Jan 25, 2025

Pressure Proof with Daniel Stewart: Tomato Salad?

USEA/Lindsay Berreth photo

Two months ago we began a conversation about growth and fixed mindsets and the many different mental habits and behaviors that create them. In my Thanksgiving Pressure Proof tip I introduced you to the first two of many such habits: the greed and gratitude mindsets. If you missed that tip, riders with a greed mindset always want more and struggle being happy with what they have. They also believe that talent and skill comes in fixed quantities and that no matter what they do they’ll never be able to increase them.

Riders with a gratitude mindset, however, tend to be happier and more successful than their greed counterparts because they want everything they have and believe that their talent can grow. They know that fancier, nicer, and bigger exist but don’t dwell on it. They use the tools they have and find ways to allow those tools to increase their success and improve their talent. As you can probably tell, greed-based habits typically lock riders into the fixed-mindset while gratitude-based behaviors almost always place riders onto the growth-mindset team.

This month we’ll discuss four new mental habits and how they impact our belief that progress and potential are either fixed or can grow over time. The first two mental habits are the victim and the survivor mindsets.

Riders with a victim mindset think that life is unfair, and there’s nothing they can do about it (so why even try). This mindset is also called learned-helplessness because these riders have learned to feel helpless; to believe they’re just victims of their circumstances, and nothing they do will make any difference. Riders with a survivor mindset, however, don’t believe they’re victims, but instead relish the opportunity to find solutions to curious challenge (including mistakes and failures). To these riders, such obstacles aren't problems that need to be avoided, but questions that beg to be answered. Hard work and curiosity are their greatest tools as they define themselves by the efforts they make, not the outcomes they receive. Behaving like a victim is a part of the fixed mindset. Behaving like a survivor is part of the growth mindset.

The second set of mental habits we’ll discuss are the scarcity and abundance mindsets. Riders with the scarcity mindset tend to focus on what they don’t have (what’s scarce in their lives like good equitation or a winning record) and believe that they don’t have enough talent to be successful (or enough time to get there). These riders spend so much time focusing on what’s scarce (not having enough or not being enough) that they forget to try to make things better. Riders with an abundance mindset, however, focus on what they do have, and instead of thinking in terms of equitation and win records, they think in terms of time and effort, knowing that they have an abundance of both. They know that they have plenty of time to improve their talent as long as they continue making an effort. Behaving with scarcity is part of the fixed mindset. Behaving with abundance is part of the growth mindset.

So why are we spending so much time talking about helpful and hurtful mental mindsets? Well, the answer is clear. When we become aware of many different mental habits that either help or hurt us, we can make better and more educated decisions in the future based upon how we intend to act or react to emotional challenges. I recently read a fun definition of the difference between smart and intelligence. Being smart is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Being intelligent is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad! Likewise, being smart is knowing that it’s unwise to feel like a victim and only focus on what we don’t have. Being intelligent, however, is knowing that we always have the choice, and the power to never let the victim and scarcity mindsets become part of our riding lives or our life’s story.

I hope you enjoyed this Pressure Proof tip and are looking forward to learning more about the growth and fixed mindsets and the many mental habits that create them in the coming months. If you’re a visual learner and would like to take my online self-paced equestrian sport psychology class (30 videos, pdf’s and short quizzes) just visit: https://daniel-stewart-s-school.teachable.com/p/equestrian-sport-psychology.

Apr 22, 2025

Shop New USEA Merchandise at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event

While we all attend the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event for the competition, the next best thing about the event is definitely the shopping! The USEA is excited to be back on-site at the Kentucky Horse Park for the competition this year and to debut some all-new apparel items for the 2025 season. Here is a sneak preview of what you can expect to see at our booth, located just behind the Rolex Stadium next to the large Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event booth, this year.

Apr 22, 2025 Competitions

Fast Facts: 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event

They don't call it the "Best Weekend All Year" for no reason! If you love the sport of eventing (or just horses in general) the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event is most likely a staple on your calendar or a must-see on your bucket list. This week, thousands of eventing lovers will flock to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, for one of two U.S.-based five-stars that takes place each year, as well as top-shelf CCI4*-S competition and two nights of spectacular show jumping.

Apr 22, 2025 Adult Riders

USEA Adult Riders Program to Host Course Walk with Derek di Grazia at 2025 #K3DE

Will you be at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event this year? Are you a member of the USEA Adult Rider Program? Then you will not want to miss out on this exciting opportunity to join cross-country course designer Derek di Grazia on a walk of the CCI5*-L cross-country course. The USEA-hosted event will take place at 8:30 a.m. EST on Thursday, April 24.

Apr 21, 2025 Eventing News

How to Watch the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event

Can't make it to the Kentucky Horse Park this week for the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event? Never fear! We've got all the details you need on how to access the livestream for both the CCI4*-S and CCI5*-L taking place this week.

Official Corporate Sponsors of the USEA

Official Joint Therapy Treatment of the USEA

Official Feed of the USEA

Official Saddle of the USEA

Official Forage of the USEA

Official Competition & Training Apparel of the USEA

Official Horse Boot of the USEA

Official Shock Wave of the USEA

Official Horse Wear of the USEA