Motivating Confidence

[ponypinkyp]

Des anyone here have any good idea's on motivating confidence.?

I mean,, when you get nervous and begin to start panicking and losing the plot mentally... what goes through your mind to put you back on track and focus?

Would love to know other peoples thoughts.

[wundahoss]

I suppose I kind of look at it the other way round, whether it's boosting my confidence or my horse's....

Instead of asking what to do when you panic to get you back on track, I'd try to think of how you can prepare yourself or your horse in such a way as to avoid getting into situations that lead to that non-thinking state. Because by the time you or the horse panics, it's very difficult to get out of that reactive mindset & think rationally, unless you get out of the whole situation.

So.... approach & retreat - work on things that make you nervous in such a way that while you push the boundaries, you never push them past the point of discomfort/nervousness, and quickly 'retreat' from that point. With repetition, you'll become confident in that situation and be able to go a little further, stay there a little longer....

[Karenmc]

It is only just in the last 2 years that i have started going to competitions and i was sooo nervous, the night before a competition i couldnt sleep and the day of the competition you couldnt get me off the toilet! :D

Obviously everything takes time but i always try to remember how great it feels when you have accomplished something and keep that feeling when you do what it is that makes you nervous.

I also found that when i went to competitions to watch i really regretted not entering, a strange sick to my stomach feeling that i should be out there doing what everyone else can do.

I dont know whats worse, they annoyance at myself for not doing something deep down i knew i really wanted to do or the nerves for being ballsy enough to do it... :cool:

[ponypinkyp]

Thankyou both!

I really feel so much like that!,,, I visit yards who are having competitions and think ' I wish I could do that or I should be up there'!

Total lack of confidence is really setting me back, tend to think of the bad and not the good!

I know I am capable of so much more,,, Ive tried Paul McKenna dvd's,, hypnotherapy,,, Kelly Marks books,,, the lot!

I so want to be confident, its getting me down now. Any verbal help would be great right now,,

janey x

[Julz]

When I was ten, I lost my confidence completely and stopped riding for two years.. I really missed it, and started going again when I got to high school.. they had a riding club, and we went for six weeks (i forgot the first week, so missed out).

I cant really say what upped my confidence again, as although I joined a beginner class, I wasnt given what I'd call a novice type horse - he was a huge (to a 12yr old) ex racehorse wiht a heart of gold, and neck that stretched for miles and miles. I was allowed a leader, but he really looked after me... just sitting on him gave me confidence, i can feel it now... nearly 30yrs on, that confidence he gave surging through me...

yes i've lost and regained confidence in other area's such as jumping, over the years, but I have never wanted to give up completely again. You just have to do what it takes to regain "control" of your confidence and if it means going back a step, then so be it.

I've kinda stopped goingto competitions, might do the odd fun one, but in all honestly the buzz isnt there anymore... I can sleep the night before.. Im not constantly on the loo, or feeling butterflies in my stomach prior to getting there, I dont feel I could do any better than riding him at home, so what's the point of going through the palaver to get him looking good if i dont feel the same?

[Julz]

Janey, if you want to do it, go do it... what have you got to lose??

It's not about the winning, it's about taking part and having a good day.

I used to take the Oldie out, to fun shows, but ONLY as a change of scenery for him... he enjoyed it, I enjoyed it too, even if we were last!! The last show we did was a veteran class, when he was 29... he got a special reserve rosette ;D

[Trewsers]

Whenever I feel like I'm losing it on Storm, I remember a particular hack I did a long time ago and how I coped with noisy fast traffic, other horses behaving badly, kids screaming and just general mayhem!!! I always think, if I can do that then I can get through anything with her! so I guess what I'm saying is, try and focus on a positive experience and hold it in your head for when you need it!