How to Thrive Under Pressure? 💪🐴
By understanding and managing the pressure you feel, you can improve your performance and deepen your connection with your horse.

Let’s dive into practical steps to help you identify and handle the pressure you face.

Step 1: Recognize What Pressure Really Is 🧠
Pressure is not a concrete part of equestrian sports; it’s a mental construct. It arises from the expectations you set for yourself, often unrealistic ones. Here’s how to understand it better:

Reflect on Situations: Consider scenarios where you feel pressured. Is it during competitions? While training? When riding in front of your parents or team?
Identify the Source: Determine whether the pressure is self-imposed or comes from external sources like parents, coaches, or peers.

Step 2: Identify Your Pressure Narratives ✍️
To manage pressure, you first need to identify the narratives that create it. These narratives are the stories you tell yourself, consciously or subconsciously. Follow these steps:

Pause and Reflect: Take a moment to think about the times you felt pressured. What were the thoughts running through your mind?
Write It Down: Jot down specific narratives.

Step 3: Challenge These Narratives 🤔
Once you have identified your pressure narratives, it’s time to challenge them. Here’s how:

Question the Validity: Ask yourself, "Is this really true?" and "What evidence do I have to support this belief?"
Counter with Facts: Replace these negative narratives with facts.

Step 4: Set Realistic Expectations 🎯
Define what success looks like in clear, achievable terms. Avoid vague goals like "perform well" and instead focus on specific actions within your control.

Step 5: Embrace Pressure as a Privilege 🏆
Understand that pressure isn’t always negative. It indicates that you care deeply about what you do.

Step 6: Find Your Optimal Pressure Level ⚖️
Determine the level of pressure where you perform best. Regularly assess and adjust to find your optimal state.

By consistently evaluating and adjusting, you’ll discover the pressure level that allows you to perform at your best.

Dive deeper into this topic by listening to the full Podcast episode ‘Thriving Under Pressure’ 🎧

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Understanding and managing pressure is really important for doing your best and keeping a strong bond with your horse. When you see where pressure comes from and learn how to handle it, you can turn it into something positive that makes your riding better. 🏇🏻

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Email us your questions at [email protected], and we'll answer them in our upcoming episode!