Confidence tips and tricks

J

Jesss

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Like the title really! :)
Common ones ive heard of are singing/humming to yourself or horse and another is a elastic band around your wrist... Your supposed to twang it every time you get a negative thought..
Anyone got anymore?
 
Neck strap- just having it there makes me feel better! Also someone who I trust with me (my mum and my sister if schooling, just my sister for hacking) and constant chatting. Big deep breaths, and if you're struggling to do that start singing or telling your horse exactly what you're doing. I do that in SJ stuff- I'll tell the horse exactly what I'm meant to be doing, because it means I have to breathe and it also reminds me to actually do it meaning I ride better :D
 
A horse you trust and a few honest good reviews from people you respect. I always believed I was rubbish and still do but I now dont think I'm incapable of doing things.
 
Let your mind wander! I was dreading cantering on the lunge (very small circle, very hot mare) but then realised it was rather like being on a fairground ride and started remembering the lights and noise of the waltzers and, hey presto, I was doing it and enjoying it!!
 
My horse gets very very tense and spooky when I tense up so rather then 'trying' to relax I just try and perfect my position and breathe. So that I just don't think about it :)
 
A few drops of rescue remedy before riding, try thinking of all the goods things you've done & enjoyed, visualise yourself riding with well. Have 'simply the best' by Tina Turner playing in background & don't beat yourself up, just take one step at a time ..
 
count back from 300 out loud.... occupies your brain and distracts you and forces you to breathe. WHen you tense up you're breathing becomes shallow (horse will definately feel this), which increases the tension in your shoulders / upper body (getting ready for fight or flight). If you can force yourself to breathe rhythmically again, your adrenaline will go down and your muscles will relax.

All good in theory but I still wet myself riding my boy lol
 
whenever you get the 'what if's' follow it through with a 'but'. For instance what if he bucks me off but i have sat many a buck and stayed on.
 
If your horse is safe enough, get someone to lunge him with you on stirrup-less/rein-less/bareback. Then you feel 10 times safer in the saddle and it also massively improves you security, seat, relaxation etc...
 
Breathing - bushbaby's advice is good.

Stopping whatever you're doing and standing there, being in the moment, and relax and breathe (also called a Fag Break but if you don't, call it a Virtual Fag Break). Very useful when riding a napping horse. Stop everything but just sit on him quietly and breathe for 30 seconds or a minute, drops both your adrenalin levels so you can restart communications ;-)

Dressing for success. Proper gear for yourself appropriate to what you're doing will make you feel more confident as you are correctly prepared.

Ditto dressing the horse.

If you're riding and see a scarey object coming up on right hand side, then take time to sit up, stretch your legs down, breeeeeaathe out, and LOOK TO THE LEFT, and ride forwards with a bit of collection. Our heads are heavy so if you're looking at it too, the horse feels your weight distribution and knows that you too are scared of this object so it must be really scarey.

Plan what you're going to do and visualise it before you do it. Works well for new things you're doing. Go through the scenarios in your head and in your head put in place all what you need to in order to succeed.

Don't worry. Worrying won't change anything happening, just makes you tense.

Singing or talking works if you can do so relaxedly in low, quiet, slow tone of voice. If you chatter away at 100000wpm in shrieking voice or nervous voice, then better to keep quiet.

Accept when a situation is becoming dangerous that you need to stop and rethink, and maybe give up, go away to rethink and involve someone trusted to revisit the situation.

Don't try to do everything which everyone advises. Instead, read, consider, distill and choose what will work for you best.
 
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