This book assists horse riders of all disciplines with developing mental training skills to improve learning and performance. It is divided into two sections, the first offers instruction in basic psychological skills such as focus control, managing show ring jitters and visualization. The second section deals with special issues in training and competition. An essential and easy to read guide for mental training, complete with illustrations and a means to track your progress.
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
As a sport consultant, April Clay draws on 15 years of experience as a competitive horse show-jumper on the 'A' level circuit. April has also instructed children and adults in English riding and has acted as a judge at numerous competitions across North America. She has received zone awards in both junior and amateur divisions, qualified for the Young Rider's Team as a junior athlete, and competed successfully at the highest or 'open' level of show-jumping.
She offers sport consulting and other psychological services to individuals and groups of all ages through her private practice in Calgary, Alberta. April's approach has proven popular with various kinds of riders, from hunter/jumper to barrel racers, bareback riders and dressage. She is a regular contributor to numerous publications both locally and abroad.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
From the Introduction
Most of you obviously know the importance of physical training. Everyday you go out and practice, develop skills and set goals. The very word training implies there is some sort of preparation that is specific and focused. Not one of you will debate the fact that you need to physically train you and your horse in order to be better at your sport. You also know that practice, commitment, and desire are essential to this undertaking. But what about how you use your body from the neck up? Is it desirable to attain a greater level of emotional control, to learn to cope with competitive pressures, to problem solve effectively? And if this is important to your riding goals, then do these tasks not take a certain amount of commitment and practice as well? Shouldn't you put effort into training mentally the way you train physically? If you would like to become a complete rider, and have a considerable edge in competitive situations, the answer has to be yes. So why don't more riders put the time and effort needed into the psychological aspects of their training? I think its because the field of sport psychology or the idea of mental training has become confused with 'psyching up' or being motivated enough, and of course most riders think they have enough motivation. So thisdefinition is far too simplistic-its kind of like saying all there is to being a superior rider is repeating 'I think I can, I think I can' over and over. So why should you look at the psychological aspect of your training more closely? I'll give you three solid reasons to consider: You are what you think: This can be a blessing or a curse, depending on the nature and quality of your thinking. You can start by asking yourself: what is your vision of yourself right now? Is it one of being strong and competent? Is it possible to see yourself winning at this time? Or when you conjure up an image of yourself competing do you see yourself falling apart, choking? This is an incredible indication of where you are right now -because it really is true: you cannot do it until you see it happen in your mind. Many, many people deep down believe that they don't deserve to win, and they won't, until that belief is changed. Mental strength is a tie breaker: You can be the best physically on that particular day and still not win because you were not mentally prepared. Psychological readiness is what sets athletes apart. Consider the Olympics, all the best in the world are there, and all physically well prepared. What then separates the truly superior athletes is mental fitness. Consider Ian Miller, some believe that his mental abilities come naturally to him and that may be true. What is indisputable is his ability to focus, which was reportedly in the 99th percentile when he was tested by a sport psychologist not long ago. Ian's skills are attainable to others, however, they can be learned through education and practice. You are already doing it: Mental training is something you are already engaged in everyday, either you do it ineffectively or you do it effectively. Think about it, everyday you are "training yourself" - you are giving yourself certain messages about the kind of athlete you are or about how to interpret that nervous feeling in your stomach. Some people choose to utilize this information and some do not. Those who do make a choice to be aware of what is happening 'from the neck up' are mindful of the messages they are giving themselves and the emotional reactions they are experiencing. A good analogy to think of is the training of your horse. Everyday you teach your horse something. It may be you are teaching him to move off your left leg better, or because you are unaware of proper technique, or unaware in general, you could be teaching him to be unresponsive to your left leg. It is the same with your mental training, if you don't get educated and aware, you may be ingraining harmful or counterproductive messages into your head. What's more, you'll have no idea why things go right when they do and therefore make it more difficult for yourself to replicate that performance state again.
Most of you obviously know the importance of physical training. Everyday you go out and practice, develop skills and set goals. The very word training implies there is some sort of preparation that is specific and focused. Not one of you will debate the fact that you need to physically train you and your horse in order to be better at your sport. You also know that practice, commitment, and desire are essential to this undertaking. But what about how you use your body from the neck up? Is it desirable to attain a greater level of emotional control, to learn to cope with competitive pressures, to problem solve effectively? And if this is important to your riding goals, then do these tasks not take a certain amount of commitment and practice as well? Shouldn't you put effort into training mentally the way you train physically? If you would like to become a complete rider, and have a considerable edge in competitive situations, the answer has to be yes. So why don't more riders put the time and effort needed into the psychological aspects of their training? I think its because the field of sport psychology or the idea of mental training has become confused with 'psyching up' or being motivated enough, and of course most riders think they have enough motivation. So thisdefinition is far too simplistic-its kind of like saying all there is to being a superior rider is repeating 'I think I can, I think I can' over and over. So why should you look at the psychological aspect of your training more closely? I'll give you three solid reasons to consider: You are what you think: This can be a blessing or a curse, depending on the nature and quality of your thinking. You can start by asking yourself: what is your vision of yourself right now? Is it one of being strong and competent? Is it possible to see yourself winning at this time? Or when you conjure up an image of yourself competing do you see yourself falling apart, choking? This is an incredible indication of where you are right now -because it really is true: you cannot do it until you see it happen in your mind. Many, many people deep down believe that they don't deserve to win, and they won't, until that belief is changed. Mental strength is a tie breaker: You can be the best physically on that particular day and still not win because you were not mentally prepared. Psychological readiness is what sets athletes apart. Consider the Olympics, all the best in the world are there, and all physically well prepared. What then separates the truly superior athletes is mental fitness. Consider Ian Miller, some believe that his mental abilities come naturally to him and that may be true. What is indisputable is his ability to focus, which was reportedly in the 99th percentile when he was tested by a sport psychologist not long ago. Ian's skills are attainable to others, however, they can be learned through education and practice. You are already doing it: Mental training is something you are already engaged in everyday, either you do it ineffectively or you do it effectively. Think about it, everyday you are "training yourself" - you are giving yourself certain messages about the kind of athlete you are or about how to interpret that nervous feeling in your stomach. Some people choose to utilize this information and some do not. Those who do make a choice to be aware of what is happening 'from the neck up' are mindful of the messages they are giving themselves and the emotional reactions they are experiencing. A good analogy to think of is the training of your horse. Everyday you teach your horse something. It may be you are teaching him to move off your left leg better, or because you are unaware of proper technique, or unaware in general, you could be teaching him to be unresponsive to your left leg. It is the same with your mental training, if you don't get educated and aware, you may be ingraining harmful or counterproductive messages into your head. What's more, you'll have no idea why things go right when they do and therefore make it more difficult for yourself to replicate that performance state again.
As you read this book, if I could leave you with something to think about in terms of your own training it would be this: you know that in order to develop physically as an athlete you need to first become aware of your physical abilities. In other words, to make corrections and improve physically you first have to have an awareness of the mistakes you are making. The same principle applies to mental training-in order to begin to develop psychologically as an athlete, you first must develop an awareness of your psychological state. So make a commitment to begin to develop that awareness, to become mindful, and that can be your first step in utilizing the other half of your resources (those from the neck up) to achieve your riding goals.
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