Tag Archives: Up Your Mental Game

Instant society encourages instant results. But that is not how we or our horses operate. Going anywhere requires steps, landmarks along the way to define process. How can you apply...

You have your regular coach, then there’s the other one. The inside one. We all have this little guy (or gal) in our heads who is running the show. Giving...

Three sport psychology tips from April Clay's latest book, 52 Ways to More Confidence. 1. Define your athletic brand What is your confidence brand? Every athlete has an overall sense of...

Michael Phelps’ victory over Chad Le Clos in the 200m butterfly at the Rio Olympics was truly something to witness. First, we got a glimpse behind the scenes in the...

[show-list] About the Author April Clay is a rider and sports psychologist in Calgary, Alberta. Want to learn more about show preparation and mental toughness? Check out the Resilient Rider Online...

In short, yes, you can! When a rider’s mind is preoccupied with worry about a stop, it can result in negative anticipation that actually produces the real thing. Riders need...

Mentally preparation is the path to peak performance. Whether your show is one day away or 30, there are countless things you can do as you countdown to the ring....

1. Choose "do" words Ella, an amateur rider trying desperately to conquer her nerves before her first competition, knows this phenomenon all too well. “I knew what I had to...

Tough thinking is not pie-in-the-sky thinking: “I am the greatest rider ever! I can beat anyone, anytime!” Sometimes toughness is wrongly associated with arrogance or ego. This could not be...

Riding is about communicating. You may be clear about your message, but how about the way it’s being delivered? What kind of communicator are you? The go alongs If you...

  I am not good enough. I don’t have an equitation body. I’m too nervous, I’m such a wimp. Pretty discouraging isn’t it? Have you ever tried to shame yourself...

One of the challenges of fear is how it can leave you frozen and literally stop your ride. Your horse wonders where you went and either takes over or takes...