Feb 24, 2024

Pressure Proof Tip: Power Vowels

USEA/Lindsay Berreth photo

If you’re like most riders you’ve probably heard someone say something like, “Your last mistake is your best teacher,” or “if you’re doing everything right you’re doing something wrong because you’re in your comfort zone.” While I agree whole-heartedly with these sentiments, I actually prefer, “Equestrians don’t make mistakes. Mistakes make equestrians.” They make us bolder, braver, and brighter; but only when we develop a positive relationship with our mistakes and respond to them in productive ways.

Here's another quote I like: “We're not supposed to go through life. We’re supposed to grow through life.” But our ability to grow is determined by our experiences, and many of those experiences come in the form of mistakes. When we believe our mistakes are learning opportunities we enable the growth mindset which leads to understanding and improvement, but when we believe our mistakes are missed opportunities we end up feeling like a failure because we failed and then do everything we can to avoid making more, even if it means avoiding challenges, trying new things, or blaming our mistakes on others (insert judge, horse, wind, rain, or footing here).

Unfortunately, while this might protect a fragile ego, it robs us of the the ability to learn the lessons our mistakes were tasked to teach us. In a way, it’s a bit like clipping our own wings. To fly, we have to release what weighs us down, and for many of us it’s the sting and stigma associated with making mistakes.

Luckily there are lots tips, tricks, and techniques that can help us develop a more positive and accepting relationship with mistakes and help us regain the perception of power that mistakes can sometimes steal from us. The first technique is called power vowels because we’re encouraged to accept, examine, identify, own, and understand our mistakes. As you can see, this list forms the acronym A, E, I, O, U, and it’s designed to steer our thinking towards owning and learning from our mistakes (that’s the understanding part) instead of simply feeling bad because they happened.

I watched a fun YouTube video recently that can help explain this concept. In the video a distracted woman walks into the glass wall of a racketball court. Lowering her head in embarrassment she backs up and walks straight into the wall again! Even more embarrassed, she backs up again and walks into it a third time! So, here’s the message: the first time she hit the wall wasn’t a mistake, it was a learning opportunity. We all do that. The second time she hit the wall wasn’t a mistake, it was a missed opportunity. We sometimes do that. But the third time she hit the wall was a mistake! If she just stopped and accepted, examined, identified, owned, and understood the mistake she could have avoided those two extra bumps on her forehead!

A second trick that can help us redefine and strengthen our relationship with mistakes is a unique form of mental imagery. In this technique we simply imagine our mistakes as teachers who live outside of our comfort zone, and if we have the guts to push ourselves out there, we’re bound to bump into them because that’s where they live!

So this month, let's all examine our relationship with mistakes and do everything we can to redefine them as experiences that ultimately help us to fly instead of fall. Remember, “if you’re doing everything right you must be doing something wrong because you’re inside your comfort zone!” This month let's put our egos away and pull out the confidence and courage to go meet those teachers. After all, we can’t learn from them if we’re not willing to go into their classroom!

I hope you enjoyed this month’s Pressure Proof tip and are look forward to more in the future. If you’re a visual learner and would like to take my online and self-paced equestrian sport psychology class just let me know. It’s made-up of 30 short modules consisting of short video, written recaps, and short quizzes and I think you love it! For more information visit https://daniel-stewart-s-school.teachable.com/p/equestrian-sport-psychology.

Dec 13, 2024 Grants

Eventing Successes Celebrated at 2024 USEA Year-End Awards Banquet

United States Eventing Association (USEA) members from all over the country gathered on Friday afternoon for the 2024 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention Year End Awards Ceremony. The afternoon’s ceremony was led by Master of Ceremonies Jim Wolf and recognized riders, horses, and game-changers in the sport of eventing with multiple awards and grants.

Dec 13, 2024 Eventing News

USEF Announces Allocation of 2025-2027 USEF/USEA Developing Horse National Championships

The U.S. Equestrian Federation has announced the host location of the 2025-27 USEF/USEA Developing Horse National Championship. They will take place at the Morven Park International & Fall Horse Trials in Leesburg, Virginia, from Oct, 9-12, 2025. The USEF/USEA Developing Horse National Championship will continue to feature two divisions—the first for 6-year-old horses competing at the CCI2*-S level, and the second for 7-year-old horses competing at the CCI3*-S level.

Dec 12, 2024 Convention

Rider Biomechanics: The Ultimate Balancing Act that Plays a Critical Role in Rider Safety

As riders, we spend a lot of time focusing on the strengthening and fitness programs of our horses, but as Amy Gibbs, MPT, pointed out on Thursday afternoon at the 2024 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention, setting aside time to focus on our own balance and strength is imperative, not only in helping us meet our goals as riders but also in ensuring we are riding in a safe and secure manner.

Dec 11, 2024 Convention

Fast Facts: 2024 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention

Say hello to Seattle, USEA members! The 2024 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention gets underway tomorrow and features four full days of educational seminars, committee meetings, and social gatherings all surrounding the sport of eventing! This year’s Convention takes place in Seattle, Washington, at The Westin Seattle from Dec. 12-15. Check out all of the items on this year's agenda that you won't want to miss!

Official Corporate Sponsors of the USEA

Official Joint Therapy Treatment of the USEA

Official Feed of the USEA

Official Saddle of the USEA

Official Equine Insurance of the USEA

Official Forage of the USEA

Official Supplement Feeding System of the USEA

Official Competition & Training Apparel of the USEA

Official Horse Boot of the USEA

Official Shockwave of the USEA

Official Horse Wear of the USEA