Supremely self-confident equestrians know how to optimise their unique talents and skills by harnessing the collective powers of their minds, their bodies, and their individual resources. The ability to build (or even re-build) one's self-confidence, is essential for any rider. Absorbing and making use of high-quality information works from the inside out, resulting is a set of concrete strategies that are powerful, easy to apply, and quick to show results.
Where can one get inspiration and high-quality information? The following ten options are very practical and useful.
1. Watch instructional video's and DVD's
2. Join associations and clubs - often free on the internet
3. Subscribe to reputable newsletters via e-mail or RSS
4. Attend master classes/ lectures - check the appropriate websites for dates and locations
5. Attend residential workshops - these can be especially enjoyable if combined with an equestrian holiday
6. Get personal equestrian life coaching. Coaching helps you figure out who you are, where you are now and where you want to go from here. It helps you turn your riding dreams into goals. After all, a goal is only a dream with a deadline. An equestrian life coach offers you support and commitment, and use specialised professional skills to provide inspiration, motivation and encouragement.
Common benefits people experience from coaching include:
- Improved sense of direction/focus- a clear sense of direction is always useful to horse riders
- Increase self-knowledge/ awareness: you will master new riding skills faster if you are fully aware of your weaknesses...and strenghts
- Improved ability to relate to others, especially to horses
- Increased motivation - essential on a freezing cold winter morning with several stables waiting to be mucked out
- Increased ability to handle change - since, as a horse riders, you never know exactly what is going to happen next, adapting to change is an essential ability
- Increased resourcefulness/resilience
7. Read books about riding technique written by excepted equestrian authorities.
8. Avoid overconfidence like the plague. Arrogance can be very dangerous. Pride comes before a fall - don't risk a riding injury.
9. Attend horse shows, competitions, performances and open days. Fuel your motivation with inspiring quotes, books and films ( like Citizen Mane , Withering Heights ,The Bridle of Frankenstein, Gentlemen Prefer Palominos, Rein Man, Lawrence the Arabian and Stall Wars)
10. Inspirational and motivational quotes can change your life! Quotations can motivate and inspire you and increase your self esteem. Quotations can change your attitude and your mood. Reading famous quotations and reflecting on them will help you refocus on what is really important to you. And for that reason I am ending with a quotation from one of the greatest movie makers of all times:
Somehow I can't believe that there are any heights that can't be scaled by a man who knows the secrets of making dreams come true. This special secret, it seems to me, can be summarized in four C's. They are curiosity, confidence, courage, and constancy, and the greatest of all is confidence. When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way, implicitly and unquestionable - Walt Disney
