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
Sunday, August 26 2018 / Published in General

Socks, Belts, Songs and Cereal: The Relationship Between Rituals and Performances

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 have competed in horse shows my entire life. I’ve noticed that I have some unusual behaviors that precede my classes at a horse show. As time has gone on, many of these behaviors — such as making sure I wear the same socks for each show or listen to the same song before a class — have increased in number and importance. I believe these behaviors truly influence my riding. Is this unusual?

If one observes athletes prior to their performances, one can usually see them performing ritualized and superstitious behaviors. These behaviors can vary from person to person, but the commonality is that these behaviors seem to influence the athletes’ success.

Have you ever been upset because you couldn’t find the pair of socks you’ve worn every time you’ve been champion at a show? How about the belt you’ve been wearing all year as you’ve found yourself winning more and more equitation classes? Have you ever witnessed a rider tapping his or her saddle three times before getting on? How about that girl who always wears her light blue shirt on Sundays?

A ritual is a certain behavior or action that an athlete performs in a fixed order with the belief that these behaviors have a specific power, or purpose, to influence their performance. Many athletes believe that performing a specific ritual before they compete will improve their performance. These behaviors can range from the things we drink to the foods we eat, the clothes we wear to the music we listen to and from the people we speak with to the visualizations we imagine. These behaviors have an order, or a sequence, to them. It’s this system that stays with the athlete throughout the show day.

A superstition is usually developed in hindsight; it’s then required (or avoided) in the future. The superstition comes about out of a good (or bad) performance. One then establishes a “cause and effect” by reviewing the events or behaviors. The athlete then takes note of what happened to cause the desired, or undesired, effect.

I won the class because I listened to P!nk that morning.

I got a haircut before the show and rode poorly.

I ate Cheerios in the morning and won the speed class.

If the performance was great, it gets attributed to that circumstance. Then, there is an attempt to recreate the same circumstance prior to every future competition.

When considering everything it takes to excel in the show ring, from having a good relationship with the horse to feeling prepared to enter the ring, it’s easy to understand why following rituals and superstitions can be reassuring.

Of note is the key finding of researchers who study superstition and how an athlete explains their success and failure. For athletes who feel an outcome of a competition is unpredictable, superstition allows them to gain a sense of control.

Whether it’s socks or belts, songs or cereal, tapping or singing, laughing or silence …  the boost of confidence, the belief in one’s self along with the sense of control they provide is what sends us into the ring with our eyes up, heels down and our horses moving forward.

 

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

What you can read next

Put Positive Thinking Into Practice
Women Earn Fifth Consecutive Victory in $55,000 Nespresso Battle of the Sexes
More Devon Magic: Thursday Night

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

  • Tenney's Custom Saddlery
    OUTFITTING BOTH HORSE AND RIDER FOR OVER 27 YEARS! Tenney's Custom Saddlery has an extensive line of Hunter/Jumper Equipment, Horse Care, and Premium Riding. Apparel. We are your "Go To Place" for expert Saddle and Tack Repair, Custom Chaps and Half Chaps. Our exceptional Team hopes to work towards your Success in the Equestrian Lifestyle!

    [Read more]

  • WINDSOR STABLES
    Michael Britt-León Lesson Program & IEA Team 470-297-8411

    [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

  • 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 &...
  • The Importance of Finding the Right Bit for Your Horse

    By Liz Halliday-Sharp Anyone who knows me is aw...
  • Martha Ingram’s Family Ties, From Horses to Philanthropy 

    By Laura Scaletti Portraits by Brenda Black &nb...
  • Course Designer Spotlight: Alan Wade

    Course Designer Spotlight: Alan Wade Our next S...

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!