The Power of Confidence

There is life within you, passion within you and strength within you that has yet to be tapped. It is ready for you, welcoming you with open arms. What is that inner desire, goal or dream within?

Many riders have given up on realizing some of their goals and dreams because of fear, doubt or lack of self- confidence. This, of course, also limits horses from the opportunity to perform to their fullest potential.
Have you noticed other riders or perhaps even yourself how just at the most important moments, nervousness or anxiousness start to rear their ugly head? Riders may experience this when they are learning something new, getting out of comfort zones, testing and showing, returning after an accident, or coming back after many years of not riding. There are also riders who have had a horseshow experience that was physically or emotionally painful or traumatic. Without realizing it, on a subconscious level, some riders bring negative feelings from these past rides into new riding experiences often causing under performance and frustration.
Dressage is unique and far more challenging than most sports because you are not interacting with an inanimate object that cannot think or feel. As you know, your horse feels every thought and emotion you have. When you’re anxious your horse feels it and takes your emotional state as communication.

How the mind and body work is that when a rider is in any fear-based emotion like nervousness, out of control, doubt, anxiousness and worry, it is impossible for the rider to simultaneously be in a state of confidence-based emotions such as certainty, self-trust and inner control. If you are in a confident state you cannot also be in a state of fear.

Everybody wants confidence, yet so few really understand the depth of it. Like success, once you taste confidence, you want more and more, regardless of how successful you already are. Myth: those who need confidence are those who shut down mentally and are nervous and doubtful. Truth: all riders, including Olympic Dressage Champions need and want more confidence. Truth: confidence is the most powerful mental skill any rider can possess. If you are riding well and are comfortable, the minute you are ready to take your riding to the next level, you also require another level of confidence. Truth: just as you are unlimited in your potential, so is the power of self-confidence.

Confidence is the characteristic that separates ordinary from extraordinary. It transports you beyond comfort zones empowering you to take action and achieve goals you never could before. Riding with confidence profoundly affects the mind and body - building trust, relaxation and effective communication between you and your horse.

Here’s one simple and powerful exercise for higher levels of success and winning. Using your imagination, begin to create the riding experiences you desire. Chose the area of riding you want to deepen your trust in your ability. Make a committed decision to shift your self image from the old you to the new you – a highly confident rider.

Open up your imagination and picture your new empowered self. What’s different in how you sit on the horse? Are you more relaxed? How’s your posture? What does your trainer like that you are doing in your lesson and in the show ring? How do you feel? How is your energy? What is your communication like with your horse? How does your horse respond to you feeling confident during your riding? To begin the process of moving beyond the level of confidence you currently have and tap into your greatness even more, practice this technique daily.

We’d like to give you another strategy for changing your mind about who you were, up until reading this article, and supporting you in starting to form a new concept of you. Use this script for empowering inner change.

Deep within me is a passion and love for riding that nothing and no one can take away. The joy and happiness I receive from riding far exceeds words. My horse and I are a marvelous team dedicated to taking one another to greater heights. There’s no stopping us. We’re on a mission that allows us to soar beyond insecurity, past barriers or limitations because I am committed to having a new level of confidence. I know that my renewed and increased self-belief strengthens my horse’s confidence; we are happier. I have an important dream and vision to live into and today’s my day to recommit to both of us. Together we are a confident winning team - we can do this!

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