| One thing I have learnt during my | | | | Be grateful for everything you have |
| struggles to become a better horseback | | | | achieved so far, no matter how small and |
| rider is definitely non-negotiable: | | | | insignificant a goal it was. Get a |
| Whatever it is that you want to achieve | | | | gratitude attitude |
| with your horse and your riding, there | | | | 7. Goal setting |
| is one fundamental concept you have to | | | | Your self-esteem, awareness, ability to |
| accept in all its complexity: you have | | | | communicate with horses and people, |
| to exercise you mind with as much | | | | energy and happiness can all be |
| diligence as you exercise your body. | | | | amplified by your use of goal setting. |
| There is a vast variety of mental | | | | This type of confidence-building takes |
| exercises at the thinking rider's | | | | time, although the sense of achievement |
| disposal: mental rehearsal, anchoring, | | | | when you reach that elusive star, is an |
| resourceful state induction, eradicating | | | | instantaneous confidence booster. So aim |
| limiting beliefs with affirmations, | | | | for the moon, if you miss it you will |
| reframing, perceptual positioning and | | | | still land amongst the stars. |
| many more...at least one to suit every | | | | 8. Reframing |
| rider, though most riders prefer to use | | | | In reframing you choose what an event |
| their own combination of techniques. The | | | | will mean to you and how you are going |
| following ten are some of the greatest | | | | to respond to it emotionally. After a |
| confidence boosters for horseback | | | | dressage test you can focus |
| riders. | | | | intentionally on what went well, instead |
| 1. Start by accepting yourself exactly | | | | of every little thing that went wrong. |
| as you are. | | | | Usually we tend to maximise our |
| You are good enough exactly as you are | | | | blunders, even if they are by far in the |
| now. That does not mean that there is no | | | | minority. Often we are blind and deaf to |
| room for improvement, just that you are | | | | our own successes. |
| perfectly acceptable in whatever state | | | | 9. Get rid of limiting beliefs |
| or condition you are right now. And | | | | Most of us have very rigid ideas of who |
| while you are at it, give your horse a | | | | we are, what we can or can't do, what we |
| break and accept him too - just as he is | | | | do or don't believe about horses and |
| now. | | | | riding, about instructors and farriers |
| 2. Mental rehearsal | | | | and vets. Very few of us are willing to |
| Athletes every where use this technique | | | | adjust our beliefs even in the face of |
| to prepare themselves form competitions. | | | | overwhelming evidence to the contrary. |
| Imagining and fine tuning every step of | | | | Instead of changing our beliefs, we get |
| their performance results in a | | | | even more entrenched in our comfort |
| dramatically enhanced outcome. | | | | zone, and decide instead to find some |
| 3. Installing anchors | | | | one or something else to blame: our |
| An anchor is a stimulus that generates a | | | | horse, for example. Or the weather, |
| specific state of mind. For example, | | | | another rider, the course planner, the |
| touching a thumb to an index finger | | | | trainer, our instructor etc. etc. |
| while holding the reins could be an | | | | 10. Discover your learning style and |
| anchor that will make you feel more | | | | stage |
| confident in the saddle. | | | | Your mental fitness determines how |
| 4. Journaling | | | | efficiently you learn; how easily you |
| Keeping a journal or training can be a | | | | remember new information and master new |
| powerful confidence booster. When you | | | | skills. How effectively you can use your |
| feel as if your training is going | | | | brain to achieve the goals you aim for |
| nowhere, you can look back at past | | | | is subject to your level of mental |
| achievements to remind yourself that one | | | | fitness. |
| often feel discouraged just before one's | | | | Start your mental fitness program today. |
| greatest breakthroughs. | | | | You get mentally fit in exactly the same |
| 5. Hypnosis | | | | way as you get fit physically. By |
| The power of suggestion to the | | | | exercising your mental muscles. Daily, |
| sub-conscious mind can not be neglected. | | | | preferably. Otherwise as often as you |
| I believe it is an essential supplement | | | | can find time. The fitter you are |
| to the thinking rider's mental toolkit. | | | | mentally, the more spectacular the |
| 6. Practice Gratitude | | | | increase in your confidence. |