Visualisaton Techniques - anyone use them for riding?

[LizGooch1]

Just been reading Jane Savoie's book on "That winning feeling" and she says about using visualisation techniques for winning classes etc or for whatever potential performance problem you have.

So..does anyone use this process, successes, your thoughts?

 

[hotellie]

i visualise myself doing everything if that counts???

 

[sfward]

Yes, I quite often visualise myself riding through dressage tests and riding round XC courses. It helps me think about what I should be doing to prepare for each fence/movement.

I also have a problem with twisting on the left rein (a very unhelpful reaction to my mare falling out through her outside shoulder!) so I trot round visualising my hips being on a diagonal with the left one further forward pointing round the circle, helps keep me straight and stops me collapsing the pesky left hip!

 

[Nosey]

Yep and I love Jane Savoie's books!

In my head I ride it as it should be ridden whether its a dressage test, sj round or xc. Its definitley helped me be a lot more positive when I have had very wobbly moments walking a course and thinking a particularly fence was scary and where i thought I would crash and burn!! Invariably I have then sailed over so I do believe it works!!

 

[cobden99]

Yes whenever I compete I visualise myself riding like a friggin' idiot - works every time

 

[SunshineTallulah]

Cobden99 - that is funny!

I visualise myself taking control and jumping beautifully and confidentally!

Fantasy and Reality are often at different ends of the spectrum but it makes me feel better!

 

[vhf]

Did this for years before I ever knew it was called something!
Story for you. In that book, she talks about "imagine yourself in the lap of honour" for when you're doing something you've no chance of getting right (slight paraphrasing there!)
Well, I was taking my very novice 4yo to her first proper (local unaf) SJ show this summer, and taking her in the Derby class (2'6, go girl!) which I would have been surprised if she'd got half way round... anyway, I decided for a giggle the night before to picture myself coming second, lining up, getting my rosette, cantering round... blow me if we didn't somehow come second in that AND the warm-up class beforehand!