Back to Blog
Sensitive sally negative nancy6/6/2023 ![]() Why do you think most of us lose that brilliant warm-up work as soon as we head into the competition ring? Why do we have running jokes with our trainers that we “forget how to ride” as soon as we hear the bell? Whether we feel it or not, our emotions are easily communicated to our horses. ![]() “I know it sounds so simple,” she chuckles. Get into the nitty gritty with Anne on how to bring out the best in your horse.Īnne laughs as she explains this concept to me. By ensuring you’ve done your homework - practicing correct position until it becomes muscle memory, ensuring your horse is responsive to your aids and moving off your leg promptly - the final puzzle piece is simply to believe in that desired end result. Yes, you may have had the issue at the liverpool, but your horse will borrow his confidence from you. How does one put this concept into practice? To put it simply, you must practice positive thinking. “You have to know the riding part - what to do with your body - well enough, but the rest of the battle is all mental, supporting and giving your horse confidence.” “You must be focused on getting the job done,” Anne continues. Or you may take a stronger hold of the reins and enter into a defensive posture approaching a liverpool your horse previously refused.īut this type of visualization can and will be your downfall. You may tense your seat too much approaching a flying lead change. If you’re anything like me, having that memory constantly lurking in the back of your head may cause you to subconsciously change your riding as you approach that question again. Think of the last issue you had with your horse. Riding with intention, mindfully, is essentially what Anne’s referencing here. It sounds so simple, but it plays a big role.” “And so you really have to believe in the outcome that you want to happen. “When you have a problem - maybe your horse had a stop at the liverpool a few weeks ago - it can be easy to think of that problem when it comes time to try again,” Anne explains. Want to learn from Anne in an in-depth course you can access anywhere? Now you can. ![]() But of course, it’s easier said than done, particularly for the rider. For both horses and riders, the ability to prohibit past problems from carrying forward is a crucial part of instilling confidence. But how does she keep her cool?Īnne is a major proponent of the time tested concept of visualization. This month’s Noëlle Floyd Masterclass instructor, five-time Olympian Anne Kursinski, can attest to the importance of this, even when you’re as experienced as she is in bringing out the best of each and every horse. Photo by Sportfot.Īnd yet, even professionals - the best in the business - must be mindful of this skill as well. Watching McLain Ward coax clear round after clear round out of his more sensitive horses, seeing Michael Jung masterfully guide even his greener horses around tough cross-country tracks, or witnessing Charlotte Dujardin inspire stunning performances in horses who, inevitably, always find themselves compared to the great Valegro, are lessons in true mastery for any onlooker.īut how does one go about instilling that coveted sense of confidence and focus in a horse who lacks mileage or experience? What if you’re not McLain or Michael or Charlotte? It can be difficult to impart eternal calm and assuredness when you’re internally having a panic attack, so confidence must be cultivated on the part of the rider, too. The professionals make it look simple, of course. Under the right instruction, it’s incredibly satisfying to see a horse “grow up,” even in the short span of one course or one test. One of my favorite things to watch is the progression of a horse’s confidence as they gain more experience.
0 Comments
Read More
Leave a Reply. |