06/12/2024
Things my young horse has taught me about sport psychology
Success is not linear. Highs, lows, forwards, backwards. Buckle up.
Keep your head down but chin up by setting small goals. One foot in front of the other and you’ll be amazed to see just how far you’ve come without realizing it. You’re getting where you’re going, you’re just not there yet.
Progress is a reasonable expectation, perfection is not. Perfect often gets in the way of good enough.
The outcome is never within your control. Your effort and attitude are.
Mistakes are a good thing. It means you’re learning. Put your ego aside and and be coachable.
Appreciate the process. You get to do this, you want to do this, you don’t have to. Riding, especially competing, is a privilege not a right.
Emotional control is mandatory. Lose it on your own time, not on your horse’s time.
Ask for help. Learn something new. Try something different. It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.
Resilience and confidence are flip sides of a coin. Exhibit resilience to grow your confidence, establish resilience by leaning into your confidence.