I Tell All Of My Clients To STOP Making These 5 Mistakes If They Want To Pull A Check On Their Next Run.

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Hey Cowboy!

We all know the thrill of nailing that perfect run, but sometimes, despite our best efforts, things don’t go as planned. As a mental coach for riders, I've seen how subtle shifts in mindset and approach can make a huge difference in performance. Today, I’m sharing 5 common mistakes that could be holding you back from pulling a check—and how to avoid them!

1. Overthinking Every Move

It’s easy to get caught up in the technicalities, especially when you’re in the heat of the moment. But overthinking can be your worst enemy. It causes hesitation, missed cues, and timing errors that can cost you precious points. Remember, you’ve trained for this—trust your instincts and ride with the confidence that comes from preparation. Let go of the mental clutter and focus on the flow of the ride.

When I work with folks, a huge focus of our time together is learning to be in the moment and learning to be focused. I’ve seen time and time again how mental coaching is so helpful for riders to stop overthinking and just ride. I hear all the time, “It’s amazing how much more in sync I feel with my horse now!"

2. Neglecting Mental Warm-Up

Just as your horse needs a good physical warm-up, your mind needs to be primed for peak performance. Skipping this step often leads to starting your run feeling unfocused and anxious. Take a few moments before your run to engage in deep breathing, visualize your success, and set a clear intention for your ride. This mental preparation is crucial for keeping nerves in check and setting the stage for a smooth, focused performance.

Does this really matter??

A client of mine used to skip mental warm-ups, but after working together, she started taking the time to implement deep breathing before she competes. By implementing this alongside her other training, her reining scores increased 4 points in a single show season. She’s seen how a few minutes of deep breathing and visualization can transform her ride. It’s a game-changer! 

3. Ignoring Your Horse’s Signals

Your horse is constantly communicating with you, but are you listening? Every horse has unique signals and body language that indicate how they're feeling and reacting. Ignoring these cues can throw off your entire run. Build a strong partnership by tuning into these signals and adjusting your approach as needed. This connection not only improves your performance but also enhances the overall experience for both you and your horse.

4. Rushing Through the Pattern

In the rush to complete the course quickly, it’s easy to sacrifice precision for speed. However, rushing often leads to sloppy mistakes that can ruin an otherwise great performance. Focus on executing each maneuver accurately and smoothly. Remember, a clean, controlled run is often scored higher than a fast but error-filled one. Take the time to set up each move properly, and the speed will come naturally.

This comes up if you do barrel racing, team penning, reining, or ranch riding. Any event where you add speed. I’ve seen it pop up in all disciplines. When you rush, you get sloppy, and do poorly. This really tripped up a reining client I had who was rushing through their spins. We worked on mental strategies to stay calm, stay focused, and stay present. They were able to stop incurring penalties, and increase their spins by ½ point as well. That’s a full point increase – each way – so they increased their reining scores by two points just from mental training. 

5. Lack of a Post-Run Review 

After a run, it’s tempting to either bask in the glory or quickly move past the disappointment. But skipping a thorough post-run review means missing out on valuable insights. Take the time to assess what went well and where you can improve. Reflecting on your performance helps you identify strengths to build on and weaknesses to address. This process is essential for continuous improvement and achieving consistent success.

And sometimes you find unexpected nuggets of wisdom from doing a post-run review. For example, I had one client realize she was going to store her hat in her trailer after she thought she’d left it in her truck and had accidentally left it in her hotel room! Making the whole experience go smoother is all part of freeing up your mental resources so that you can be fully in the present moment and do a great job riding your horse. 

By being mindful of these common pitfalls and taking proactive steps to address them, you’ll be well on your way to pulling a check and achieving your riding goals. Remember, the key to success isn’t just in the physical skill but in mental preparation, strategy, and a deep connection with your horse.

So, as you prepare for your next run, remember these five key points: avoid overthinking by trusting your training, always incorporate a mental warm-up to stay focused, pay close attention to your horse’s signals for a better partnership, prioritize precision over speed to execute clean runs, and don't skip the valuable post-run review to continuously improve. Mastering these aspects will set you up for success and help you consistently pull checks in your runs. Stay connected, stay prepared, and ride with confidence!

Here’s to mastering your mindset and pulling checks left and right! 💪🐴

Stay Resilient,  

Nicole

P.S. I’d love to hear from you! What’s one thing you’re focusing on for your next run? Hit reply and share your thoughts—I’m here to support you every step of the way!

P.P.S. Ready for more?! Join me in Resilient Reiner Academy to develop your own unshakable confidence as a rider. Learn to ride, train, and compete with the confidence of a champion for more joy and success in the saddle.