |
| Learn to say no. Even to your horse. In fact, | | | | that isn't good enough? |
| especially to your horse. For most of us, our | | | | |
| natural instincts lead us to help others. | | | | So many times, we do not take full |
| However, are you sacrificing your own needs | | | | responsibility of our own actions. We blame |
| to consistently take care of other peoples | | | | others for our mistakes or misfortunes. Do |
| needs, even your horse's? Or are you taking | | | | not obsess over past mistakes, but do not |
| time out of each day to pamper yourself and | | | | live in denial either. Stop blaming others |
| recharge your batteries? Maybe you are | | | | (including ou horse!) |
| spreading yourself too thin? | | | | |
| | | | We all make our share of bad choices in life. |
| If you are spreading yourself too thin, it | | | | This is a natural part of living. Learn from |
| will lead to worry, discontent and many | | | | your mistakes and move ahead. |
| sleepless nights. You will feel anxious and | | | | |
| get depressed. This will do you riding and | | | | If you are stuck in a spiral of negative |
| your horse no good. | | | | thinking and feel you cannot escape, engage |
| | | | the services of an equestrian life coach. It |
| So you aren't good enough? | | | | will without doubt be one of the most |
| | | | empowering decisions you ever make to |
| Do you tell yourslf that you are not good | | | | increase your horse riding confidence. |
| enough to jump a clear round or get a high | | | | |