FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
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Sports Psychology
Preparing Juniors for
Major Finals Competitions
By Ann S. Reilly, Ph.D.
They say that success is 90 percent perspiration and ten percent
luck. I believe it’s a true saying, with the exception being mental
preparation. Mental training can be done anywhere, anytime and
usually separates the winner from the rest of the pack.
Overlooking mental training for “big” competitions is a mistake
which I have seen, over and over again, causing better riders
on better horses to be beaten by less talented riders in major
competitions. I have worked with many less talented riders who
have ridden into a major competition mentally prepared and placed
or qualifed over favorites who have choked. Mental preparation
has assisted riders with whom I have worked to win or place in
major competitions, national and international, when these riders
were competing with rider injury/illness, horse or other extraneous
problems. Normally these conditions would have caused the
competitor to perform poorly
because of the distraction,
stress and exhaustion caused
by the issue.
Mental Preparation Tips
Practice mentally rehearsing,
focusing your attention and
concentration in the present,
walking in the ring at the
competition and getting your
horse going the way you need
him or her to go, for several
months prior to the “big” event.
Do this every day for 10 to 20
minutes to the point where you
feel you can instantly become
distraction free.
Mentally rehearse going
around the course, focused in
the present, feeling each stride
of the horse under you, without
any “evaluative, distracting
noise” in your head.
Brainstorm coping strategies
for all the things that could go
wrong and have a stress-free
strategy to deal with these
distractions.
Make sure you show up
at the competition rested,
hydrated and well fed. Continue
to get enough rest, hydration
and make sure you eat well
throughout the competition.
When I compete, this takes
planning ahead.
Practice mentally maintaining
your confdence when you
arrive at the competition.
Develop a strategy to avoid comparing yourself to the other
competitors.
Trainers get nervous at big competitions. I have been asked on
several occasions at Maclay Regionals, The Medal fnals, Devon
and Indoors to warm up horse and riders because there was too
much nervous energy bouncing around the pair. Even though it
wasn’t my role on the rider’s team, I did it and in all cases the
riders won, placed or qualifed. Make a plan as to how you are
going to stay calm, confdent and focused when your trainer,
groom, parents, siblings, friends or other competitors become
overwrought with nerves.
Avoid listening to the negative assessments or comments
of others regarding the course. Make your plan and mentally
rehearse it until you feel you have already ridden the course when