Just Ride the Course



Photo courtesy of Sara Fogan

Regardless of how you "place" in the show,  you are already a winner
for being willing to take on a new challenge with your horse.

 

 

                Horse show season is well under way, and many riders are devoting hours to training and preparing themselves and their horses for competition. Whether you are new to showing or a seasoned competitor, it is normal to feel nervous or have performance anxiety before you enter the arena. The key to overcoming competition nerves is to transform any negative emotions into positive ones—fear into confidence, tension into relaxation, anxiety into excitement, disappointment into joy, etc. You know how hard you both have been working to get here; this is your opportunity to enjoy the rewards of your dedication. Following are some suggestions and imagery that I give to equestrians who seek hypnotherapy to overcome show anxiety and get into a positive mindset so they and their equine partner can perform well in their competition.

·         Be sure to drink plenty of water, avoid caffeine and eat nutritious food with protein on the day of the show. Good nutrition keeps the body strong, and protein is a natural mood stabilizer. Avoid overloading on carbohydrates, which can lower blood sugar and thus influence mood and anxiety levels.

·         Tune out any negative discussion, comments and analysis about your previous rides that you may overhear. These things have already happened. They are in the past. It is time to focus on the dressage test, reining pattern, course, etc. that you are riding now.

·         While you wait for your turn to compete, take a minute or two to tap into how confident, enthusiastic and joyful you feel when you are having a very good ride. Allow your mind and body to feel the sensation of your horse’s muscles working beneath you and the fluidity of your own body moving with his. The perfect timing, cadence, rhythm, tempo and power of each motion brings a smile to your lips, and you feel a surge of confidence and excitement in your knowledge that you can and will ride like this again.

·         Once you have a good image of this experience in your mind, draw a slow, deep breath and feel the power, excitement and confidence that you have when you are riding well. Press or rub the thumb and index (pointing) finger of either hand to lock in or “anchor” these positive emotions. Release any lingering negative emotions/negative self-talk or doubt as you exhale that breath. Continue to practice this breathing exercise as needed until it is time to enter the arena.

·         Give yourself permission to allow your body to do what it already knows how to do. You and your horse have ridden these patterns or soared over similar obstacles thousands of times at home and in other competitions. Your body knows how to do each of these things, so keep your mind/thoughts out if your body’s way.

·         Allow your body to flow with your horse as you ride. As you remember to breathe in a normal, relaxed way you are becoming more confident and trust your ability to ride this test or course well. You are becoming more confident and trust your horse’s ability to do his work well, too.  

·         As you ride, focus on what you are asking your horse to do. Notice how well he is listening to your aids as your body flows with his during the event. Enjoy how you feel as you and your horse transition up and down between movements in the test, clear obstacles, etc. You can and do tune out every other sensation (sound, smell, sight) as you focus on what you are doing with your horse at during these moments.

·         Remember that you are competing in this show because you have earned the right to be there. Perhaps your trainer suggested that you and your horse are ready to take on this first horse show as a new challenge in your journey as an equestrian. If you and your horse are about to do your first Grand Prix jumping course, you know that this competition is the obvious next step in your training and competition goals. And if you are competing in a regional, state or national championship, you have also earned the right to be there through the various events you have won in the past year to qualify for this championship. Congratulations!

·         You ride because you love horses and riding, and how good you feel when you are doing what you love. You compete because you want to share this love with other people who love horses, too. Whether you bring home a trophy, medal or a ribbon, you are already a winner for being willing to take on a new challenge with your horse.

I hope these suggestions help you to relax and enjoy competing with your horse. I am not a riding instructor, and I encourage everyone to consult with a trainer or instructor to resolve riding and horse-related issues. However, I have found from personal experience as well as my hypnotherapy work with other equestrians that setting positive expectations for a good ride is the most effective way to achieve that goal. For more information about my hypnotherapy work with equestrians, please contact me via my website at www.calminsensehypnotherapy.com.

 

 

Sara R. Fogan, C.Ht. is a certified hypnotherapist based in Southern California. She graduated with honors from the Hypnosis Motivation Institute in 2005. For more information about Calminsense Hypnotherapy® and to set up an appointment, please visit http://www.calminsensehypnotherapy.com/.

© 2014