Dear Nancy,
Here is a great update from one of my clients that got Reserve Champion last weekend!
"I'm feeling bold and excited!
Great day. I paced myself. There were a lot of distractions like tornadoes and storms ... scary, but I stayed on point. I even made myself take a 20-minute nap. I kept to a structure. I told myself that I wanted to use this time well!
The best part is that I had a good time doing it. I was able to associate emotional strength with the results! (I got reserve champion in adults). I allowed myself to focus on the good feelings during the event and after when I won!
Even though I was aware that it was not the best course for my horse, I decided it didn't matter. I told myself, 'I'm not going to think about it. I'll do this instead.'
I used my self-talk that you designed for me. I went through the show day rituals you set up for me. I did my visualizations the unique way that you taught me instead of hanging around and just chatting with the other riders.
I started at the ingate with an empowered mindset and with the excitement to show instead of stress and wanting to get the round over with. I went through your pre-show process three horses out, two horses out and then one horse out … just as we practiced … adding to the process the most recent tweaks that we discussed for this particular horse, show, and class.
Now, I ONLY envision myself succeeding. If old thoughts start to come into my mind, I immediately push them away. I don't allow them to stay. I see my new self as 'The Eliminator!' It is rare that those thoughts even start to come up for me anymore. But if they do, I eliminate them immediately!
If I were to draw a pie chart, on a tiny sliver on that chart is old thoughts. The rest is all good stuff and absolute belief that I will perform. I have certainty! I felt a totally different approach to my riding and showing. I OWN the new rider that I am now. I only see myself riding now to the best of my ability. I have stopped seeing other alternatives to that.
Only in the warm-up ring did I feel a little shaky. My first few jumps were weak. That was my old self and pattern. So I made a point to over exaggerate a little, to ride with more impulsion to the first jump in the show ring. I remembered the powerful vision of McLain Ward that you told me to hold in my mind, and I said to myself and my horse, 'let's do this!'
When I saw the course layout and that it wasn't a great one for my horse's strengths and weaknesses, I reframed it. You have to make it work for you! I said to myself, 'What can I do with this? How can I make this work for me?'
Usually, in the past, I didn't like to look at my videos of myself riding, but for this weekend I looked at my video and thought, 'Wow, this looks good!' I looked like I belonged there!'
There was just one jump where I didn't make the right decision. I could feel my horse was tired with the heat and all the rounds that day. I made a decision to no make him do the bolder move.
Overall, I showed up bold and took the lead. I made decisions. I stayed in the present and enjoyed my time in the ring.
I didn't rush myself. I didn't cut my corners. Instead, I used them to regroup and get my plan and my rhythm. I didn't fuzz out from being so emotional or fearful. I knew where I was in the ring at all times.
I love it that I'm doing my techniques in my corners and taking that time to take advantage of the tools you gave me. I like having options! It makes me feel more empowered.
And I like showing off my horse a little more in the beginning when I first come into the ring. I don't just circle right away. I serpentine around the first jump and let my horse take a look at the jump first. I don't waste time and overdo it to annoy the judge, but I don't rush it either. I pat my horse and wait for him to take a breath. Then I start. This time lets the judge really see my horse.
My thoughts in the ring now are, 'I want to maximize this. I want to make the most of it! Hey, I'm paying for this time!' Before, I couldn't feel the joy and the privilege. I just wanted to get it over with.
The structure (of the success rituals you customized for me) makes it more fun and easier to feel centered and to focus.
I am a lot bolder and lot more confident. I look like I belong! You should be well prepared before you go into the ring. Too many riders are showing up unprepared. It's scary to watch them, so I don't. I take that time to do my visualizations, to do my incantations, or to listen to my pump up music.
Once you start getting good results and experience how good it feels, then you want to keep going! I like the feeling of 'I did well handling the part that I can control.'" Nancy B. Smithtown, NY
Enjoy your Monday everyone!
Nancy Dye
Equestrian Mindset Coach and Resilience Trainer
1-561-866-0402
NancyDyeResults@gmail.com
http://elitelifestyletransformations.com
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