December 28, 2025Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson#DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #Dressage Exhibiting, #Dressage Coaching, #Ahead Pondering Dressage, #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage, aids, cesar parra, classical dressage, competitors dressage, dressage ranges, Dressage4Kids, Half halt, decrease leg, Energy driving, coaching is repetitionComments Off on Coaching within the Proper Manner: Habits and Sports activities Psychology
As a result of your inner setting is as vital to your development as a rider as your improvement of your exterior athletic skills.
Dressage coaching is meant to be the method of coaching ANY horse to be a greater driving horse. The extra the horse learns, in idea, the simpler it’s to speak with and due to this fact full extra complicated duties with. Though competitors dressage coaching typically is extra centered on coaching for the dressage take a look at, that isn’t what the unique intention (and authentic judging necessities) had been for aggressive dressage. Initially, it was designed to present riders and trainers a option to decide how their coaching measured as much as the theoretical ultimate of the coaching course of. That mentioned, it’s critically vital to grasp the meanings and causes for a number of the phrases we use to explain dressage coaching and what to search for when observing coaching and competitors (and movies and photographs), no matter whether or not you plan to compete or simply practice your horse to be a greater no matter you do with him. That, in the end, is the principle goal of my articles. To supply training and information for riders to grasp and enhance their eye and understanding of what dressage coaching is meant to be. Whereas there’ll at all times be some variations in apply and idea, good horse coaching is at all times recognizable to the educated eye. That mentioned, it completely is critical that we keep in mind and perceive that restricted information is proscribed judgment.
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Nicely, right here we’re on the finish of the yr, and it’s time to make some New Yr’s resolutions. Or, extra to the purpose, it’s the behavior altering time of yr.
I at all times select one thing to work on annually and take it very critically, making myself adhere to the brand new behavior. Due to that, I’m very cautious to attempt to decide on issues that I do know I can truly give attention to. Most of them are methods of pondering habits, although some have bodily parts as properly. One cause I are likely to give attention to my psychological tendencies is that I’ve discovered so much over time from skilled athletic trainers and sports activities psychologists that your inner setting is as vital as your improvement of your exterior athletic skills.
Imagining your dressage take a look at going properly, with the aids and changes that forestall issues from occurring trains your mind to handle the issues underneath strain. Picture (c) Gwyneth McPherson
If you’re driving and coaching horses, you’re an athlete. A few of us are extra athletic than others, however the bodily expertise required for driving permits for a variety of bodily health relying on whether or not you’re driving “for enjoyable” or critically competing and coaching on the higher ranges. Most individuals are accustomed to the required bodily energy and suppleness a rider must be glorious, however the psychological side of driving usually will get much less consideration. You do not want to be a critical competitor to profit from utilizing sports activities psychology. I’m not a sports activities psychologist (and I don’t fake to be), however I’ve discovered just a few very useful thought methods that I take advantage of just about day-after-day after I’m driving, and I typically share them with my college students.
Utilizing constructive phrases creates a constructive angle – this totally is an important, primary methodology to observe in driving and coaching (arguably additionally in life, however I received’t go into that proper now). Utilizing constructive or at the least impartial phrases in each your self discuss (inner) and when chatting with others does change the way you act and react. This matter might fill a ebook. Primarily, the concept is that the human mind believes what it thinks. So, whether it is continuously pondering “I can’t” and “I’ll by no means,” it believes it, and it really works to make it true. So, utilizing phrases like “I’ll by no means be a Grand Prix rider” or “I can’t get my left flying change” are devastating to a rider’s progress.
Whereas we will settle for the fact that it takes an amazing period of time, effort, and luck to change into a aggressive Grand Prix rider, stating that it’ll “by no means” occur ends the method. Saying “I can’t get my left flying change” implies it’s an unresolvable downside. It’s essential to acknowledge the obstacles in entrance of you and systematically dismantle them to get to your said objective. Stating “by no means” takes away all of your energy to dismantle the robust targets. Likewise, speaking about your driving issues or your horse negatively additionally damages your path to enchancment. As a substitute, say issues like “As a way to get to Grand Prix, I have to _______________” or “I have to make the left flying change extra like my proper flying change.” These statements are charged with an motion that may be taken and aren’t endpoints which can be immovable. You do have to know what steps to take to resolve these issues however beginning with a constructive assertion is step one. Sure, all of us get pissed off, and sure, generally the obstacles are very massive and arduous to maneuver, and chances are you’ll not be capable to see tips on how to transfer them. However adverse discuss makes them extra immovable as a result of our mind is skilled to have a look at the issue as the tip level, with no actionable prospects.
Altering your driving habits requires making the corrections within the saddle again and again. Utilizing adverse phrases like “I can’t” and “I’ll by no means” practice your mind to imagine that’s true. Picture (c) Jennifer Dillon.
