It is no secret that in the horse show world, we live, eat, sleep and think about our horses all the time. While others spend their summers trying to stay cool by any means necessary, equestrians are happy to be out in the sun spending time with their beloved companions.
With so much emphasis on the horses in our lives, it is no surprise that we often find ourselves overthinking everything that involves them. Overthinking can be a negative side effect that leads to thinking about what we could have done or should have done differently. Obsessing over what we have done in the past can even rob us of the joy that is yet to be found in the present.
These five ways to stop overthinking was inspired from tips posted on the Power of Positivity Facebook Page and have been incorporated into how they relate to showing horses.
1. Focus on the Positive
Had a bad ride in the last class? It happens to all of us on any given day, however, holding grudges against your horse or yourself will only deter you from succeeding later. Though it is a common misconception that the judges will hold it against an exhibitor in upcoming events that day, this is untrue.
Focusing on the positives of each ride and learning something new along with way is a great way to stop from overthinking the entire situation. Instead of obsessing over negative thoughts, manifesting a positive mentality and concentrating on the things you did well, will help anyone who wants to stop over thinking.
2. Be at Peace
Horses feed off of their rider or handler’s energy. A rider who overthinks will automatically be tenser than someone who remains calm. While it is an overused term, keeping calm and taking deep breaths can be very helpful in these types of situations.
Whether it is the first show after a long break, a new class with a different horse or an intricate pattern with tricky elements, keeping a peaceful mentality will help to calm the rider down and in turn, calm the horse as well.
3. Focus on the Present
What is in the past remains in the past and what is in the future is in the future. Focusing on the present task at hand is one way to help from over thinking our every move. Does your show day consist of four or five classes back to back? If so, it can be easy to get ahead of ourselves and begin stressing about that last class of the day before the first has even started.
Taking things one-step at a time can be helpful by improving our focus and our chances at doing well. A rider who is too busy overthinking a false move from a prior show will be caught up in their own thoughts while instead, they could be improving their present performance.
4. Stop the Self-Sabotage
We have all done it before. We picked up one wrong diagonal in the practice pen before our class and now that is all we can think about. “I did it once, so I know it will happen again,” is a common thought after something like this happens. When we spend too much time overthinking and overanalyzing an action, whether it is positive or negative, this only reinforces it.
Thinking about what can go wrong instead of what will go right is not the correct mindset to have, especially in an industry where we rely on animals. In order to curb this habit, we can’t dwell on the difficult elements of horse showing.
Instead, focusing on the bigger pictures and put everything into perspective. In times of stress, it is easier to predict when and where things will go wrong. However, having confidence and thinking about a positive outcome will only help to succeed.
5. Get Your Mind Off of the Task at Hand
Dwelling on one specific maneuver, or over thinking one part of your ride, can often have negative consequences. Over practicing is very common in the horse world and often leads to horses becoming sour and disliking their job.
Mixing things up from time to time will not only benefit your horse, but it will also help the rider to gain a new perspective. Trying different approaches can often surprise us, especially when they work. So don’t be afraid to change up what you are doing from time to time, you and your horse just might benefit from it!
Summary
These tips can be useful for anything in your life from riding to barn work, to life outside of the horse world. Most of us probably spend more time overthinking than we realize and we get negative rewards from doing so. Remembering to banish these bad habits should lead you to seeing improvements everywhere, including in your riding abilities.
