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 Individual & Back Issues
  • Podcast
  • Marketplace
    • Business Ads
    • Directories
      • Barns, Farms, Trainers & Clubs
      • Equestrian Services
      • Real Estate
      • Tack & Feed Stores
    • Equestrian Gallery
      • Stallions
      • Horses & Ponies for Sale
  • Advertise
  • Blogs
    • Show World
    • What’s Happenin’
  • Partners
  • Contacts
    • Contacts
    • Employment
0
Tuesday, December 08 2020 / Published in Sidelines Spotlight

Finding the Zone

How many times have you heard someone say, “I was just in the zone!” after a great round? On the other hand, perhaps you were riding and having some difficulty with an exercise when your trainer yelled, “Come on, pay attention, get in the zone!”

You wonder, What does that mean? How do I get there? It’s such an alien thought. What does it feel like? you wonder, afraid to verbally question it for fear of sounding dumb.

In all honesty, athletes talk about being “in the zone” but when asked about how they get there, they rarely can give an answer. For most of them, the only skill or knowledge they have as far as replicating that state of mind is to hope they can do it again. This is often how pre-ride behaviors become habitual, hoping to replicate a previous outcome.

The “zone” is a mental state of total involvement in the present moment without the mental burden of doubt, worry or fear of the results.

What’s important is to understand that being “in the zone” is indeed a real state of mind. Whether we’re athletes or not, we all have the capacity to become very absorbed in an activity that results in a higher level of overall accomplishment.

To be “in the zone” involves a number of psychological factors, which include:

High Interest Level

It has been studied and we know that when one is “in the zone” they are totally absorbed in what they’re doing. The focus is so heightened that one often loses awareness of outside distractions, such as time. Have you ever been so involved in something that when you check your watch you can’t believe how much time has passed?

Confidence

You need to have confidence and believe you can succeed. We train and practice repetitively to gain the self-esteem and confidence in ourselves and in our mounts. Moreover, our trainers would never let us enter the ring unprepared or underprepared. They help to fertilize our confidence.

Motivation

Have you ever felt that inner drive or motivation to succeed? We feel challenged by the task but not overwhelmed by it. Can you think back to a time (sports-related or not) where you were just totally lost in an activity because of its challenge and enjoyment? The task kept your focus and motivation high enough to complete it.

Emotional Resiliency

Emotional resiliency is an area that can be a stumbling block for many in finding “the zone.” Frustration, stress and adversity impact all of us in all areas of our lives. The difference is how we handle these things and if we allow them to stop or fuel our growth.

Task Difficulty

We need to remember that although it’s great to win, being “in the zone” is more than riding against beginners when your riding is much more advanced. The zone attainment encompasses competing at the appropriate level. When you get that feeling of not being able to be stopped, chances are your confidence level was high and you were in a situation where your opponents were challenging because they were on the same level of competency.

While there is no specific recipe for attaining “the zone,” the love for the sport is a necessity. Sometimes it’s necessary to find a game or a challenge within a practice to keep it interesting. Finding something to challenge yourself with during a boring drill can change it into a challenging task. Perhaps you can play “horse show” when taking a lesson and have your trainer judge your round.

Resiliency can be built by keeping a journal of your lessons. You can track patterns or trends that you can address. This helps not only in the learning process but also in improving mental toughness. Learning from adversity makes it a positive experience and helps to develop resiliency.

There are a variety of techniques that you can utilize to help “psych” yourself up. The necessary level of arousal varies from person to person and the athlete has to make that determination.

Some psyching-up techniques that you can utilize are:

∙       Imagery (videos of previous good performances)

∙       Positive self-talk

∙       Arousing music/calming music (depending upon the individual)

∙       Breathing exercises to lower brain states

∙       Stretching (causing relaxation through muscle elongation)

∙       Relaxing statements (to enhance focus)

When you reach “the zone,” your actions will just happen. Your thoughts won’t be conscious and your actions will be directed through the subconscious. Your instincts will prevail as you flow into the zone.

It’s a process that’s well worth developing.

Share this page:

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
Tagged under: in the zone, Sports Psychology

What you can read next

Marissa Degner: One Good Round
The Best Weekend All Year
Graceful Transitions in Life and Riding

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.

Stallion Gallery

Visit Stallion Gallery

From Our Classifieds Ads

  • OAKMONT - Full service rehab center
    Offering urgent care to progressive rehabilitation & conditioning. NW Ocala, FL. 352.591.0648 www.oakmontrehab.com

    [Read more]

  • Sidelines Magazine
    CLASSIC PUBLISHING INC. Box 1311 Johns Island, SC 29457 advertising@sidelinesmagazine.com Office: 828-575-3965 www.sidelinesmagazine.com Subscribe Now! Read Us Visit us on social media: Get Sidelines Digital Free Available on all Apple and Android mobile devices and The Kindle HD Fire Search “Sidelines News Magazine” in your app store and download for free.

    [Read more]

RSS Sidelines Blogs: What’s Happenin’

  • “Jump for the Children” Benefit Horse Show Celebrates 40 Years & Over $3 Million to Duke Children’s
  • Woodside Recognizes the Best in the West
  • Get More for Your Money with an Adjustable-Rate Mortgage

RSS Sidelines Blogs: Show World

  • Jess Jones & Equestrian Gardens: Transforming Equestrian Environments
  • Jackie Cohen & HoofBooks: Taking Horses Into Account
  • Dr. Hannah Dodson & Leadline Wellness: Leading Others to Better Lives

Category

Recent Posts

  • Jess Jones & Equestrian Gardens: Transforming Equestrian Environments

    By Britney Grover Jessica Jones’ earliest memor...
  • Jackie Cohen & HoofBooks: Taking Horses Into Account

    By Britney Grover Photos by Kacy Brown Photogra...
  • Dr. Hannah Dodson & Leadline Wellness: Leading Others to Better Lives

    By Britney Grover Dr. Hannah Dodson has devoted...
  • Emily Wygod Bushnell: An Endeavor to Change Lives

    By Britney Grover Emily Wygod Bushnell grew up ...
  • Dr. Stephanie Davis: Life as a Veterinarian, Entrepreneur and Mother

    By Laura Scaletti Portraits by Kelly Mudd When ...

Copyright © 1987 - 2025  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!