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Kirsten Farris - Psychology

Seven Habits of Highly Effective Riders by Kirsten Farris

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.



Kirsten Farris: On Finding Success with Personal Accountability

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.



Kirsten Farris: On Living a Life of Uncertainty

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.



Showing Horses is Important to Me Because…

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.


Kirsten Farris Teaches You How to Master A New Class

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.


Kirsten Farris’ New Year’s Resolution Solution

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.


Kirsten Farris Asks, “When is enough, enough?”

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?


Tips for Making Your Last World Show Your Best

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 and Mental Rehearsal Makeover with Kirsten Farris

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.



Get In Major Show Shape With Help From Kirsten Farris

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.



Decrease Stress and Increase Happiness In and Out of the Arena

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.

Exhausted At the End of Show Season? Kirsten Farris Can Help

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…

Do You and Your Trainer Need Couples Therapy?

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.


Learning From Last Year’s Disappointment

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.

Confidence Lost? Here’s How to Find It

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.


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