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FACTS OR TIPS: MANTRA

If you are one of the many that can find themselves easily distracted when in the show ring, then a great tip for you is to come up with a phrase or mantra that can help you focus on your performance instead of everything else. By repeating and teaching your mind that this particular phrase means that it’s time to focus, the mantra will quickly start to work its magic and help you achieve your goals!
For example, if your goal is to help your horse take off at a good and even distance at every jump it can be helpful to count down the strides from 3 or 5 away from the jump in this manner: “3-2-1-jump, 3-2-1-jump....”
Or if you’re struggling with straightness your mantra can be something like “keep straight” or “straight as an arrow”.
If you say it out loud or just in your mind is personal preference, but multiple studies suggest that saying it out loud has a greater effect.

Another short and easy-read-article worth a minute of your time!

It touches on something very close to my heart, and what forms the base to all of my work both as a equestrian and as a sport performance coach. It is scientifically proven that it has to “come from the heart”; you have to genuinely enjoy what you’re doing if you want it to be successful long term.

Enjoy Your Riding First…and Then Win! Sometimes things get fuzzy in sports and some perspective is exactly what you need. Very often my phone will ring, or I’ll get an “emergency” text and an athlete client will be in a funk. Their focus unconsciously shifts to the many distractions around them—often things they have no control over, or...

Eurodressage has quite a few short sport psychology-articles, definitely worth a read!

Sport Psychology: Visualization and Mental Rehearsal | eurodressage Sport Psychology for Dressage Riders, Sport Psychology: Visualization and Mental Rehearsal Dressage News at eurodressage.com, Sport Psychology: Visualization and Mental Rehearsal

This video is a few years old now but a very interesting watch still!

Its a documentary on the use of sports Psychology in Dressage, using mindfulness theories to allow the rider to perform at a higher level during competitions.

Sports Psychology in equestrian Dressage A documentary on the use of sports Psychology in the sport of Equestrian Dressage, using mindfulness theories to allow the rider to perform at a higher level...