Well whatever works...

[Ample Prosecco]

Yesterday I went to jump Tobes for the first time in a couple of weeks. Put up a teeny little course of xpoles or 50cm jumps. Hopped on to warm up aaaaaand......35 minutes later there I was still 'warming up' not really liking the look of any of the fences. That I've jumped 100 times before. Arghhh nerves are SO frustrating.

Gave up & went home so mad with myself l. Today I got up early to jump again. Decided to pretend I was having a lesson! I set out some canter poles and a warm up jump on a 20m circle. Then a few jumps I could link together from 70 - 85 cm.

As I warmed up I literally talked out loud to myself both as instructor and as student. As in:
'Ok tell me what you're looking for in a jumping warm up"
"First I need to get him on the aids. Then focus on making sure I can adjust. And focus on straightness so I can ride 'on tracks' up and over fences"
"So how did those trot poles feel'
"He went slightly right and lost balance"
"Come again then".
Etc etc etc

Thankfully it was pouring with rain and no one was around as I looked bloody mad talking to myself

But it WORKED. I had a great 'lesson', jumped everything, felt he improved all thecway through and did not feel anywhere near as nervous. I think I'll give myself another lesson soon!

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

This is so great! I think often we can run the 'inner critic' voice without even noticing it (usually in our minds, but sometimes out loud) but to have the inner teacher come out to help you sounds so valuable.

 

[hobo]

That is brillient Ambers and something I will try in the future when riding my young horse.

 

[milliepops]

yes sometimes you need to vocalise stuff to be able to really analyse what you're doing or need to do. I chatter away to myself endlessly.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

I've always paid close attention to what I let myself think while riding, but do agree talking out loud works better as a way of processing. But the key today was pretending to teach myself. My 'instructor' seemed to know what she was on about and I was happy to obey. So I was clearer in my mind what I was doing and more focused. Very odd but effective. Darn sight cheaper too

 

[scats]

I give myself a lesson in my head everytime I school. I didn’t realise it was weird til I mentioned it to someone haha. Basically I speak to myself like a trainer would. Weirdly, it keeps me focused and I also don’t let myself off when something isn’t quite right. I’ll tell myself ‘try that again, but this time a little more flexion’ or something.

 

[Cob Life]

I’m so glad I’m not the only one that does this! And my voice is juts like my instructor “come again but this time don’t ride like an idiot!”

 

[ycbm]

It definitely works. Ludo was refusing to shoulder in right in canter yesterday and I heard my instructor clearly say 'send him on! '. I argued with her that he was already going too fast and unbalanced, but she insisted. I took a deep breath and sent him on and got a wonderful shoulder in in an almost medium canter. She was 30 miles away at the time

Well done for conquering your fears.
.

 

[J&S]

I have definitely found that telling my self out loud what I should be doing with my body in a tricky riding situation really works. I think it is the total focusing of mind and body for that particular moment. Rest of the time just bobble along mindlessly!!

 

[Trouper]

Somehow it also weirdly feels as if you have that person with you and gives a feeling of security that you are not alone. Now, I just need to teleport my vision to see how I am actually riding it!!

 

[greenbean10]

I do this with a slight twist!

I normally find I start to overthink things when I'm riding, especially if I'm trying to get my greener horse going on the flat.

So I sometimes pretend that I am giving a lesson to a novice rider on her - which helps me work on the basics. I think what would I say if I was trying to teach a novice to ride my horse - 'more forward trot', 'is the horse straight' 'reins a bit shorter' 'hands stiller'.

All basic things that really help get my horse going better. Definitely works if you're an over thinker like me!

 

[LEC]

It is a known psychological outcome for being more positive and ingraining a plan.

I have something for walking courses called walk and talk. You walk the course and then say your plan out loud. Part of me wonders if this is because some people don't have an inner voice. My OH doesn't for instance.

If you need to break a moment of negativity count down from 5. So you want to jump the course, but your mind is saying don't, then count down and it will break the negative thought process.

 

[greenbean10]

It is a known psychological outcome for being more positive and ingraining a plan.

I have something for walking courses called walk and talk. You walk the course and then say your plan out loud. Part of me wonders if this is because some people don't have an inner voice. My OH doesn't for instance.

If you need to break a moment of negativity count down from 5. So you want to jump the course, but your mind is saying don't, then count down and it will break the negative thought process.

Wait....do some people not have an inner voice? How do they think? This has baffled me!

 

[oldie48]

Great post! It works on hacks too. Today we had to pass a hedge cutter on our side of the lane working in the field completely unseen but making one hell of a racket, not a favourite for Rose! I talked my way through it and once safely past my riding companion burst out laughing as I had said "keep your bl.... shoulders back and your bum in the saddle, look ahead" She wasn't sure who I was talking to.

 

[Bernster]

Wait....do some people not have an inner voice? How do they think? This has baffled me!

They must have a very peaceful existence ?

 

[Lois Lame]

I've always paid close attention to what I let myself think while riding, but do agree talking out loud works better as a way of processing. But the key today was pretending to teach myself. My 'instructor' seemed to know what she was on about and I was happy to obey. So I was clearer in my mind what I was doing and more focused. Very odd but effective. Darn sight cheaper too

When I write, I say the words out loud. It really helps.

(I didn't do so for that little sentence above of course. That's the equivalent of walking around on a loose rein. But when the words have to be just so, and the rhythm really matters, then it's necessary.)