While practice may not necessarily always make you perfect, you can probably agree that it’s definitely worth the effort. The good news is that, in the hectic lives of riders, not all practice needs to be physical. In fact, while nothing can replace hard work and dedication in the arena, research has shown that a little mental rehearsal can have a really positive impact on your physical riding.
While you probably already visualize your dressage test, show jumping, and cross-country courses prior to riding, there are three other mental rehearsal techniques that you might want to consider adding to your pre-ride routine. Collectively, these techniques are called riding rehearsals and each one of them is unique because of something called perspective.
While each technique is effective on its own, they’re often best when used together. For example, memorize your jump course by visualizing it from a drone (external); plan your approaches by “seeing” the approach angle to each fence (internal); and visualize adding an extra half-halt before each fence because your horse might struggle with the footing (partner). When you combine all three perspectives in this manner, you create something called mental rotation. Like watching a movie filmed from several different camera angles, mental rotation creates a much more vivid and memorable form of riding rehearsal.
As if this weren’t enough, there’s yet another technique that can make your riding rehearsals even stronger, and that’s by changing them from mental imagery into something called motor imagery. You can do this by simply moving your body in a way that matches what you are visualizing. For example, while visualizing your dressage test, close your eyes and stand or sit as if actually riding (bouncing slightly as if mimicking the sitting trot, performing an actual halt-and-salute at the imaginary X, and opening your inside shoulder as you track left at C).
The reason motor imagery is so highly recommended is because it has been proven to actually lead to muscle memory, meaning that moving while visualizing your ride can make you a better rider!
I hope you enjoyed this month’s tip and that you’ll give it a try. Next month I’ll share even more helpful information about making riding rehearsals a part of your pre-ride program. Until then, email me at [email protected] if you’d like me to teach a Zoom webinar on equestrian sports psychology to your barn, school, or association during the winter holiday!
The United States Eventing Association (USEA) has opened nominations for the annual appreciation awards through Oct. 29. This is an opportunity for the sport to recognize those horses and riders who excelled in eventing throughout the year. It is also an opportunity to recognize and honor the very important people who have served the sport tirelessly both in a non-riding capacity and riding capacity during their golden years.
Anticipation for the 2024 USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championship and inaugural USEA Interscholastic Eventing League (IEL) Championship is growing, and the host venue, Stable View, is up for the task of making both events an unforgettable experience for all involved. For the first time, the Intercollegiate and IEL program championships will be hosted on the same weekend at the Stable View H.T. in Aiken, South Carolina, on May 4-5, 2024, creating greater unity between the programs and demonstrating a clear pipeline of participation in the sport from grade school through college and beyond.
The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has made five rule changes which will go into effect October 1, 2023. Familiarize yourself with these rule changes below to make sure you are in compliance before heading out for your next event.
With the goal of creating a pathway for young horses in the U.S. and participants of the USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) Program, earlier this year the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and USEA joined forces to launch the USEF/USEA Developing Horse Eventing National Championships for 6- and 7-year-olds.