Personal Performance: “What Does That Mean?”
When I use the term “Personal Performance,” I am referring to the skill set
within that gives you the tools to achieve your dreams. One person may want to overcome the fear of getting on a horse after a horrific accident. Another rider might dream of a world title.
Each desire is equally important. It is “personal.” It is what you want ….. so much so that you get super excited even thinking about that ride. That’s how you know if you have hit the PERSONAL part of the equation.
When I Can’t Spend As Much Time As I Want Practicing On My Horse, How Do I Keep Moving Forward in My Skills?
Here are two closely related questions I received on this topic:
1. How can you get enough physical practice off the horse to build enough time to be really world-class (the 10,000 hours)? Will visualization really work?
2. The closest trainer is 2 hours away, so I do the best I can on my own and take clinics as often as I can. I was wondering how often I should be riding my two horses to stay competitive? I really seem to get hard on myself when I can’t find the time to ride as often as I think I should.
On February 22nd I Conducted the Second Teleclass in a Two-Part Mental Strategies Series
Here are the Five Areas I Covered During That Class:
- A review of the basic tenants of this training
- An explanation of a very practical three-part framework for constantly improving your mental game and helping you turn your challenges into strengths
- Strategic ways to help you overcome your fears using the specific example of recovering from a horse accident
- Powerful tools that work to help you replace pre-competition jitters with confidence and focus
- Answers to your live questions
I Love My Mistakes … Give Me More!
Seek errors as I ride my horse?
What we all strive for is to stay focused, confident, calm, and energized in ANY situation. Emphasis is on the word “any”!
When you feel good, you ride well.
When you are frustrated, angry, distracted, worried, making excuses, or doubting yourself, you WILL ride somewhere below your best.
One of the most challenging times to stay positive and focused is when we make mistakes!
On January 25th, I Conducted an Hour Long Teleclass That Covered:
1. The results of a survey I did late last year about your fears, concerns, and desires to improve in the mental game department of riding.
2. Nine expanded training strategies I have been working on for the past couple of years.
Strengthen Yourself Mentally and Emotionally This Winter
Use Indoor Days to Boost Your Riding From the Inside Out
When chilly temperatures arrive, we usually spend more time indoors.
During winter months, do you feel like you’re losing ground in your riding?
While there is no substitute for time in the saddle, winter can be a GREAT time to strengthen the mental, emotional, and physical aspects of your riding.
The first step is a shift in perception. Swap the thought, “Winter is the pits!” … for … “Winter is a great opportunity!”
After you giggle for fibbing to yourself, try on these ideas anyway(!):
Rest During the Holidays?
Are You Kidding?
Holidays mean different things to different people, of course. But one thing is universal among all riders. We experience anywhere from a large disruption of our usual horsey activity to a long time away from our favorite friends.
What you may not know is how important that interruption is for the advancement of your riding!
It’s as Important to Rest as it is to Ride
Nine Things to Know About Taking a Break
Do you ever feel uneasy about taking a break? Reasons for time-off could be anything from a holiday, to an injury, a scheduled vacation, or an unforeseen event.
But I’m here to ease your mind regarding any kind of trepidation about time off. There is a high performance training principle that can change your entire thought process about relaxation. It did for me.
Your Best Ride Could Happen Right Now!
Ever have been so busy … so concerned about this or that … and so consumed about what’s coming up that you feel frazzled?
We all do that from time to time. Is it part of our nature? Part of our culture? I’m not sure. Maybe all of the above.
I just know I can relate!
Then, like a lightening strike out of nowhere, a sobering reality hits. We (or a loved one) get a serious health diagnosis. Or, perhaps a dear family member passes on. A friend has a horrible accident.
Make Trust the Foundation of Your Riding Success
No, the man in this picture did not get thrown off his horse! He was a contestant in the Extreme Mustang Makeover competition. He showed his confidence in his mustang by wiggling through his horse’s front and rear legs as the crowd was cheering!
I recently had the honor of being a judge at an EMM event. I was inspired beyond words that each of us can achieve the seemingly impossible when we build all we do on trust.
The participants in the competition had their mustangs for only 100 days before entering an event that requires two different performances … one is in-hand while the other is riding through a predetermined course, similar to a trail course. The top ten with the highest combined scores advanced to a free-style finals.
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