Wired to Win... or Fail: The Impact of Mental Training on Riding and Showing

Beyond the well muscled horse hips, and precisely timed leg cues, behind every successful horse-human duo lies a profound understanding of the crucial role played by the rider’s mind. From overcoming fear and building confidence, to mastering focus and resilience, the mental dimension of horse riding is as vital as the physical one. In today’s newsletter, we will explore why you can’t afford to ignore the mental aspect of horse riding and showing if your ultimate goal is to win.

Let me share a story. I want to break down what happens when a rider ignores the mental aspect of riding and competition.

Imagine a talented equestrian, Sarah, who is physically skilled and technically proficient in horse riding. My nemesis in 4-H as a child, she consistently won competitions at the regional level and gained recognition for her natural talent. Sarah became accustomed to her successes and started to believe that her physical abilities alone were enough to secure victory in any competition. However, she neglected to acknowledge the mental aspect of competition and failed to address certain issues that gradually crept into her riding.

Sarah became overly confident in her abilities, assuming that she could effortlessly outperform her competitors without putting in the mental preparation required for high-stakes competitions. (Issue: Overconfidence) This overconfidence led her to underestimate the challenges she might face at more significant events like the year-end championship.

As Sarah became increasingly complacent about her training and preparation, she failed to maintain focus during her rides. (Issue: Lack of Focus). Instead of channeling her energy into her performance, her mind wandered during competitions, resulting in missed cues and errors. She blew a lead change and didn’t even make the finals! Oh boy, I will never forget her face when she realized she didn’t make the State team.

As Sarah entered more high-pressure competitions, she began to experience nerves and anxiety that she never dealt with before. Ignoring the mental aspect, she brushed off these feelings, simply assuming they will pass. (Issue: Anxiety and Nervousness). However, as her anxiety grew, it started affecting her composure during rides, leading to subpar performances. Sarah struggled with wondering why she wasn’t riding like she used to.

In major competitions, the pressure mounts, and Sarah struggled to cope with the expectations and scrutiny from spectators and peers. She found it difficult to manage the stress and ended up making mistakes she didn’t make during previous, less-intense events. (Issue: Handling Pressure). Has this ever happened to you?

As Sarah's initial winning streak came to an end due to her faltering performances, she felt demotivated and disheartened. (Issue: Lack of Resilience). Her lack of mental resilience prevented her from bouncing back from failure and making the necessary adjustments to improve her riding.

Sarah's frustration at her declining performance eventually manifested in emotional outbursts, impacting her relationship with her horse and support team. (Issue: Emotional Outbursts). Her friends were shocked at her behavior. Her failure to regulate her emotions further hindered her ability to make a comeback.

With each unsuccessful competition, Sarah's confidence continued to plummet. She struggled to regain the self-assurance she once had and began doubting her abilities as a rider. (Issue: Loss of Confidence).

Despite facing new challenges in different competition environments, Sarah remained inflexible in her approach. (Issue: Lack of Adaptability). She failed to adapt her mental strategies to suit varying circumstances, ultimately hindering her chances of success.

Another issue Sarah faced that is very common is how difficult it can be to imagine life being any different than it is right now. (Issue: Lack of Imagination). Meaning when things are going well, it’s hard to imagine you’ll ever make a mistake… And when things are going poorly, it can be nigh impossible to imagine having a great ride.

In this unfortunate scenario, Sarah's failure to acknowledge the mental aspect of competition ultimately led to a downward spiral in her riding. Her overreliance on physical talent without nurturing the mental fortitude necessary for high-stakes events eventually caught up to her, causing her to underperform… consistently.

Ignoring the mental aspect of competition not only prevented her from winning but also impacted her overall passion for riding, as her love for the sport became overshadowed by a series of disappointing experiences. In contrast, had she recognized the importance of mental training and incorporated it into her regimen, Sarah could have overcome the challenges, prepared for and coped with the pressure, and climbed back to the top.

Sarah’s example serves as a poignant reminder of the vital role the mental aspect plays in the world of competitive horse riding.

Do you recognize yourself in any part of Sarah’s story? Perhaps you lack adaptability, or resilience? Maybe you struggle to focus and concentrate on the task at hand? Or are you at the other end of the spectrum and feeling over-confident? Write back and let us know how you saw yourself reflected in any of Sarah's behaviors or struggles.

Know you aren’t alone! It can be very difficult to call out our own self-sabotaging behaviors. But it is possible. And with consistent effort, we can retrain our brains and our behaviors to healthy thoughts, and actions that support success and enjoyment for ourselves and our horses.

With grit and gratitude,

Nicole