Life is funny sometimes. If I just sit back and watch things happen, I am able to spot a trend. In the last month or two, my inbox has delivered ‘messages’ to me that pertain to rider effectiveness. These emails came from various sources that created a list of traits and attributes of effective riders. Once I took off my “dunce” cap, I realized that the universe was telling me that I needed to put together a list of my own. So I did, and here it is.
With the Major Show Season in full swing, we may feel like our personal pressure cooker has been cranked up a notch or two. While some people like Nik Wallenda love high stress situations and can walk on a tightrope over the Grand Canyon, some of us may need a few practical tips to ensure that we come out of a high pressure situation un-cracked and intact.
Some people would say the only things that are certain in life are death
and taxes. I would argue to say the only thing certain in life is
uncertainty. Given the recent happenings in Oklahoma over the past few
weeks, it made me realize that so many things in our horse show world
are uncertain and out of our control.
Last September, I wrote “When is Enough, Enough?” and I am still getting feedback from that article. I figured you may not have had enough of the topic, so here is Part Two. People start showing horses for many reasons. Many people start showing because it’s a family affair while others get into showing when their love and passion for horses leads them to enter competitions. No matter the reason, people show because of the feelings they get when they participate.
Now that AQHA Leveling and the New Novice Rules are in place, you may find yourself in a position to try a new class or two. After all, learning new things can be fun and exciting, right? However, if you find yourself feeling like a dog stuck with the same old tricks, these tips will help straighten out your learning curve and have you loving your new event in no time.
Resolutions are not my favorite method of goal setting. In fact, one of my very first articles for GoHorseShow was about that topic. However, if you want to give them a try this year, here are some tips that may come in handy. Most resolutions don’t work because they are too lofty, vague, and are should do’s as opposed to want to’s. On top of that, they remind us of what we don’t have and this creates a huge internal conflict.
Recently at a horse show, I overheard a few people venting about how they
placed - or didn’t place - in their classes, and that they were going to hang
up their spurs and stop showing. I know that is how they felt in the heat of the
moment, and I don’t really think they will never show again, but that got me
thinking...When is it time to call it quits? When is enough, enough?
Summer is officially here, and while most people think of summer as a
break from school and maybe a family vacation, to the horse show
diehards, it is Youth World Show Season. For some people, it will be
their first time at a breed world show, and for others, it will be the
last time they show as a youth, and perhaps the last time they show at
all.
Visualization is probably the most popular ‘go-to’ move for sports
consultants. In fact, I even wrote an article about it two years ago.
However, with the latest research in Neuroscience, I thought it might be
interesting to take a look at the basic principles of visualization and
give them a bit of a makeover.
It’s Crunchtime! Yes, it is. Qualifying deadlines are quickly approaching and the
major spring and summer shows are now on the horizon. I get that April may seem
a bit premature to think about World Shows in June, July and August, but getting in
Major Show Shape is not something that can be microwaved. If you are really
serious about getting your body and mind to perform at their best, today is the
day to get started.
If you are like most people, you may find that you
spend a lot of time dwelling on what's not working instead of what is. Before
you decide you are destined to be a Debby or Donald Downer, you may want to try
these simple exercises designed to bring out your Inner Pollyanna.
There has been a running joke in our house about the hours
spent watching horse shows online for the last 5 weeks. I think about how long trainers and
horses have been on the road, knowing about the stress of competition, the
long hours and odd schedules that they keep.
All that has me wondering…
Certified Sport Consultant, Kirsten Farris, has written on numerous topics for GoHorseShow.com. With the added stress of the Congress, APHA and AQHA World Shows, the relationship between Trainer and Client will most likely be tested. Farris believes that the relationship between riders and trainers is similar to a marriage. Hear each side of the story from a fictitious Client and Trainer and then from the "Marriage" Counselor.
Last November, I had the opportunity to show my horse, Lyles Al Lie, at the World Show in Amateur Hunter Under Saddle. If you are short on time, or don’t dwell on the past, I can quickly summarize it for you--I choked in the finals. After the finals in 2010, I vowed to myself, my family that I would learn from that experience.
If I had a dollar for every time a client asked me how they
could get their lost confidence back, I would be sitting on a beach in Tahiti
instead of writing this article. Most people seem to think that confidence is
all or none; you have it or you don’t. Once you understand what confidence
really is, you can create it any time you want, which beats trying to find
something that was not really lost in the first place.