SIGN IN YOUR ACCOUNT TO HAVE ACCESS TO DIFFERENT FEATURES

FORGOT YOUR PASSWORD?

FORGOT YOUR DETAILS?

AAH, WAIT, I REMEMBER NOW!

Sidelines MagazineSidelines Magazine

  • LOGIN
  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • Subscriptions
    • Flipbook
    • Subscribe Options
    • Order Sidelines Caps
    • Order Individual & Back Issues
  • Podcast
  • Marketplace
    • Business Ads
    • Directories
      • Barns, Farms, Trainers & Clubs
      • Equestrian Services
      • Real Estate
      • Stallions
      • Tack & Feed Stores
    • Classifieds
    • Horse Trailers for Sale
  • Advertise
  • Blogs
    • Show World
    • What’s Happenin’
  • Partners
  • Contacts
    • Contacts
    • Employment
0
Wednesday, September 06 2017 / Published in General

Improved Riding Through Training the Mind

Margie Sugarman
Photo by Lauri Foster

By Margie Sugarman

Margie Sugarman is a leading board-certified psychotherapist and sports consultant based in New York. Margie’s desire is to enhance performance through the connection between the mind and body, and her current client list includes Olympic, professional and amateur athletes across the country. Her experience employing various therapeutic modalities has helped equestrians win classics, junior medals and grand prix. Do you have a question you want Margie to answer? Send questions to editor@sidelinesnews.com.

I am a competitive rider and I don’t use any psychological techniques to improve my riding. However, I have noticed other riders do and I often hear them talking. I wanted to know if this is a fad that will fade, or should I consider investing my time and learning some of these strategies? What sort things do you recommend and why?

As a competitive rider, I’m sure you spend a tremendous amount of time, money and effort on your training. Additionally, there are the expenses for your horse and equipment. What’s interesting is that one can spend all the money they want on lessons and physical training but without training the mind, it’s like running a race with a broken leg. Ninety percent of performance is mental. Without the mind/body connection, it’s almost impossible to perform to the peak of one’s ability.

In any type of competitive situation, adrenaline starts to pump within your body. When this occurs, we often have various physiological responses: Your palms might get sweaty; your heart might beat faster than normal; your breathing might change (you might find it’s tougher to get all the air you need); and your thoughts might not stay focused on the present (your mind may stray to past/future events).

Your body is responding to the situation with a stress response. All the physical training you’ve done to improve your riding isn’t going to address and correct this mind/body response. In times of stress, our behavior is being impacted by our thoughts and internal dialogue. Performance anxiety doesn’t allow someone to make good decisions, solve issues or stay composed.

One needs to create a calm and alert state of mind to perform well. Of course, some degree of stress is normal, and may be helpful, in athletics. However, there is a way to moderate that stress by calming the mind. Studies have shown that mindful meditation (different modalities for different people) lower the cortisol levels (stress hormone) in the brain. If we utilize the proper methods, we can bring our attention inward, activate the insular cortex of the brain and experience heightened awareness and communication between our mind and body. Through these methods, one learns how to reduce the mental noise, tune out distractions and retain a higher ability to stay in the moment — all resulting in enhanced performance.

There are many in-depth techniques that can be utilized to enhance performance. A few simpler techniques that will benefit any athlete are:

  1. Breathing: Brain states are related to relaxation. The lower the brain state, the more relaxed the body is. Breathing from the chest (anxiety state) doesn’t allow there to be a good mind/body connection. Diaphragmatic breathing must be utilized to lower the brain state, allow the mind and body to communicate and ultimately keep the mind in the present.
  2.  Internal Messages: Our internal dialogue plays a large part in our external behaviors. What you think ultimately impacts what happens in reality. If you constantly tell yourself you always mess up oxers, you will shape your mental state and imprint that thought so you, in fact, always mess up oxers. Working on techniques to change negative “self-talk” statements to positive statements results in profound behavioral changes. Restructuring your thoughts can have you jumping oxers as well as any other fence.
  3.  Visualization and Imagery: Imagine only watching a video of yourself making mistakes when riding. You watch this tape over and over. What happens? Seeing yourself ride the mistake time and again will imprint that in your mind and you will probably find it difficult to ride and not make that mistake. Visual observation is a form of learning that imprints deeply on the mind. Consequently, visualizing positive things has the same impact. There are techniques that have been proven to alter behavior by using the mind. Using these techniques to ride a course before you go in can literally clear your mind and allow you to ride the course as if you’ve already ridden it — perfectly.

These are only a few of the techniques that can positively impact performance. Attitude, understanding short- and long-term goals, maintaining self-motivation and managing emotions are also important factors in athletic success.

Should you consider investing time to learn techniques that strengthen the mind/body connection? You wouldn’t climb Mount Kilimanjaro without training both your body and mind. In order to perform to the best of your ability, you should do all that you can.

 

 

Double D Trailers Info

Share this page:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
Tagged under: margie sugarman, q&a, Sports Psychology

What you can read next

2013 College Preparatory Invitational Welcomes Top Colleges and Guest Speakers
Statement from FEI Secretary General on disqualification of Canadian horse Victor
Happy New Year!

Download Sidelines Digital now from your favorite app store!

Sidelines Magazine - Apple store   Sidelines Magazine - Google Play store   Sidelines Magazine - Amazon store
Update iOS app. Re-download Google Play and Amazon app.

Follow on Instagram!

sidelines_magazine

Sidelines Magazine
Jessica West always rode any horse that was availa Jessica West always rode any horse that was available to her throughout her Junior career, so she knew she had an advantage when she decided she wanted to ride on an NCAA team in college. Now a senior at @@auburnu and majoring in psychology, Jessica has enjoyed everything about the equestrian team and is ready to move on to her next adventure. 

