| There are several mental strategies you can use to | | | | conflicting demands on your time that is part of |
| build or restore your horse riding confidence. The | | | | modern living. Good organisation and time |
| following ten are particularly effective. | | | | management do make things so much easier and |
| "Horsemanship is not merely a matter of bodily skills, | | | | safer. |
| but is based on scholarship and, therefore, is a matter | | | | 5. Resuscitate your sense of humour |
| of the mind and intellect. Good horsemanship is based | | | | Set aside some time to spend on anything that makes |
| on proper character development and, therefore, is | | | | you laugh: a good movie, book, stand-up comic, |
| also a matter of mentality and spirit. Without the | | | | friends...some riders even have horses that can make |
| correct attitudes and insights, there cannot be the right | | | | them laugh! |
| sport." - Charles de Knuffy | | | | 6. Be prepared |
| 1. Be flexible | | | | Being prepared is a bit like being organised, except |
| Always be prepared to change your viewpoint, even | | | | being prepared involves you in actively planning and |
| radically so if you encounter evidence that prove that | | | | preparing for a challenging event. Much better to be |
| you may have been wrong in you assumptions, | | | | over-prepare, that to risk your or your horses safety. |
| whether it is about horses, riding or training. It sounds so | | | | 7. Breathe |
| obvious, but in reality very few riders are prepared to | | | | Deeply, consciously and regularly. There are even |
| admit that their way of doing may be wrong. We are | | | | different types of breathing exercises that you can do. |
| much more likely to take any advice as criticism, | | | | Breathing gets oxygen to your brain so that you can |
| whether it is coming from our horse our, bodies or | | | | think clearly, but it also calms you down, relaxes you |
| other people. | | | | and maximises your riding confidence. |
| 2. Stay positive | | | | 8. Be curious and eager to learn |
| A lot has been said, and even more written about the | | | | We have all encountered the dressage diva or |
| power of positive thinking. Most riders have become | | | | show-jumping superstar who thinks they know |
| immune to the call for a positive attitude. However, just | | | | everything. Arrogance can be very detrimental to a |
| because we have heard enough about it does not | | | | horseback rider's health. Always be open to new |
| mean it is any less valid. Cultivate a positive outlook on | | | | learning experiences. |
| a daily basis. It is one of the crucial foundation stones | | | | 9. Accept yourself as you are |
| that support equestrian confidence | | | | And accept your horse as he is. No one is perfect, so |
| 3. Be patient | | | | don't be a perfectionist. It's a waste of precious riding |
| It doesn't matter how experienced or inexperienced | | | | energy. |
| you are as a rider, somewhere along your horse riding | | | | 10. Aim for balance |
| career you must have come across one or all of | | | | In life as well as in the saddle. |
| these paramount characteristics : patience, | | | | Putting your mind through its paces is as important as |
| perseverance and the ability to overcome | | | | training your body as a horse rider. Regular mental |
| procrastination | | | | work outs will not only increase your horse back riding |
| 4. Get organised | | | | confidence, but will also enhance your ability to master |
| Not always easy if you are trying to juggle all the | | | | new riding skills and improve your riding performance. |