| Horse quotes, equestrian quotes, dressage quotes, | | | | negative affirmation. Both statements determine the |
| words of wisdom from the masters of classical riding: | | | | emotional state you are in and affects you confidence |
| a single sentence can change the way you look at | | | | levels. |
| horses and horse riding forever. | | | | We can use affirmations to improve our riding, our |
| Horse quotes and horse riding quotes can be inspiring, | | | | relationship with our horse, our ability to perform under |
| heart-warming, educational or amusing. Educational | | | | stress. Affirmations are used successfully in all areas |
| quotes can make us think, comical ones can make us | | | | of personal growth and self improvement. |
| laugh and when the quote touches on a subject close | | | | It is estimated that an average person has 10,000 |
| to our hearts, it can even bring a tear or two to our | | | | thoughts or images flashing through his mind each day. |
| eyes. | | | | At least half of these thoughts are negative, such as "I |
| Reading quotes and marveling about how accurate | | | | struggle to learn new riding skills. I learn much slower |
| and true they are is entertaining, but could they possibly | | | | now than when I was younger. My memory is getting |
| have a more influential effect or our personal riding | | | | worse and worse!" Unharnessed, a steady dose of |
| experience? Could a quote really make a difference to | | | | worry and negative thoughts can severely damage |
| how well you ride, on how effortlessly you interact | | | | your self-esteem. |
| with your horse? | | | | For an affirmation to be effective, it has to conform to |
| To master the art of classical riding, physical practice is | | | | certain requirements. It has to be stated in the positive, |
| not enough. Mental training is as important as physical | | | | present tense and in the first person. They should also |
| training if you truly want to learn how to communicate | | | | contain an emotional and visual component. |
| flawlessly with your horse. This is not a new discovery, | | | | An example of a good affirmation is: Using these |
| far from it, the concept was familiar to horseback | | | | principles an affirmation may look like the following: "It is |
| riders and trainers more than a thousand years ago. | | | | deeply satisfying (emotional) that I (personal) respond |
| Modern Masters confirm this belief in no uncertain | | | | (present tense) with wisdom, love, firmness, and |
| terms. There are endless examples of equestrian | | | | self-control (positive) when my horse misbehaves." |
| quotes validating this statement. One of the most | | | | But how does horse quotes fit into this equation? |
| impressive and most complete is this one from | | | | Equestrian quotes can form the foundation of |
| Charles de Knuffy: "Horsemanship is not merely a | | | | extremely effective and influential affirmations. The |
| matter of bodily skills, but is based on scholarship and, | | | | same quote can have different effects on different |
| therefore, is a matter of the mind and intellect. Good | | | | people. The secret is to choose a quote that means a |
| horsemanship is based on proper character | | | | lot to you personally, and transform it according to the |
| development and, therefore, is also a matter of | | | | rules above into your own personal power-affirmation. |
| mentality and spirit. Without the correct attitudes and | | | | Take the following quote: "The smell of hay, leather |
| insights, there cannot be the right sport." | | | | and saddle soap immediately transports me back to |
| But what have quotes got to do with mental training? | | | | the stables where I learned to ride as a child, bringing |
| Affirmations is one of the techniques that have been | | | | with them a warm glow of happiness and excitement." |
| used for decades to change human behaviour. An | | | | Whenever you feel stressed or tired, cheer yourself |
| affirmation is an emphatic statement that you make to | | | | up with a similar affirmation. Remind yourself of a time |
| yourself. Everyone uses affirmations, intentionally or | | | | when you felt happy, excited, motivated and positive. |
| unintentionally. You wake up in the morning, jump out of | | | | Create your affirmation in the present tense, make it |
| bed and exclaim "I am a great rider". That is a positive | | | | personal, emotional, and visual. |
| affirmation. Or you drag yourself out of bed in the | | | | Quotes can be used in many different ways to enrich |
| morning and whimper "I am a rotten rider". That is a | | | | your riding experience. |