Utilizing imagery – We now have all accomplished it. We think about simply how badly one thing can go fallacious. After which it does. Whereas utilizing imagery is just not magic and won’t repair one thing simply since you imagined it could, paired with motion it’s a particularly highly effective psychological software. So, as an alternative of imagining how your horse “by no means” comes again from the prolonged canter in your dressage take a look at and drags you across the nook at Mach 5, develop the coaching methods that assist remedy that downside, and while you’re memorizing your dressage take a look at, you memorize the overall feeling and sequence of the way you handle the downward transition on the finish of the prolonged canter efficiently. And, most significantly, memorize the sensation of it working. This trains your mind to observe the sequence that has been working and it’ll assume these ideas underneath strain and makes you are feeling extra empowered to resolve the issue if it ought to come up. Your mind will imagine what you assume.
Repetition of a correction – I’m not speaking about horses proper now, I’m speaking about riders. You probably have a behavior in your driving that’s impeding your progress, you will need to right it. Correcting an issue like sticking your elbows out to the facet, as an alternative of getting your higher arm grasp straight down requires repetitive correction. This is applicable to go up, heels down, and every little thing in between. There’s a sturdy argument for doing strengthening workout routines, stretching workout routines, and different stability and coordination actions off the horse to assist with this, however an important side to correcting an issue like that is how you concentrate on it.
In the event you assume that some folks can simply experience higher than you, or that they only by no means had this downside, and also you add to that “I can’t” or “I’ll by no means,” then you’re caught in a adverse cycle. Initially, any completely glorious rider labored arduous to get that method, and don’t take away their accomplishment by simply assuming it was straightforward for them. Secondly, ditch the “I can’t’ and “I’ll by no means” self-talk.
Lastly, perceive that fixing an issue in your driving requires repeating the correction quite a few occasions for weeks/months/years, not minutes or days. Discover I mentioned “repeating the correction” and I didn’t say “maintain it endlessly till you do it proper.” Your mind must repeat tucking your elbows again the place they belong each time they need to stray away out of your sides.This isn’t the identical as sitting nonetheless and flapping your elbows in and out such as you’re doing the rooster dance. It means within the apply of driving, doing all the opposite issues that you need to do whereas driving and coaching, you remind your self to tuck your elbows again the place they belong. And do it again and again and over….
Some research report that it takes 10,000 repetitions of an motion like this to create a brand new behavior. Whether or not the quantity is correct or not, your mind learns by doing the motion (tuck the elbows again in) inside the particular exercise (driving the canter). In the event you flap your arms up and down, the up half is as memorable to your mind because the down half. That’s why you don’t need to use the rooster dance arm flap to repair it. That final half is essential. Make certain you’re repeating the right correction, not simply one thing else that you’ll have to right later, like clamping your elbows so arduous to your sides that they don’t transfer sufficient and create the fallacious contact on the horse’s mouth.
Success in driving is a technique of dismantling the obstacles in your method. Working in your inner setting is as vital as growing your bodily abilities. Picture (c) Morgane Schmidt
As with all driving and coaching challenges, you will need to have a great instructor who might help you remedy the issues. They have to be educated within the methods of driving and coaching that get you to your targets. That mentioned, you’re answerable for managing your inner coaching setting and adjusting your ideas to actions and options. Working with knowledgeable athletic coach or sports activities psychologist can undoubtedly assist, however doing your individual inner work will make an enormous distinction.
Bear in mind: restricted information is proscribed judgment.
Gwyneth and Aptitude in competitors at Grand Prix. (c) flatlandsfoto.
Gwyneth McPherson has over 35 years expertise competing, coaching, and educating dressage. She started her training in within the late Seventies, driving in her yard on an 11 hh pony. Her first teacher launched her to Lendon Grey (1980 and 1988 Olympian). who mentored Gwyneth for a decade throughout which she achieved her first Nationwide Championship in 1984, and her Crew and Particular person Younger Rider Gold Medals in1987.
In 1990 Gwyneth started coaching with Carol Lavell (1992 Olympian) who additional developed Gwyneth as an FEI rider and competitor. Gwyneth achieved a Crew Bronze in 1991 and a Crew Silver in 1992 within the North American Younger Riders Championships, and skilled her stallion G’Dur to do all of the Grand Prix actions whereas driving with Carol.
In 2008, whereas Head Coach at Pineland Farms, Gwyneth started coaching with Michael Poulin (Olympian 1992). Michael was skilled by Franz Rochowansky (Chief Rider for the Spanish Driving Faculty 1937-1955). Michael has shared a lot of Rochowansky’s information and knowledge with Gwyneth, finishing her training as a Grand Prix rider, coach, and competitor.
Gwyneth’s educating and coaching enterprise, Ahead Pondering Dressage,is predicated in Williston, FL. Along with educating riders and coaching, Gwyneth additionally loves sharing her information of the game and artwork of dressage in addition to discussing related subjects pertaining to the coaching itself and the present aggressive panorama.
