Visualisation - The route to success

Do you really understand the difference that visualisation can make before riding or competing? It is really so important.

Your unconscious mind does not have the capacity to know the difference between reality and imagination.

This is really important, each time you visualise your ride or competition, your mind thinks you’ve already done it. So, if you visualise your ride or competition five times, then when you actually go for your ride or compete, your mind thinks you’re doing it for the sixth time (and it went really well the first five!).

Try this exercise -

Imagine that you are at the competition, riding in the school or hacking out. Put yourself really into the moment and imagine it as if you are riding and sitting in the saddle. See everything that is going on around you, hear all the sounds – birds tweeting, traffic in the distance, the wind gently rustling the trees and then see what you can feel. Feel the horse underneath you, the reins in your hands, the air or sun on your skin, feel how relaxed you are in the saddle. If you have practiced self talk or used any of my recordings then let this help you too.

Each time you have a wonderful ride, store all the feelings that come with it. Remember the weather and how you were feeling, remember what you did and why it felt so good. Then next time you are a little anxious about something bring this memory out and use it to help you visualise.

If you feel you need a little extra help then there are some guided visualisation recordings on my website to help you.

So please let me know what you are going to be using visualisation to help you with and then please let me know how amazingly it worked.