Read more about Jessica at the link in our bio!

#ncea #ncaa #equestrian #collegiateequestrian #huntseatequitation #hunterjumper #equestrianlife #collegelife #showjumper #hunterhorse #horseshow #sidelinesmagazine
In the unique and challenging sport of combined dr In the unique and challenging sport of combined driving, Jacob Arnold has proven himself to be a bona fide star. It’s been said that success develops from a recipe based on hard work, perseverance, learning and sacrifice, paired with a love of what one is doing. Since the time he was a boy, Jacob has had the right combination of all of those ingredients, which have culminated in a meteoric rise to stardom.

Beginning his career as a Junior, Jacob earned the coveted @usequestrian Junior Equestrian of the Year award in 2011. Since then, he has taken the combined driving world by storm, competing successfully in four @fei_global World Championships. He also won the USEF Advanced Pair Horse National Championship in 2020 and 2021, among other victories—all before the age of 28, in a sport that has historically been dominated by older drivers. Last September, he placed 12th—the highest of any American driver—at the 2021 FEI Driving World Championship for Pairs in a field of over 100 top-level drivers.

Read more about @jacobarnoldcombineddriving at the link in our bio!

@alex.banks.photography #combineddriving #drivendressage #dressage #driving #carriage #horsedriving #equestrianstyle #equestrianlife #horselover #drivinghorse #carriagehorse #showhorse #sidelinesmagazine
@rolex Testimonee Daniel Deusser has claimed the f @rolex Testimonee Daniel Deusser has claimed the first equestrian Major of 2022, winning the prestigious Rolex Grand Prix at The Dutch Masters. In doing so he also claimed an additional bonus for non-consecutive Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping wins, following his victory at CHIO Aachen last year. The German champion’s outstanding performance riding his trusted partner Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z once again makes him the live contender for the coveted Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping.

Catch up on all the action and watch the free highlights video on the Sidelines Show World blog (link in bio!)

#showjumping #rolex #grandslam #rolexgrandslam #showjumper #dutch #netherlands #dutchwarmbloods #equestrianlife #hunterhorse #hunterjumper #equestrianstyle #showhorses #showjumpersofinstagram #jumpinghorse #grandprixjumer #grandprixhorse #sidelinesmagazine
Dog and Horse friendly 3 bedroom 2 bath on 1.25 ac Dog and Horse friendly 3 bedroom 2 bath on 1.25 acres in Jupiter Farms, Florida.

Jupiter Farms is an equestrian community with a trail system and a sand riding arena at the park. Charming home features vaulted ceilings, custom trim, custom lighting in master bedroom that changes color with a remote. Granite countertops in kitchen and laundry room. New 2022 stackable washer/dryer. Privacy fenced backyard with beautiful tall pines for shade, many palm trees also on property.

Secure fenced  25’ x 25’ pen with wood fencing , for a horse, dogs or a garden.  Wonderful property in desirable Jupiter Farms. 45 minutes to Wellington, 25 minutes to Jupiter Dog Beach. Perfect oasis for dog and horse lovers, close to everything in South Florida. MLS# 10778333, Agents welcome.

$655,000
Contact 561-246-9317
Load More... Follow on Instagram

From Our Classifieds Ads

  • Gracie Street Interior Design, Inc.
    Timeless interiors enhancing the lifestyle of horse lovers and their extended-families no matter where you live. Our studio & boutique is right in stride with original “collected-not-decorated” ideas for making your home, office or stable facility uniquely yours. Call for a complimentary consultation to discover why our designs are so widely recognized in the equestrian community &

    [Read more]

  • Redfield Show Tack
    “Everything Equestrian” All of the top brands for horse and rider. 732-798-2277 info@redfieldshowtack.com redfieldshowtack.com Redfield Tack Store
    Redfield Show Tack

    [Read more]

Sidelines Articles by Email

Subscribe to Sidelines Magazine Articles by Email

RSS Sidelines Blogs: What’s Happenin’

  • A Paris Horse Adventure: Saut Hermes 2022
  • Better Business with Malvern Bank: Michael Meller’s Secrets to Success
  • Third Annual Painted Ponies Art Walk takes over Southern Pines, NC!

RSS Sidelines Blogs: Show World

  • Jung Ends as He Began — On Top — at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS EQUESTRIAN™
  • ROLEX TESTIMONEE DANIEL DEUSSER WINS ROLEX GRAND PRIX AT 2022 DUTCH MASTERS
  • STABLE VIEW IN AIKEN POSTPONING ‘A’ RATED $400,000 H/J CHALLENGE SERIES DUE TO RESTRICTIVE MILEAGE RULE

Category

Recent Posts

  • Steffen Peters: Grateful to Pursue the American Dream 

    By Kimberly Gatto Portraits by Lori Ovanessian ...
  • Taylor Land: A Positive Outlook on Show Jumping

    By Cheyenne Lord Portraits by Kristie Scholten ...
  • Unbridled With John Roper

    By Britney Grover     John Roper absolutel...
  • Unbridled with Bev Bedard

    By Britney Grover     Other than leaving f...
  • Katie Duerrhammer: Driven by Love and Respect for Horses

    By Kimberly Gatto Portraits by Melissa Fuller &...

Copyright © 1987 - 2021 Sidelines Magazine
Privacy Policy · Returns & Refunds Policy · Hosting by Lucian Web Service
· Login

TOP
Get the Sidelines Scoop — your weekly look behind the scenes.Sign me up!