Dedicated to Courtney Huguley of Stepping Stone Farm. I’ve never had a coach. I’ve avoided team sports with the enthusiasm of a dedicated couch potato. Although I was on the riding “team” in college, the lessons were as any other riding lessons and the ostensible coach was a burned-out, upper-level rider. Displays of enthusiasm wereContinue reading “Lessons From Nationals: The Value of a Coach”
Category Archives: Sports Psychology
Lessons from Nationals: Dreaming of Blue
In the weeks before Nationals, I had two-a-day lessons for two weeks. (More on this later). I improved commensurately. I improved so much that I undoubtedly lifted myself from the pastels into the primary colors. (For purposes of discussion, green or sixth place, counts as a pastel.) Hence the redesign of my predictions [Show Today].Continue reading “Lessons from Nationals: Dreaming of Blue”
Meanwhile Back at the Ranch
Between preparing for Nationals, attending Nationals [Show Report], and recovering from Nationals, the home team got an unearned but hefty vacation. They’ve had sporadic work when my Top Hand had time, or when I wasn’t face first in my pillow from two-a-day lessons. But no noses to grindstones. No longer! Back to work! Time toContinue reading “Meanwhile Back at the Ranch”
A Horse Show In 80 Tweets
Weigh-in: 150.4. Well within parameters for buttoning my show vest. #horseshowprep — Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 27, 2014 $60 later, show food achieved. #horseshowprep pic.twitter.com/ki2dQr4xGk — Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 27, 2014 Eat like an athlete. #horseshowprep pic.twitter.com/mQYkBqBrBr — Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 28, 2014 8 in my riding classes, 6 in driving. eeeep. #horseshowprepContinue reading “A Horse Show In 80 Tweets”
Text Art: Banishing the F-word
My reinterpretation of Life Muses by Ro‘s nifty graphic 10 Tips for Overcoming F**r. (Click on the blue lettering under the share buttons to pull up the jpg.) The first tip is “Do something. Anything. F**r feeds on inaction.” Excellent advice all through. However, my understanding is that the practicing mind does not register negatives.Continue reading “Text Art: Banishing the F-word”
Training Aids: Bzzzzzz!
When I look down at a horse … … my mind is elsewhere. I don’t even realize I’m doing it. So, I designed an exercise. I downloaded a buzzer app … … and gave the phone to my instructor. She tasked with buzzing each time I looked down. We both expected a lot of buzz.Continue reading “Training Aids: Bzzzzzz!”
Causation
Rationally, I understand that stating, ‘I will go to a horse show this weekend’ will not cause … nope, I can’t say it, even at the cost of weak prose … bad things to happen. Between Mathilda, car trouble, and the weather, I missed one show and most of my winter lessons. I was fortunateContinue reading “Causation”
Virtual Brush Box 