National Academy Championship Horse Show, Murfreesboro, TN, November 1 – 3, 2013. This is my standard apres-show post giving me time to recover – perhaps even more heartfelt than after previous shows. I will be tired. That’s what they tell me. Usually, my Academy shows are two or three classes in one day. Then IContinue reading “National Academy Day 3+1: Horse of the Year Nomination”
Category Archives: Sports Psychology
National Academy Day 3: Bright Lights, Big Horse Show
National Academy Championship Horse Show, Murfreesboro, TN, November 1 – 3, 2013. Today I am a) riding in one or two National Finals classes, b) sitting home in a huff, or c) still at the show, cheering on the rest of the barn, wishing I was home in a huff. I keep hearing that NationalContinue reading “National Academy Day 3: Bright Lights, Big Horse Show”
National Academy Day 2: Up or Out
National Academy Championship Horse Show, Murfreesboro, TN, November 1 – 3, 2013. Today is the second day of competition. Our instructor has reminded us that the goal on days one and two are to move up. The exact placing doesn’t matter. We are not here to win the semis. The show is over three daysContinue reading “National Academy Day 2: Up or Out”
National Academy Day 1: Managing Expectations
National Academy Championship Horse Show, Murfreesboro, TN, November 1 – 3, 2013. Nope. Not gonna do it. By the time you read this, I will not have been on speaking terms with my stomach for days. I have been looking forward to this show since I heard about it a year ago [Showtime]. Of courseContinue reading “National Academy Day 1: Managing Expectations”
Where’d It Go?
Since Rodney appears to get anxious when I lead him toward the ring, we have been breaking the process into (microscopically) small steps. In the current exercise, we walk over to the mounting block, wearing our bridle like a big horse. He stands next to it. I sit on it. We wait until he takesContinue reading “Where’d It Go?”
Don’t Look At Your Blades
The sport changes, the advice doesn’t. In crew, rowers are told not to look at their blades. Your fingers should tell you what your oars are doing. Similarly, don’t look at the boat. It’s right there under your ass. No reason to check for it. Look straight ahead. Hands instead of eyes. Don’t look down.Continue reading “Don’t Look At Your Blades”
I Want It All
[No end-of-month commentary. I’ve done enough authorial navel-gazing this month. [I’m Baack] Spent the weekend streaming the 36th Annual Saint Louis National Charity Horse Show, courtesy of Seehorse Video, and ignoring the multitudinous posts about the American Eventing Championships. The big show for saddlebreds is in Louisville. However, that show does not have ASB HuntContinue reading “I Want It All”
Virtual Brush Box 